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Cafe Lebanon
Category: Restaurants Middle Eastern Middle Eastern
1390 Main StSpringfield, MA 01103
(413) 737-7373
- Hours:
Mon-Thu 11:30 am - 9 pm
Fri 11:30 am - 10 pm
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- Yes
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Good For:
- Lunch, Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Intimate
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
28 reviews for Cafe Lebanon
Review Highlights
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"...around, I had the turkey kabob sandwich, which was served..." In 2 reviews -
"I chose the rice pilaf as a side, which was buttery and..." In 4 reviews
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"NOTE* They do have belly dancers on some nights." In 3 reviews
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28 reviews in English
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Review from Jeffrey R.
Springfield, MA
3/6/2012
Love this place!! Great lunches and dinners, and never a disappointment. Staff is very accommodating with quick service and explanations of dishes. Ask about specials.
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Review from Hong L.
1/4/2012 1 Check-in Here
Our group of 12 stopped here by chance on the way from Vermont to NYC. For travelers, there are lots of parking spots outside the restaurant and plus you didn't have to pay for it. The restaurant appears to be called Nadim's.
We came in on a Monday at 2pm and there was plenty of room for our group. The waitress loved promoting the food in the restaurant which spurred us to be more bold about our choices of food. There is a lunch grill menu from 12-3pm at a cheaper price.
I ordered the lamb kabob (medium) with the vegetarian rice (with lentils and onions). The lamb kabob was juicy and flavorful and cooked just right but for $16 they only give you 3 pieces which is too little. I had other people's food and so I would highly recommend the others instead of the lamb kabob:
- Falafel sandwich - There is not sauce in there but just lather on the garlic white sauce.
- Turkey Kabob - For $10 during lunch, this is a steal, The turkey is moist, juicy and flavorful. They give you 4-5 pieces of turkey. Also get the regular rice. They must cook it in chicken stock. Need I say more?
- Fried - their fries are surprisingly tasty and crunchy.
- Cauliflower appetizer - simple yet delicious from what I heard from my friends.
I would have had a better meal if i ordered everything else above. -
Review from Kathy S.
BAY STATE VILLAGE, MA
4/27/2012
I had a very nice lunch there. Tried the classic Felafel and Nadim's salad and was not disappointed. The Felafel could use more tahini sauce (ask for it). They do use a lot of garlic, I noted later! Good service, nice street view. Food was fresh, authentic.
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Review from Vanessa V.
Springfield, MA
3/1/2012
I use to go to Cafe Lebanon several years ago and the food use to be excellant. I went there 3 years ago and havent returned. I had ordered food to pick up and take out. I was disgusted to see when I returned home, that they actually had put other customers leftovers in my order!There were eaten pitts in the rice and so much more food that was eaten!!! We didnt even eat anything, we were just picking up! Im scared to eat there again and do not recommend any one of my collegues from work either. I threw up and havent been there since. The owner Nadim was there, but even still, the people that did my order made me never to come again. Our family hasnt been there since. We might go to the East Longmeadow one, one day to see if its worth it, but I doubt it. Ive actually gone to another restuarant in Boston, food was just the same, but cheaper and so good. No leftovers when picking up.
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Review from Terra N.
Northampton, MA
7/24/2011
The decor is pretty lovely and we sat in a comfy booth for lunch.
The falfel might have been the best I've had in quite some time and the hummus was okay.
We ordered a bottle of cabernet of which I can't remember the name of but it was nice and easily finished. -
Review from Savannah B.
Wellfleet, MA
5/11/2011
My uncle and I needed a place to dine together in the Springfield area. I chose this place based on yelp reviews, and its proximity to my hotel.
We were delighted by the whole experience. The food was wonderful, the service was excellent. We both had cheese pies as appetizers, and they were soooo good! Gnom, gnom, gnom. I had the Mashawee salad; my plate went back empty.
We had such a good time, we were the last to leave the place. The decor was lovely. If you want something exotic, delicious and just plain 'ol good, go here. -
Review from El Keter B.
Springfield, MA
When it comes to restaurants in the city of Springfield, Massachusetts ambiance is not necessarily something that most of them seem to have a handle on.
That said, it's no small compliment to say that Cafe Lebanon, a Lebanese restaurant located centrally in the city's downtown business district, is hands-down one of the most beautiful-but-comfortable eateries in the city.
