lebanese blonde

I've touched this place before

Somewhere in another time

Now I can hear the sun

The clouds drifting through the blinds

A half a million thoughts

Are flowing through my mind

-Theivery Corporation, "Lebanese Blonde"

Neyla
www.neyla.com
3206 N Street, NW
202/333-6353
$$$

Around the corner and tucked behind Billy Martin's tavern in Georgetown, you'll find a most wonderful oasis in Neyla, a Lebanese grill filled with posh people-about-town, pundits, and other pols. Save the politics for later, and enjoy what they have to offer your appetites.

Brightly colored chiffon drapes from one end of the ceiling to another for a truly exotic feel inside this place. Sip one of their "house mojitos" (they're citrus, not mint), but watch out to have too many. At $9 a pop, you'll be lucky to have enough dough for dinner.

When you arrive, they'll give you a nice plate of homemade yoghurt, olives, and bread with zataar (a traditional Lebanese mixture of herbs...notable for it's desirable effect on the brain and memory--or so they say). I could be happy with this alone, but don't stop there. Indulge your senses, and proceed to the menu, and the mezze.

At first glance, their menu may seem dizzying. If you're not familiar with Lebanese food (or even if you are, for that matter), don't miss their "Lebanese Tasting" for two -- which for $30 includes a hearty array of their favorite mezze -- including tabbouleh, hummus, baba ganouj, stuffed grape leaves, chicken schwarma, beef kibbeh, and for the extra naughty...cheese rolls (manchego cheese rolled in filo dough and baked).

Don't order yet. Finish your Tasting...then ask to see a menu again. At this point, I'm guessing you're feeling fat, happy, but ready to keep eating the wonderful flavors of Lebanon. Don't miss their beef kafta -- it is truly something else. Split an order of that with your date, then each of you should pick another mezza to eat for dinner. You'll save a couple dollars, and you won't want to explode at the end of it all. After eating there literally half a dozen times, I promise that this is the best and smartest way to order. Your waiter might look at you quizically, but smile kindly and ... trust me.

When you dine there, you may be visited by the flower peddler. He has been around to sell me flowers each and every visit I have been there, no doubt he is as perennial as the grass. Smile at him and politely decline his offer, though, unless you're ready to fork over a couple of Franklins for some half-dead flowers for your honey. It might seem sweet in the moment, but resist if you can.

In'sh'allah, you'll enjoy this spot as much as I have.