Byblos - Restaurant Review - Dining Out with Rob Balon

Byblos

(512) 490-1212
13000 N. IH-35.
-website-

Mon-Sat:
Sun:

11am-8:30pm
11am-5pm

(March 17, 2006)

Our journey today takes us to a very unusual Deli called Byblos at N IH35 and Parmer Lane. It's behind the Walmart in a little strip center and if you like Mediterranean fare, you will enjoy the offerings here. Byblos is named after a port city in Lebanon and the fare is common to that area: Turkey, Syria, Cyprus, Lebanon, Israel and Greece. The food is invariably healthy with lots of vegetables and few preservatives.

The classic beginning to Mediterranean fare is usally the mezes, a variety of vegetable based appetizers.Att Byblos, let's start with that most universal of dishfes from the area, the Falafel. Falafel is fried balls of spiced fava beans and or chickpeas. It's the falafel Lebanese version of street food and is ofrten presented in a pita wrap. The falafel at Byblos has a tangy flavor but it's not overly spiced. The texture is also what I would expect from this classic dish.

The Fattoush is a Lebanese salad that is very colorful and flavorful. The emphasis is on tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, raddishes, onions and a boatload of spices that all work well to produce the signature flavor. The Tabouleh is also another great salad, the principle ingredients being cracked bulgar wheat and parsley, This is often called the national Lebanese salad. And it has a a wonderfully enticing flavor. I also like the Hummus, a mellow and densely textured paste made from chickpeas with lemon and garlic.. It's got a a very comfortable flavor and goes well with a hot piece of pita bread.

The main entrees at deli like Byblos usually center around grilled meats. I found the Beef Shawarma to be delicious, and reminiscent of the Gyro. The name comes from the Turkish word "to rotate" as the meat is rotated on a large rotating machine that looks like a Gyro machine. The flav or here is immediate and searing. I found it a trifle overpowering at first, because I'm more used to Gyros, but I grew to like the Shawarama. Also try the Beef Kabob. The meat is tender and has a smokey and engaging flavor. I like to wrap my kabobs in pita bread and have a little Hummus nearby for dipping. Another intriguing entree is the Makanek, tiny Lebanese sausages that have a very unique flavor. Again, might be a bit of learning curve for American taste buds, but once it kicks in, I find them hard to resist. A related item is the Sujuk, a spicy Lebanese beef sausage that is hugely popular in the MIddle East.It's got a very robust flavor and a kind of rough-hewed texture. I am a sausage fan and it was very satisfying.

Take the time to track down Byblos Deli. The official address is 13000 N. IH 35 in Building 12, Suite number 204. Their phone is 490-1212 in case you get lost and need help. But this is a very interesting little spot,a nd if your sensibilities lean toward Lebanese cuisine, you don't want to miss it.

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