Seriously...The place is just NICE. But by the same token, it's also a place where you feel warm and welcome, so that you might relax, be comfortable and enjoy some REALLY fantastic Middle Eastern-inspired cuisine.
My favorite item on the menu is the beef kebab, which normally comes with rice pilaf which I always ask to have substituted with mdardara, a wild-rice dish prepared with red lentils and crispy onions.
The beef is just incredible, brazed to perfection with a garnish of onions and tastes like heaven with a mouthful of mdardara, a forkful of thoum (a garlic paste side) and a bit of pita bread.
I've also tried their lamb dishes (like the lamb kebab and the lamb stew) as well as their fish (the swai is always awesome) and have never been disappointed with anything I've had the pleasure to get a taste of.
Their appetizers, like their perfect spinach pie, the decidedly un-authentic but tasty as all get-out hummachos, and the cheese pie, all get my stamp of approval as well.
Oh, and don't let me forget the bar, which serves up a wide array of tempting mixed drinks, cocktails and special martinis, if that sort of thing is your cup of beverage, OR the belly dancers who perform on weekend nights.
With their flavorful fare and inviting environs Cafe Lebanon is something TRULY special in a Downtown Springfield in DIRE need of special things. -
Review from Zazu S.
Springfield, MA
1/5/2012
Worst service ever.
We went there for lunch and the service was horrible. It took over ten minutes for someone to take a drink order and only happened because I stopped another waitress. She took the order and our waiter came over and said, "the kitchen is backed up," which in no way explains his poor service.
The food arrived overly-salty and adequate, but nothing amazing. We didn't even bother with dessert as just getting the check was too much of a hassle. We won't be back. -
Review from Sarah S.
5/27/2011
The best part of our recent visit to Cafe Lebanon was that we got to try Arabic coffee, which was delicious. I ordered a tuna kebob special, which was alright. The tuna itself was cooked perfectly, if a little under-seasoned, and I wish that there had been more vegetables on the skewers. The dish came with rice pilaf, which was good. Generally, though, I found the food a little bland, and I wished there had been more on the plate than just tuna and rice. My fiance had the beef kebob, which he enjoyed.
The restaurant is really nicely decorated, and we had a great window seat and a friendly waitress. We may give Cafe Lebanon another shot at some point. -
Review from Corine L.
Springfield, MA
12/27/2011
Excellent food! During my last visit, the restaurant was having problems with the grill so the menu was limited. This forced me to chose a menu item that i would normally not select. Turned out fabulous! I was very impressed and will likely get that same dish again!
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Review from John B.
11/30/2010
Springfield, MA, rolls up its sidewalks at about a quarter to five. Civic lifelessness might deter some would-be restaurateurs. But the Cafe Lebanon crew is going about its task gamely. And the results aren't half bad.
But if I were called in to consult, I'd advise a bit more focus on taste, and a bit less on smooth jazz and light fixtures. And a lot less on excessive sauces and drizzles.
Because the food on its own is surprisingly decent. The calamari, for instance, was fresh and charred well. But it was also swimming in a lemony, oily puddle that it didn't need. Same deal with the rice and grape leaves.
But we had a hard time talking about this...or about the fact that every TV in the place was tuned to a depressing ESPN documentary about athletes overcoming gruesome wounds. Because the tidal wave of smooth jazz hot licks was too much, too loud, too constant. -
Review from kimberly z.
Springfield, MA
1/27/2011
Just had an amazing lunch at Cafe Lebanon in Springfield. Service is quick and super friendly. The food is amazing. Dan's addicted to the chicken wings and for me it's the CHEESE PIE-- to die for.
We both loved the Swai, a fish I'd never heard of, and the day's stew over Mdardara (Rice, lentils, fried onions.)
Ismalia for dessert made me want to lick the plate: Shredded filo dough stuffed with ricotta cheese and topped with rose syrup.
Absolutely love this place. Very grateful there's another location in East Longmeadow. :-D -
Review from M E.
Sunderland, MA
11/29/2011
I am a snob when it comes to Mid Eastern food because of my background. If Cafe Lebanon was in my home town of Detroit it would not even get 1 star but as it is in Western Mass I have to be a little easy on them.
Their Middle Eastern options are decent but the portions are small and the prices are inflated. It also felt like they threw in too many non-Middle Eastern items in order to cheap out rather than to "enhance the flavor". (I am no purest.)
The restaurant is beautiful. My experience came with subpar customer service but that could have been an isolated situation as it was mostly due to a misunderstanding.
