Tried this restaurant on a whim because the place we were going was closed. The decor is fairly sparse and uninviting so we weren't expecting much. I was pleased to see there were vegetarian options on the menu that they could easily tweak to make vegan. I tried the mezze platter. All the food on the tray, and there was plenty of it, was fresh and absolutely delicious! My date had the lamb kabobs and he said they were tender and tasty also. We have been back three times since our first visit and the food is consistently fresh. Beirut is now my go-to restaurant in Mandarin. The zaatar bread is out of this world!
Let me start by saying that I love Middle Eastern cuisine and could not be happier to see a new restaurant with authentic good Lebanese food in Jacksonville. I grew up eating the real thing, courtesy of my beloved grandmother, father and many aunts who are wonderful cooks and I learned to make many of their native specialties firsthand. My friend and I started with a Mezze Sampler, and substituted Grape Leaves for one of the other items, at no additional charge. The Grape Leaves were vegetarian, served cold and delicious. Our Sampler also included Falafel (with a sauce made from Tahini - sesame paste) that was just as I remembered. The Fattoush ( a salad with pomegranate dressing, fried bread, sumac and very fresh tomatoes, cucumbers, onions and salad greens was very good, and the Hummus and Baba Ganoush (Eggplant Dip) was very authentic, though the Hummus was a little thinner consistency than I prefer to make mine. We also got an order of Fried Kibbe and an order of lovely Sambousek (similar to an empanada, with seasoned beef, onions and pine nuts). The Kibbe was very good, and not at all fatty or greasy, which is a sign that they use very good cuts of meat for it, most likely steak or even filet. I grew up with Kibbe made from lamb, but this was very comparable for beef Kibbe, and must be good quality beef. The chef came to our table and introduced himself, he was very kind and friendly and offered us a free dessert, Beirut Nights, which was delicious and the perfect end to our meal. The decor could use a few Lebanese touches, but hopefully that will come eventually and I hope they will be with us for a long time! Will definitely be a regular customer.
(5)
Jeniah J.
The food here is fabulous and the drinks are divine. The live piano music inside creates a calming atmosphere and the ambiance on the patio is calm and delightful. Everything I've tried here tastes just like food I ate in Lebanon. This is a must if you're in the area.
(5)
Brandie D.
The food was amazing and the service was great! There was a nice outside area with a bar and DJ set up. We went for lunch but this looks like the place to try at night!
(5)
Valerie F.
Best Lebanese food in Jacksonville the atmosphere is great they do also special events like well known arabic singer and they have a dj on saturday night// the food is so healthy and freshly made the staff is very friendly and they do cater even they do weddings in the restaurant . best place best chef best food best hookah
(5)
BS B.
Poor food, poor hookah, and poor drinks I ordered Kabob, it's tasteless and very tiny 2 pieces, it shouldn't called kabob, it should be called mini kabob or mini Kofta. In addition I was trying to order Mojito, they said the bar tender is not here so I got beer which wasn't cold enough. And the last their hookah wasn't good.. I give them 2 stars just for the Lady who served us, she was trying to be nice and helpful.. Anyway I will not go there anymore
(2)
Amy Lyn D.
Tasty food and excellent service. The homemade pita was warm and delicious as was the fattoush. Would get 5 stars if was less expensive.
(4)
Adriana M.
Good food and friendly service. I specially liked the tablecloths on the tables; not many restaurants have them nowadays. I had the falafel, kibbeh, taboule, hummus and baba ghanoush. They were delicious. The bread there is nothing like the pita you get in the stores.
(5)
Gabby H.
The food here is nothing out of the ordinary. Food is expensive and so not worth it. There are much better Middle eastern restaurants to eat at in jax! Service was slow too. I'm very disappointed.
(2)
Sara B.
Poor food, poor drinks. If you literally want Only hookah, go here. For anything else, take you business elsewhere. Btw, they do not offer milk as a base for your hookah. Which I have never heard of a place not offering that as a choice. Ordered an absolut and soda, didn't have absolut nor could the server tell me what he did have to offer as far as vodka goes, just pointed to the back of the menu which has basic b**** drinks on it like, bloody mary's, rum runner, etc. Which is Not a vodka soda comparison. I ordered a house vodka soda, was brought a vodka water, and when the bill came, I was charged for a $7 Long Island!? Um, when is a house vodka the same price as a long island which has several liquors in it? When brought to the servers attention, he said there is no button for vodka, and that the long island is the same price, so it's the same thing? Watch out for your bill if you do go here. I don't see this place lasting.
(1)
Tasha R.
This restaurant is the real deal for middle eastern food which is our favorite cuisine. Everything we got was delicious and freshly made. I really loved the fattoush and tabouli salads. We had the chicken kabobs which were so good as well. The service was excellent. This is my favorite restaurant now!
