Hummus from Heaven
DESCRIPTION: Being a student at nearby Tulane University, I frequent Lebanon's when in town. Service is usually great, the atmosphere is conducive to conversation, the food is great, and the price is right. Alfresco seating is available, and if you're lucky you won't be downwind of a smoking student (Tulane's a chimney.) Despite the name, the owner and many of the recipes hail from Iraq. Warm pita and a silky, perfect hummus drizzled with quality olive oil and topped with a sprinkling of sumac and seasonings forms the base of each meal. (Rice is available, but I don't recommend it.) For students on a tight budget, a well-seasoned lentil soup, gyros on pita, or eggplant sandwiches are all great and under $5. Dinner is also affordable, usually no more than $10-$15/person. Items to pass up are the hummus with roasted lamb and the lula kebab; both are bland. Recommended are the well-seasoned kibbeh or falafel, a homemade gyros, and grape leaves stuffed with lamb and rice. Most dinner items are available as appetizers, along with faul (a hummus-like preparation made with fava beans), Indian-style samosas, and labneh; one possibility when out in a group is to eat tapas-style and sample a bit of everything. Take the opportunity while here to skip the coke or the New Orleans-style "sweet tea" and sample some more exotic fare. Available are spearmint and sage iced-teas (both refreshing), as well as a house blend called "Lebanese tea" made with instant sweetened tea, lemon, rosewater, and pine nuts. However strange it sounds, it's good. On occasion, Lebanon's is understaffed and hence the waitstaff seems inattentive, but they're always friendly and accommodating.
DATE: 2002-06-30
FOODRATING : 8
SERVICERATING : 8
AMBIANCERATING : 6
OVERALLRATING : 8
RECOMMENDED DISHES : hummus, Lebanese tea, mint tea, lentil soup, shish kebab, falafel, kibbeh, gyros, grape leaves

Excellent Hummous and Baba Ganoush, Fresh Pita
DESCRIPTION: The food is excellent; great sandwiches and platters. Vegetarian and meat selections are offered. There are several Mona's in New Orleans; the Banks Street Mona's is the original and the best.
DATE: 2003-12-27
FOODRATING : 8
SERVICERATING : 8
AMBIANCERATING : 8
OVERALLRATING : 8
RECOMMENDED DISHES : Eggplant Sandwich