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i tried searching? anybody know about "open sesame"? lebanese restaurant in east village?

I went there last night. It's pretty good. The baba ganush is excellent, the hummus is pretty good, the falafel blows, the lettuce wraps are delicious.

It is expensive though. $14 a plate on average pretty much. It's pretty good though. The Lebanese potatoes were my favorite thing there, I think.

But yeah, the falafel sucked.

-Joe.

tell me more about the falafel. why did it suck?

Tasted flat? It wasn't exactly full of flavor or anything. It was kinda dry too, and I know falafel isn't supposed to be super moist or anything, but this was too dry for it's own good.

Get the lebanese potatoes. And the baba ganush plate.

-Joe.

i know youre the wrong person to ask but did they have raw meat plates?

where exactly is it?

I ate with some blood mouths, and they got down on meat. I dunno if it's raw or whatever.

313 Locust I think.

-Joe.

this sounds interesting. i wanna go.

joseph wrote:i know youre the wrong person to ask but did they have raw meat plates?

where exactly is it?

I didn't think the Lebanese were keen on eating raw meat... I doubt it.

I went here tonight.


It was pretty good, I'd go back. I didn't care for the baba ganoush - it was too smoky and tasted like an ashtray. I generally think it's alright but I'm not a huge fan of it or anything. The menu was predictable for a Middle Eastern place but good, good selection of meze.

The prices were reasonable. Most entrees were $10-$16 which is fair for a restaurant like that. Adonis would probably be the closest comparison to this place in the area and their prices seem to be about $5 higher than this one for entrees. I wouldn't be surprised if this place was owned by the guy who owns Adonis (and Gazali's) though.

As far as ambiance, I don't know. It's very dark which is ok and they play Middle Eastern music which is expected but sometimes gets me uncomfortable due to certain associations. Seems nice and low key but pretty much immediately after I sat down a couple of African-American gentlemen and an extremely effeminate looking white guy sat down at the table next to us and started jaw-jacking real loud about a bunch of bullshit. I expect that if I go to Denny's or some shit but not a place like this.

So yeah, it's worth checking out.

El Rhino wrote:

joseph wrote:i know youre the wrong person to ask but did they have raw meat plates?

where exactly is it?

I didn't think the Lebanese were keen on eating raw meat... I doubt it.

i dont really know abything about lebanese. but "emilys lebanese deli" in minneapolis had like 3 raw meat plates. carppacio? or something...

ive had way too much raw meat when i used to hang out with hmongs sometimes its been good sometimes its just the oddity factor?

joseph wrote: I didn't think the Lebanese were keen on eating raw meat... I doubt it.

i dont really know abything about lebanese. but "emilys lebanese deli" in minneapolis had like 3 raw meat plates. carppacio? or something...
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Oh, no. That's European, probably Italian or Spanish. I've had it before in France, it's not too bad.

The place is where Baby Boomers used to be. I did some work for the owner, state inspector was trying to bust his balls on all sorts of ish, that the baby boomers guys had done code wise, for their liquor license. haha and I know they had fun time covering up all the rainbow pastel colors that were there previously. The guy's 1/2 greek 1/2 lebanese, he has a greek place over by Drake too(Gazali's I think.) He's a friend of friend really nice down to earth guy, he had another greek spot over at West Glenn that didn't last. Hopefully this place will take off for him. I don't think there is another Lebanese restaurant in town.

Oh, ok. I thought it was that guy. I remember talking with him years ago when Gazali's was at Cobblestone and he seemed like a nice guy. The place at West Glen was very good but overpriced.