Lebanese Taverna

Lebanese Taverna
Baltimore, Maryland

Sometimes, I want to try a cuisine so different than what I'm used to. I do get tired of Asian food. I was going to the theater last night at the Hippodrome Theater with friends to see the Moulin Rouge. I have to say the pay was very entertaining, lively, sparkly and the music arrangements were spot on. I had so much fun that I actually built up an appetite.
In one of my classes at Harford Community College, I'm an Adjunct teacher of Traditional Asian Cuisine, and I get to meet students of various backgrounds. Once couple who were Lebanese recommended Lebanese Taverna and I wanted to go. How else can you get a great recommendation from people that know their food.
Anyway, got to the restaurant and I have to say it was located right by the harbor. North of the Inner Harbor. It was Sunday night, but I was very impressed with the outer appearance. They had outdoor sitting, I'm sure with a spectacular view of the harbor. So far I was very impressed. Went inside and it must have been around 4:30 pm and it was empty, just two or three tables occupied. My server said, the time I came was usually the start of dinner time. Inside was very modern, very clean and there was a display of I guess Lebanese style stain glass lamps. I was impressed.
My water was very prompt and brought a basket of I thought it was mini-pita bread but it wasn't hot but was puffy and as I torn one apart and dipped it into the seasoned olive oil and it was delicious.
I told my waiter I never had Lebanese food and I asked him if there was a sampler, he showed me what they have but as I looked at the menu I was more interested in other items. On the appetizer side I saw fried artichokes served with a lemon dipping sauce. I saw hummus with beef & lamb and the taste was nothing like the commercial hummus in the stores. Adding some seasoned beef lamb pieces added additional flavor. For the main entree I saw Beef/Lamb Kopta, this is seasoned beef & lamb and I love the taste of lamb with zucchini and cherry tomatoes on a skewer and charcoal broiled on top of a mini pita with Tzatziki sauce and some vegetables along with some yellow Basmati rice. I had more than enough food. The fried artichokes were interesting, never had it but dipping it in the lemon sauce brought out the flavor of the artichokes. The fried batter was light and fried to perfection.  The Hummus was different than any hummus I had before. I did taste the Tahini (sesame sauce) and I guess commercial hummus doesn't have that in theirs. The seasoned beef & lamb that accompanied the hummus was different. 
The Kopta was perfectly seasoned but since this was my first time I didn't know what I could compare it to unless I go back and order it again or go someplace else. I heard there are a couple of other Lebanese restaurant on Federal Hill, Baltimore.
The entire fare was light, no heavy gravies, I could actually taste each ingredient, but it was more apparent when I ordered dessert how the true flavors came through.  When at a Lebanese restaurant or Middle Eastern restaurant, I had to have Baklava. It's a light crispy dough wrapped with nuts and other spices and covered in honey. They had Pistachio Baklava. It was brought out on a tray of 3, on each side of the tray 2 rolled Pistachio Baklava and in the middle was vanilla ice cream made with cardamom. Cardamom is a spicy that has a citrusy flavor to it and was paired well with vanilla ice cream. To complement the sweetness, I had to try the expresso and that to had a dash of cardamom flavor. Not to much to overtake the true coffee taste but still noticeable and paired well.
I really enjoyed my dinner, and it was the perfect end to a soggy Sunday but still the end of a highlight to a spectacular play.
On a scale of 1 to 10 with 10 being excellent, right now I give Lebanese Taverna a 50 score. Until I try other Lebanese restaurants to compare, we'll see how they stand up to the competition.   
Aloha from the great State of Maryland
Chef Woo Can

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