The restaurant Shishka Lebanese Grill was established by brothers Gus and Walid Zabib of Beirut, Lebanon. Their restaurant’s décor is simple. Inside, you’ll see blue, white, brown, beige and Arabic tiles and art, as well as a few understated wine racks. There’s both indoor and outdoor seating, but only two tables are suited for couples, which suggests the restaurant is best for groups. Arabic music is played at just the right volume at Shishka Grill restaurant.
The Order of the Feast
Before I even ordered, my waiter put olive oil, olives, za’atar and 4 complimentary pitas on the table. I had a feeling the rest of my meal’s portions would be generous, too (and they were).
My first of two distinctly-Lebanese appetizers was mujadara, a very popular Middle Eastern dish, containing brown lentils, white rice, and thinly-sliced caramelized onions. It was spectacular. This was true homemade Middle Eastern cooking.
My next course was arayes, seasoned ground flattened beef grilled into pita. The grill-marked pitas were cut into triangles and covered in chopped onions, parsley and Middle Eastern spices, and served with sliced tomatoes, pickled radishes and pickles on a wooden board. This appetizer was a true visual spectacle. But Jeff, did it taste as good as it looked? You betcha. I’m glad I tried something new. Success! If you’re looking to try a new Middle Eastern dish, but are afraid to branch out too far, opt for this. This appetizer, and the mujadara, were worth the drive.
Drinks!
I accompanied my meal with a mint lemonade, which was actually a granita (a blended ice drink). After I was done, my waiter filled up my glass with the remainder of it, which had been waiting for me patiently in a metal cup.ﾠ
Following Up
I had about half of those two appetizers, and went on to my last course—lamb kebab with Shishka fries (French fries seasoned with za’atar, sumac and salt). The kebab cubes were very tender and easy to chew, but fell short on taste. The fries tasted a little hard, which is never a good thing. These too did not have much taste. Being that kebabs are über popular, it would behoove them to improve their recipe.
Closing Thoughts
On a positive note, I will compliment them on the service. I was asked if I wanted all 3 of my dishes at the same time, or just the appetizers first. Some waiters just bring everything at once without asking, and the food goes cold. I was also asked how my meal was going.
One of my waiters mistakenly brought me a lamb kofta kebab and regular fries. When I explained that I had ordered something else, he verified it on the menu, so he could get my order right. He was courteous and professional about it. What made the experience better was that the other waiter cut off part of the lamb kofta for me to sample. What a nice gesture! It was pretty good! This more than made up for their mistake.
Even though I wasn’t happy with my main course, I’d still return to Shishka Lebanese Grill, because their mujadara and arayes were so damn good. I’ll just stick to their large appetizer selection next time, which is clearly more than enough to fill and satisfy me.
Where to find Shishka Lebanese Grill
Shishka Lebanese Grill
1901 N Federal Highway
Pompano Beach, FL 33062
(954) 943-2999
www.shishkagrill.com