#TerrificTakeout #InauguralReview #ChamounsWay #YoussefChamoun #Lebanese #UpperEastSide
It's not who you know, it's WHOM YOU KNOW and you ought to know that by now! Recently we were delighted to meet Youssef Chamoun, founder and owner of Chamoun's Way at 1237 First Avenue in Manhattan which specializes in his native cuisine, Lebanese. This is not only our first review of him but also may be his first review and you are the first to know! A delicious, hit-the-spot Mediterranean Healthy Lebanese hotspot, Chamoun's Way impressed us with their specialty menu; Youssef's family is in the restaurant business in Lebanon. Head Chef Ghina Rahme is his second cousin and Chef Charbel Chamoun with 15 years of restaurant experience, 8 in the USA is his brother.
First, Youssef suggested we try the hummus and we'd say it would be hard to beat anywhere, even at the pinkie-out-white-tablecloth restaurants. The smoothness, consistency and flavor spoke for themselves and as Peachy is a Dill Enthusiast, she also opted for the Yogurt Cucumber Cold Mezze in all its yogurt, dill and fresh mint glory.
Pictures speak louder than words:
Next we tried Eggplant Salad:
The superlative chunks of succulent chargrilled eggplant were sublime as diced tomatoes waltzed in their sea of fresh parsley and garlic with pomegranate lemon and olive oil dressing. Amazing! Fresh! Invigorating. Among the most signature dishes is the Homestyle Kibbeh Labanieh:
Twin ravishing beef dumplings in Warm Yogurt are spiced to perfection with pine nuts, onion and bulgur wheat basking in a yogurt sauce like they are on the beach of your dinner plate. We understand it's a family favorite and we surmise it might join your list of favorites as well.
Not unlike Peachy when she is cranky or overtired, we found the Homestyle Lebanese Molokhia did not photograph as well as it lived up to be! It is entirely appetizing with its greens of Mallow Leaves-and there's something we do not remember having before! Dotted with seasoned white chicken, cilantro, oinion and garlic, the flavor combination is sensational and unlike any other. It was among our favorite parts of this review and probably is quite healthy too! (We never claim to be nutritionists.)
The burgers are also quite impressive: meet the Lebanese Cheeseburger crafted with a bespoke mix of 70/30 Beef/Lamb respectively and tasting 100 percent delicious! Embellished with cheese, lettuce, tomato, onion, pickle and french fries, this hit-the-spot staple is a must-try as is the Lebanese Double Chicken Burger below, fragrantly spiced and tasty in its own right.
Finally, our favorite here is the Beet Salad. Beets are highly underrepresented on all Manhattan menus and we want to see more of them! This genius combination is composed of of course Fresh Beets, arugula, cucumber, tomato and red onions in perfect proportion and is served with a lemon and olive oil dressing.
Chamoun's Way is Terrific Takeout and look forward to seeing what they do next.