Considering I go back home often I do not see myself ever visiting Cafe Lebanon again. Its the world we live in- if you want authentic- you have to get it at its source- and this place is far from authentic.
To summarize, Cafe Lebanon is good for Massachusetts but nothing to write home about for anyone who has lived near an Arab community (or for that matter visited Lebanon). -
Review from Erica D.
New York, NY
9/4/2010
Our heroes, beaten and battered from a rafting excursion, follow the wise instruction of Google all the way to a dark alley between an abandoned storefront and a methadone clinic. Echoes of Google cackling in the background, "Bwahahaha I know you said the restaurant is in WEST Springfield, but I gave you directions to regular Springfield!" Well okay the hood wasn't exactly as I described but "a gas station and a convenience store" doesn't quite set the scene, either.
On the way back to the highway, we passed Cafe Lebanon and said, "Oh who cares where we eat now, we're strangers in a strange land and it's either this or Cracker Barrel off exit 6."
But what a nice surprise. The inside of the restaurant was lovely--kind of an old timey pub with just the perfect amount of color and Mideastern flair. Our waitress was very nice and helpful. The cocktails packed quite a punch. We got platters to sample a few different things. There was this cauliflower. I don't even like cauliflower, and it was so delicious.
By far the highlight of the evening was the belly dancer. She was wonderful and we also were quite amused by the couples on dates -- guys staring at their plates like the falafel is the most interesting thing they've in their lives. MUST NOT STARE AT SCANTILY CLAD DANCER, LEST DATE BE INSULTED.
The food I'd say, overall, good but not great -- but it was great fun and I'd go back if I lived in the area. -
Review from Margie P.
Grand Island, NY
9/26/2011
Thought I'd go with something more authentic, but ordered the blackened scallops with a middle eastern twist (appetizer). Ranked right up there with some of the best scallops I have ever had. Like but-tah. Service was excellent and staff was very friendly. Will def hit up again next time I'm in town.
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Review from Giri C.
Chicago, IL
3/27/2010
A very good Middle Eastern place! Stopped in for lunch on a Monday.
I had the Chicken Kabob. It was juicy and well marinated. The Fattoush salad was excellent. Definitely try it.
The decor was a bit upscale and the service was good.
A great find in downtown Springfield! -
Review from Jessica K.
Chicopee, MA
1/3/2010
Great first experience! The staff was very nice, atmosphere was perfect, and loved the belly dancer! A fun way to spend a Saturday night.
I ate the stuffed grape leaves (served both warm and cold). They were good, but I preferred them served cold rather than hot. They were a little minter than I normally like, but they were still pretty good. The calamari was delicious and served with some side sauce that was amazing. It had an excellent garlic taste but wasn't too over powering.
For my meal I had the falafel platter served with rice pilaf. Perfect portions, excellent flavor, and good tahini sauce. Overall excellent experience. -
Review from Kyan W.
New York, NY
9/10/2011
I'm from Arabic background - and all I can say is wow. I've had all types of Middle Eastern food - at home, eating out here in the US, and even in the Middle East. I've had authentic food - "nearly authentic" - and Bedouin meals in Jordanian villages ( you've not eaten Arabic till you've had the real deal! )
Needless to say, this is pure authentic traditional Middle Eastern food. It's a combination of traditional authentic cooking - with absolute perfect quality ingredients & professional cooking. I walked in expecting a good meal, however blown away by how good it was. In my opinion, the only place you normally could get a meal like this - is if you're in Lebanon, Syria, or Jordan. Even THEN - you'll need to dig to find a restaurant this good!
As mentioned in other reviews, the decor is fine as well. It's visually pleasing, clean, and cozy. The wait staff is friendly, courteous, and attentive as well.
In my opinion - Cafe Lebanon is a MUST TRY restaurant. If you haven't eaten there yet, go treat yourself. It's an absolutely outstanding restaurant which ranks with the best I've ever eaten at (here, and in the Middle East.) I'll definitely be back. -
Review from Kimberlee M.
Burlington, VT
8/22/2010
Staying at a hotel in the area...like 2 blocks away. This was a great surprise!!! Wonderful prices, great space and decor and the staff was just amazing! In fact, the staff assisted and talked us out of trying "safe" food and got us to try new things.
Make sure you order the nachos with the humus!!! Turkey kabob too!!! -
Review from Kate B.
