Mashawee Lebanese Grill
14016 – 127 Street
780-476-4511
Rating: ****
Signature Dish: Half Charcoal Chicken ($14.95)
Brunch for two: $40
Last
week, I found myself in the wintry expanses of Edmonton’s north side.
Peckish and a little lost, I turned into a random strip mall parking
lot and stopped in front of Mashawee Lebanese Grill. I wasn’t far from
“Little Lebanon,” where Sunbake Pita serves hundreds of hungry fans
every day, so I thought I might be in for a treat.
Boy, was I right.
Not
only did the owners of Sunbake Pita open Mashawee, they include fresh,
soft samples with every meal. I decided on the Trio Combo Plate
($15.95) in order to sample a little bit of everything, and a
refreshing guava juice ($1.75) bottled in Lebanon. Along with my trio
of tender and savory grilled meats, I surveyed the cinnamon-laced rice,
pickled vegetables, tabouleh salad, fries and hummus. I made a valiant
effort and enjoyed every bite — the lamb kafta was my favourite — but I
took home a lunch’s worth of food after I was overcome by the delights
on my plate.
If that wasn’t enough to catapult Mashawee into one
of my top Edmonton foodie picks, our sweet server brought over a plate
of free Paradiso baklava to end the meal.
The next time I dare the Arctic reaches of our city, I’ll be warming myself at Mashawee.
Dining out
Indian
It’s
a brave boast, but Guru claims to offer the best Indian cuisine in
Edmonton. Award-winning Executive Chef Deependra Singh has crafted both
fine, traditional Indian fare but also lends an Asian flare in his
mutton curry, pork bhuna and chicken vindaloo. Find them in the old
Cheesecake Café location at 17021 – 100 Avenue: reservations
recommended at 780-484-4300.
Class-act
Picture it:
low, cream-coloured leather couches gathered around a luxurious coffee
table spread with tapas and a rainbow of oven-roasted flatbread pizzas.
Add specialty martinis and end with Bernard Callebaut chocolate-stuffed
strawberries. Suede Lounge at 11806 Jasper Avenue will turn your party
into a par-tay.
