THIS RESTAURANT IS CLOSED Al Diwan

THIS RESTAURANT IS CLOSED Al Diwan Restaurant Review:

Salt-of-the-earth Al Diwan serves up passable Lebanese fare and appeals to the passerby with a warm environment that features belly dancing several nights of the week. Though the majority of the menu is composed of familiar dishes, there are some interesting flourishes from outside the Middle East. The kitchen turns out first-rate Balkan-style bourek---here made with feta---and Lebanese lamb sausages cooked in butter and lemon, themselves very similar to Serbian cevapici. Cold meze feature more familiar dishes, like a vegetarian platter with tangy hummus and smoky baba ghanouj, a spicy tartare and stuffed grape leaves. Enjoying these small bites is your best bet, as larger dishes, particularly the seafood entrées, are both generously portioned and often overambitious. That said, the kebabs---including scallop and shrimp versions---have a pleasingly fire-roasted flavor, pairing well with the restaurant’s selection of Lebanese wines. Desserts are better than expected, especially the Lebanese cream pie and flaky baklava.