[Just a short note: Forgive the slightly out-of-focus shots! My camera was misbehaving :( Sorry!]
A friend of mine had her 18th birthday this weekend past, and after much deliberation, decided to hold it at El-Phoenician. Always being a fan of Lebanese food, and having been there once before, Stephen and I were the first to R.S.V.P.
We walk in, and are shown to our table. While waiting for everyone to arrive, we survey our surroundings, and are duly impressed: Clean lines, subtle lighting, elegant colours and shades, and attentive wait-staff abound.
Waiters take our drink orders, but don't need to take food requests as our host has ordered the El-Phoenician banquet ($49 per head). The starters and dips are already out when we sit down, and we get started on some fresh (and fried) lebanese bread, feta cheese, dips, and pickles.
Fresh and fried breads, labne (yoghurt dip), and mixed marinated pickles
I absolutely adore fried lebanese bread, although I make it a point to only eat it at weddings, for obvious reasons - but I had to break my own rule when I saw it on the table. It's delicious and crispy, and a great base for the homous (chickpea), labne (yoghurt) and baba ganouje (eggplant), which are all fresh and tasty. The mixed marinated pickles consisted of pickled cucumbers, eggplant, chillies, and kalamata and green olives, and I can find fault with none (although I can't vouch for the chilli - I wasn't game!)
Homous, salads, and awesome glasses for water and coke :)
Plates of entrees are delivered once everyone has arrived, and we dig in with relish. The falafel are full of chickpea and broadbean goodness, and they come served with a creamy tahini sauce. The sambousik is a fried pastry filled with minced lamb, pine nuts and assorted spices, and is very similar to a spanish empinada, only more mild. Arnabeet is crisp cauliflower fried and served in tahini sauce, and is almost addictive.
Falafel, Sambousik and Arnabeet served with Tahini sauce and pickles
Mixed Grill
The mixed grill is magnificent in it's simple, rustic flavours. The chicken is marinated in lemon, oil and herbs, and the beef is delicious and succulent. It's accompanied by fried potatoes in a coriander dressing, and I find myself going for seconds.
Unfortunately, there was no room for dessert (and there was also birthday cake), but the dessert and coffee menu was decent and I look forward to sampling it next time.
When 9:30pm rolls around, the lights are dimmed and the diners who haven't been here before start looking around worriedly, as if wondering what the malfunction is. Suddenly three belly-dancers (two females, one male) prance onto the middle of the floor and, dressed in authentic, sequined costume, proceed to dazzle the audience with their skill. Before long the dancers encourage (I use the term loosely - they rarely take no for an answer) audience participation, and I have to admit I'm glad I'm surrounded by my fellow diners, and can't get out.
While El Phoenician may be a bit boisterous for a romantic dinner on a weekend, it's a great place to take a group of friends with good food, great service and free entertainment. I definitely encourage you to check it out!
El-Phoenician
328 Church St
Parramatta, NSW
2150
Phone: (02) 9633 1611
Fax: (02) 9633 1622
E mail
[email protected]
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