Lebanese Flower

Lebanese Flower’s fuss-free cuisine has earned it a good reputation among Abu Dhabi residents 5 Reviews

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Lebanese Flower’s fuss-free cuisine has earned it a good reputation among Abu Dhabi residents. Every night at about 8pm, a queue starts forming around the block until the road is gridlocked with stationary 4x4s, purring quietly, lying in wait for their takeaway.

But a visit to the restaurant is an infinitely more pleasurable experience and the perfect way to spend a mid-week evening. This place is all about the food, so décor is basic, with bare, tiled walls and just a few pot plants to add colour. Despite the relentless turnover of customers – some have barely left their table before more move in to replace them – the service is unfailingly enthusiastic and speedy.

Huge pillows of warm, fluffy bread from the adjoining bakery arrive within seconds of sitting down, along with a bowl of their creamy homous. The menu is refreshingly simple: just a selection of meat, fish and salads with none of the fanfare of more pretentious Lebanese establishments.

The falafels here are a must: crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside, they are best eaten after a dunk in the tangy tahini dip. The pick of the main courses is the tender and garlicky chicken on a plate (basically schwarma minus the bread) and the lamb khisha khash, which is deliciously spiced and juicy, coming nestled in a fragrant tomato and parsley salad.

The selection of fresh juices is mind boggling; perfect for washing down some of the spicier dishes. Portion sizes make your chances of making it to pudding slim, but a slice of watermelon is a great way to round off an impressive and reasonably priced meal. Lebanese Flower is just the ticket if you can’t muster the energy to cook, but fancy something hassle-free and hearty.

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