Gaithersburg, MD
8/2/2007
A fun and excellent place. I was first brought here by some Turkish friends from my lab and quickly became a repeat customer when I still lived in Western Mass. The owner is super nice, the food yummy and the atmosphere is also a blast. the belly dancers here are only so-so, but it is still fun.
This is also a great place to take a group or have a party here. The neighborhood isn't that great, but once you are inside it feels like your at home (even if you aren't Lebanese). -
Review from Robert B.
Newport News, VA
6/26/2011
Good, nicely seasoned food, pleasant, efficient service and a nice ambiance make me a fan of Cafe Lebanon. They also have a good craft beer and wine selection, including Lebanese wines. Try the red by the glass with your lamb or beef kebabs--really a nice pairing. We came two nights in a row from our hotel.
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Review from John P.
Springfield, MA
12/22/2010 1 photo
I love to eat at Cafe Lebanon both day and night. I have visited both locations (in Springfield and East Longmeadow), but the downtown Springfield restaurant is my favorite because of its high ceilings and appealing decor.
For lunch, I usually order the lamb kabob, cooked medium rare. It is delicious, steaming hot, and well seasoned--not to mention affordable. It is certainly the most inexpensive lamb meal that I have ever eaten at a restaurant.
Two nights ago, my wife and I went to Cafe Lebanon for dinner. We ordered two appetizers: the baba gannouj and the chicken wings. I usually hate eggplant (which is the main ingredient in baba gannouj) with a passion generally reserved for political factions and flu shots, but I loved this. It was unbelievable. For entrees, we had the Swai fish and an order of the scallops. My fish was moist and tasty, and my wife's scallops were tender and very well prepared.
To be honest, I can barely pronounce most of the menu items, but I can certainly pronounce the word "delicious"! I am officially addicted to the white creamy substance they seem to add to everything; it is tangy and irresistible.
I work in downtown Springfield, so it never bothers me to look for a parking spot at lunchtime, or to drive into downtown Springfield for dinner. At night the streets are well-lit, there is plenty of activity in the city, and security is around at all times.
I highly recommend Cafe Lebanon. It has a good atmosphere and a friendly, down-to-earth staff. I am always pleasantly surprised to find a table every time I visit Cafe Lebanon; given the excellent food, attentive staff, and inexpensive prices, I would expect a line out the door!
I used to wait in line at large chain restaurants for pricier food that was either greasy or overcooked. At Cafe Lebanon, every item is fresh, well cooked, prepared to order, and appropriately priced. -
Review from Christine P.
West Springfield, MA
10/15/2010
Cafe Lebanon is one of my favorite quiet lunch spots downtown. This time around, I had the turkey kabob sandwich, which was served on delicious pita bread and had just the right amount of lettuce, tomatoes, grilled turkey, and sauce. I chose the rice pilaf as a side, which was buttery and smooth. I've been here before and been similarly pleased with the perfectly seasoned and savory kibbe as well. The service is prompt and friendly as well.
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Review from Caroline C.
Springfield, MA
2/21/2011
We have been here (Springfield) many times. (We have only been to the East Longmeadow restaurant 2 times.) The food is very good and consistent. We love the lentil soup, Baba Gannouj and Hummus as appetizers. The (Kibbeh Neyeh) Kibbie Naya (raw Kibbie) served only on Fri & Sat is my other half's favorite, served with a garlic mayonnaise heavy on the garlic (note: they told me they will only serve it then if they are very happy with the quality of the meat delivered!)
I like the kabobs or platters. I am not of Middle Eastern decent, and have learned the cuisine by trying what I think I might like.
The ambiance is nice! NOTE* They do have belly dancers on some nights. People seem to enjoy it, it's interesting, but not really my thing during dinner...
It seems unbelievably rare to me to find a comfortable well decorated restaurant around the Springfield area.
The staff is nice and if you don't know Middle Eastern/Lebanese food they are happy to explain.
We often bring people who visit us from out of town here. We brought a local group of 6 people, 2 of who thought it was a little pricy. But I myself think the quality of the food and ambiance is worth it.
I have not been there in a while and heard they have a new menu. I will have to go soon and try it out. -
Review from Itch S.
Boston, MA
9/29/2010
I was just looking around for a dinner spot after an interesting day at the BIG E. This food and decor was great. I was dissapointed that the Kibbe was sold out especially when I saw the last 4 orders walk by. But the homeade Baba Ganoush, Taboule and bread were awesome. The lamb kebobs and even the rice was as good as Lebanese cuisine gets imho.
