A Taste of the Levant on Fifth Street

Zeina Restaurant
441 Raritan Avenue, Highland Park
(732) 543-1530

Beirut, the capital city of Lebanon, was recently called the top place to visit by The New York Times and the Lonely Planet Travel Guide coined it one of the top 10 liveliest cities in the world. The ancient Mediterranean seaport, nicknamed "Paris of the East," is best known for its night life and sumptuous food, and Zeina Restaurant brings a bit of that glamor to Highland Park.

The large dining room with soft lights, Turkish music, antique weapons and musical instruments mounted on a large brick wall, and of course the wafting odors of exotic spices, surrounds all of  the senses. Oriental rugs, tapestries, and flowing drapes deliver you to the Middle East along with steaming plates of stuffed cabbage and zucchini.

On Saturday nights, belly dancers complete the amosphere, as patrons feast on grilled branzini, skewered cubes of marinated lamb and Turkish rice, and stuffed graped leaves. In the warmer months there is a brick terrace to enjoy.

Mahmoud "Mike" Chaghlil, manager and co-owner with Chantal Popescu, wants to lead you back to the flavors and the ambiance of his childhood growing up in Beirut. "I have always loved food," Chaghil says. "I was all the time in the kitchen with my mother and I watched as she and my grandmother made stuffed cabbage with lamb and beef and zucchini stuffed with eggplant and other vegetables."

His full slection of lunch and dinner menus include dishes from Morocco, Turkey, Egypt, and Syria as well as his childhood home of Lebanon.

 

 

"In my restaurant I greet people by name and make sure they are happy, which is a  trait of my home," Chaghlil said. "Highland Park is a warm place, it needs this kind of service and home-like atmosphere."

During the week days there are lunch specials of soup, salad, Turkish bread and a drink for $7.95. Zeina is a bring your own bottle restaurant and make sure to make reservations by Wednesday for Saturday nights when the belly dancers emerge.

Zeina, which means, "Best of Everything," features a large selection of fresh fish, colorful salads of tabouleh, fava bean and chick peas, as well as lamb, beef and organic chicken. Everything was prepared to a grilled perfection, and presented with a continental grace befitting the 'Paris of Central Jersey.'

Yogurt drinks, Turkish coffee and desserts that are tasty but not too rich or sweet. Hospitality from the friendly staff -- who are happy to explain and recommend from the menu -- is another winner at this new restaurant. Not bad for an international night without even leaving Raritan Avenue.