Byblos Restaurant & Lounge Awards

Byblos Restaurant & Lounge Restaurant Review:

Byblos Restaurant & Lounge --- a Westwood fixture for decades --- boasts a sea of white linen-clad tables surrounded by muraled walls and white banquette seating. As evenings progress, the dining room is illuminated by lights that alternate in a rainbow of colors. On one side of the room is an elevated stage for the live entertainment. Specialties include mezze like hummus, baba ghanouj and kebbeh nayyeh (Lebanese steak tartare), as well as lamb tongue and frogs’ legs, broiled stuffed pigeon soup, and lamb shank. The menu is à la carte except for Friday and Saturday nights, which feature good-value set menus along with a band and belly dancing shows that start around 9 p.m. (The festivities sometime last until the wee hours) The Friday menu includes 11 mezze (small plates like grape leaves and very tasty tabbouleh) and a main course of chicken, beef and kafta kabob, plus grilled vegetables and rice, while the Saturday menu presents 14 mezze plus the main course. An international wine list --- Lebanon, California, France, Italy and Australia are all represented --- is a nice bonus. Cocktails include a Lamborghini Margarita made with Patron tequila, Grand Marnier and fresh lime juice. There's also hookah available for those so inclined.