(5)
Susan P.
Love this place! Food is really good. We had the humus and fatuous salad it was really good. Atmosphere is nice. Love sitting outside! We will be back.
(5)
Jennifer F.
Very good food. Friendly staff. The appetizers are really good .I would definitely recommend to friends and family .
(5)
Belinda K.
If you like authentic middle eastern quizine this is the place. Formerly a pizza place and they have not changed the interior decor much. But they have only just opened so I am sure that will come. The food was very good.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Bike Parking : No Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : Yes Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
Annette P.
Tried this restaurant on a whim because the place we were going was closed. The decor is fairly sparse and uninviting so we weren't expecting much. I was pleased to see there were vegetarian options on the menu that they could easily tweak to make vegan. I tried the mezze platter. All the food on the tray, and there was plenty of it, was fresh and absolutely delicious! My date had the lamb kabobs and he said they were tender and tasty also. We have been back three times since our first visit and the food is consistently fresh. Beirut is now my go-to restaurant in Mandarin. The zaatar bread is out of this world!
(5)Jay M.
The following review was published under my byline in the Florida Times-Union on Saturday, May 30, 2015. This is an original, unabridged version of that review. Whatever you do, don't call it "Mediterranean food." Authentic Lebanese fare has a flair and heritage all its own, and now Baymeadows Road is bookended by a pair of eateries that reflect that country's unique tastes. Joining the excellent Mandaloun on the eastern edge of Baymeadows, Beirut Restaurant & Spirits opened in February on the western end, just east of San Jose Boulevard in a former Pizza Palace. First impressions-wise, Beirut, which is named after the Lebanese capital, might as well still be a pizza joint. The brick-walled, spartan dining room sports little more decoration than a few glowing neon beer signs, which border a sea of homogenous tables that can easily come together for larger parties. Thankfully, the menu here shows up the dining room aesthetics when it comes to variety. You'll find a healthy mix of Lebanese flat breads, hot and cold mezze, or small plates for sharing, salads, kebab-dominated platters, and a handful of authentic specialties featuring such delicacies as raw beef, veal brain and frog legs. Family-style dining is available for parties of two or more (dinners start at $20 per person). We started with a hot mezze selection, the Sambousek ($5.99). These petite, empanada-like turnovers pack in a tasty mix of ground beef, onion and pine nuts. I also tried a cup of the soup of the day, a lentil ($3.99; upgrade to a bowl for $6.99), a smooth, tangy number with overtones of cumin and white pepper prominent and enjoyable. My friend's entrée, the Mezze Platter ($11.99) was a sampler plate offering hummus, baba ghanoush, labneh (strained yogurt) and garlic, sausage, falafel and fattoush, a pita bread and mixed green salad. If you're not comfortable with meat, you can substitute, as we did, grape leaves for sausage. The smoked baba ghanoush was a standout treat on this plate, paired with Beirut's homemade thin-crust pita bread. My main course, the Chicken Shawarma platter ($11.99) was a pita triangle sandwich brimming with marinated chicken chunks, lettuce, pickles and plenty of garlic. The very thin pita bread makes this sandwich strictly a fork-and-knife affair. I opted for a side of fresh, hot, middle thick-cut French fries instead of standard white rice. For the obligatory sweet wrap-up to our meal, we chose two of the four desserts on the menu. Beirut Nights ($5.99) is a traditional custard-style semolina pudding, topped with peaches, whipped cream and syrup. The pudding itself didn't do much for my sweet tooth. It was bland for my palate, with the slightest buttery nod. We fared much better with the Chocolate Biscuits ($5.99), a walled fortress of crushed chocolate and butter biscuits guarding a dollop of vanilla ice cream. This fortress was no match for my wrecking ball, a motivated, fast-working fork. Beirut features a full bar, with weeknight happy hours from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. featuring two-for-one beers, American and traditional Arak-based cocktails, and red, white and pink vintages, many from Lebanon and the West Bank. Slow sippers, take note: you get both drinks at the same time. Saturday nights often bring live music, with DJs, the occasional belly dancing exhibition or violinist starting at 9 p.m. If you're more of a daytime nosher, Beirut also features a $9.99 lunch menu weekdays from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., with chalkboard specials that rotate every couple of weeks. Overall, Beirut's kitchen turns out a quality product. I will return to sample some of the dozen flat breads I missed my first time around. Beirut Restaurant & Spirits 3928 Baymeadows Road, Goodby's Creek (904) 660-2136 BeirutAtJax.com Type of cuisine: Lebanese Hours: Open daily, 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. (kitchen open until 11:30 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, 1 a.m. Friday and Saturday) Credit cards: All major accepted Bar service: Full bar Children's menu: No Catering: Yes Reservations accepted: Yes Price range: Mezze/small plates, $6; pizza/flatbreads, $8-12; platters and specialty entrees, $10-20
(4)Elisa Y.