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Review from John P.
Springfield, MA
11/13/2010 2 Check-ins Here
Up front disclosure: I'm completely bias. Go and try it yourself if you want. A real challenge to your taste buds. The food is incredibly good.
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Review from Edward S.
West Springfield, MA
5/7/2010
Great traditional middle eastern cuisine... The hashwee is to die for.
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Review from nowar a.
Brooklyn, NY
9/15/2011
i gave three stars because there was some good to even out the bad.
allow me to begin with saying i am middle eastern but not lebanese. some of the items were different than i am used to but overall, not far from the food momma used to make.
bad:
starting with having a difficult time finding the entrance (not their problem really) but then when we finally walked in there was no one to greet us. my wife, child and I just walked in and walked over to the bar area on the left looking for a table. someone finally came to greet us and directed us over to the other side of the building where the tables were for diners. i guess the other side was for some one else, i didnt get it.
the service was dull and uninspired. our waitress explained the menu poorly. i ordered the kofta kabob and was given an option for speciality rice. only later when i got the bill did i discover that this was an 'upgrade substitution' and had to pay $3 more for it. i chose the rice with meat and toasted almonds. first of all, i dont care about the three dollars if i am spending 50 on a dinner out, but the lack of tranparency is a bit slimy to me and since the wiatress was telling me this as a 'special rice of the day' she should have had the foresight to let me know that the price goes up, even if that sounds tacky. she could have easily downplayed it while trying to sell me the upgrade, but whatever. i mean, the menu has the prices on it, so if you are gonna read me the menu, read me the prices too. just a pet peeve, i guess.
wife ordered the chicken wings and some kind of salad (please, lettuce is lettuce after all). the waitress was kind enough to offer to put the sauce on the side due to our concern that the toddler might not like the sauce. so that might be a good thing, but these kinds of small things should be easy to do in a non busy upscale (or at least trying to be) restaurant. so we placed the order.
then my wife leaves to go to cvs to get something and doesnt come back for a while. i wait and wait. there is only one other table and in almost 20 minutes i get the drinks but nothing else. hello? anyway, fine. then we finally get some pita bread with nothing. is this supposed to be appetizing? yeah, serve that to your guests, nadeem, see how they look at you in surprise if you did that at home! arabs dont eat pita bread with nothing, but if you are trying to sell your hummus i guess you do. pita bread is not like french or italian bread. you can slap buter on it i guess, but we werent even given that so that wasnt an option. so why pretend?
then the chicken wings arrive... okaaaay? it was clear when we ordered that the wings were for my wife with the salad and the kofta was for me. so why didnt the wiatress ask for clarity ("you want the food all together?"). i have been asked that a million times in restaurants. why now did nadeems wait staff lack competency to serve. i have even worked for my fair share of years in restaurants. it is not difficult to anticipate certain problems, particularly when there is only one other table AND there is another server. ONE TABLE. man, sad sad sad service.
so i watched my wife and kid eat while waiting for the food expecting it to come any second now. nope. after what seemed like hours (I was hungry after all!) the food arrived. bottom line: kofta werent evenly cooked. some were too rare and the others perhaps a bit well done. the special rice had too much cinnamon and was too damn greasy. probably that is traditional enough but it lacked raisins which is how we usually serve this kind of rice. toasted almonds and raisins, i dunno maybe the lebanese do it differently. but greasy. the chicken wings were ok, but jeez how hard is it to fry some wings. the sauce was ok enough, but didnt strike me as something unusually uniquely awesome. just different. and the salad lacked dressing. i had to go chase down the server because, of course, she didnt come check on us. and ask her for more dressing. in the end my wife had to take the lemons from the waters to squeeze them into her salad for flavor.
as for the good:
the atmosphere was pleasant in terms of the relaxed atmosphere. we werent planning on going out and i was dressed raggedy in shorts and a T. i felt very uncomfortable going in but my wife insisted, but once inside no one looked at me funny for being severly underdressed. maybe that is a springfield thing, but i grew up in NYC and it is a little wierd to me. the decor is nice too but i would rather pay for good service and good food over nice lamp fixtures and wood paneling.
in all the food was not worth the money plain and simple. it wasnt as good as momma makes, it wasnt as good as comparable priced other styles of food i have eaten in other restaurants and quite frankly, i could cook most of this at least as good, and less greasy than they did. i like to support my arab people but, in the end, never again. plus we all had severe gas after.