Let me start by saying that I love Middle Eastern cuisine and could not be happier to see a new restaurant with authentic good Lebanese food in Jacksonville. I grew up eating the real thing, courtesy of my beloved grandmother, father and many aunts who are wonderful cooks and I learned to make many of their native specialties firsthand. My friend and I started with a Mezze Sampler, and substituted Grape Leaves for one of the other items, at no additional charge. The Grape Leaves were vegetarian, served cold and delicious. Our Sampler also included Falafel (with a sauce made from Tahini - sesame paste) that was just as I remembered. The Fattoush ( a salad with pomegranate dressing, fried bread, sumac and very fresh tomatoes, cucumbers, onions and salad greens was very good, and the Hummus and Baba Ganoush (Eggplant Dip) was very authentic, though the Hummus was a little thinner consistency than I prefer to make mine. We also got an order of Fried Kibbe and an order of lovely Sambousek (similar to an empanada, with seasoned beef, onions and pine nuts). The Kibbe was very good, and not at all fatty or greasy, which is a sign that they use very good cuts of meat for it, most likely steak or even filet. I grew up with Kibbe made from lamb, but this was very comparable for beef Kibbe, and must be good quality beef. The chef came to our table and introduced himself, he was very kind and friendly and offered us a free dessert, Beirut Nights, which was delicious and the perfect end to our meal. The decor could use a few Lebanese touches, but hopefully that will come eventually and I hope they will be with us for a long time! Will definitely be a regular customer.
(5)Jeniah J.
The food here is fabulous and the drinks are divine. The live piano music inside creates a calming atmosphere and the ambiance on the patio is calm and delightful. Everything I've tried here tastes just like food I ate in Lebanon. This is a must if you're in the area.
(5)Brandie D.
The food was amazing and the service was great! There was a nice outside area with a bar and DJ set up. We went for lunch but this looks like the place to try at night!
(5)Valerie F.
Best Lebanese food in Jacksonville the atmosphere is great they do also special events like well known arabic singer and they have a dj on saturday night// the food is so healthy and freshly made the staff is very friendly and they do cater even they do weddings in the restaurant . best place best chef best food best hookah
(5)BS B.
Poor food, poor hookah, and poor drinks I ordered Kabob, it's tasteless and very tiny 2 pieces, it shouldn't called kabob, it should be called mini kabob or mini Kofta. In addition I was trying to order Mojito, they said the bar tender is not here so I got beer which wasn't cold enough. And the last their hookah wasn't good.. I give them 2 stars just for the Lady who served us, she was trying to be nice and helpful.. Anyway I will not go there anymore
(2)Amy Lyn D.
Tasty food and excellent service. The homemade pita was warm and delicious as was the fattoush. Would get 5 stars if was less expensive.
(4)Adriana M.
Good food and friendly service. I specially liked the tablecloths on the tables; not many restaurants have them nowadays. I had the falafel, kibbeh, taboule, hummus and baba ghanoush. They were delicious. The bread there is nothing like the pita you get in the stores.
(5)Gabby H.
The food here is nothing out of the ordinary. Food is expensive and so not worth it. There are much better Middle eastern restaurants to eat at in jax! Service was slow too. I'm very disappointed.
(2)Sara B.
Poor food, poor drinks. If you literally want Only hookah, go here. For anything else, take you business elsewhere. Btw, they do not offer milk as a base for your hookah. Which I have never heard of a place not offering that as a choice. Ordered an absolut and soda, didn't have absolut nor could the server tell me what he did have to offer as far as vodka goes, just pointed to the back of the menu which has basic b**** drinks on it like, bloody mary's, rum runner, etc. Which is Not a vodka soda comparison. I ordered a house vodka soda, was brought a vodka water, and when the bill came, I was charged for a $7 Long Island!? Um, when is a house vodka the same price as a long island which has several liquors in it? When brought to the servers attention, he said there is no button for vodka, and that the long island is the same price, so it's the same thing? Watch out for your bill if you do go here. I don't see this place lasting.
(1)Tasha R.
This restaurant is the real deal for middle eastern food which is our favorite cuisine. Everything we got was delicious and freshly made. I really loved the fattoush and tabouli salads. We had the chicken kabobs which were so good as well. The service was excellent. This is my favorite restaurant now!
(5)Susan P.
Love this place! Food is really good. We had the humus and fatuous salad it was really good. Atmosphere is nice. Love sitting outside! We will be back.
(5)Jennifer F.
Very good food. Friendly staff. The appetizers are really good .I would definitely recommend to friends and family .
(5)Belinda K.
If you like authentic middle eastern quizine this is the place. Formerly a pizza place and they have not changed the interior decor much. But they have only just opened so I am sure that will come. The food was very good.
(4)