Munjed’s Middle Eastern Cafe provides a tasty local alternative for Mediterranean food while King David’s Restaurant is closed. But even when King David’s reopens, Munjed’s will hold its own with its cheap prices and delicious food.

Munjed’s is located between Alto Cinco and Dorian’s Pizzeria at 530 Westcott St. Open Monday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Friday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., this cafe serves a wide array of traditional Middle Eastern foods, including hummus, falafel, shish kebobs, lamb or chicken gyros and tabbouleh.

When we walked into Munjed’s at about 3 p.m. last Friday,the restaurant was completely empty. Although slightly off-putting at first, we only had to wait a short period of time for our food. Upon entering the café, the aroma of warm pita bread and rich Mediterranean spices filled the air and was only complemented by the opulent Arabic-inspired décor. Middle Eastern paintings line the walls, and vivid red and gold accents give the small eatery an exotic and lavish feel.

To start, we ordered the Mazza Sampler ($7.99), which includes falafel patties, stuffed grape leaves, hummus and baba ghanoush served with warm pita bread. Though the presentation was a bit sloppy and disorganized, it was by far the highlight of the meal. What the dish lacked in aesthetics, it certainly made up for with flavor. All four items in the sampler were simply mouthwatering. The falafel, a mildly spiced fried chickpea patty, was made to perfection. These flavorful patties were crispy on the outside, soft and velvety on the inside and not overwhelmingly greasy despite being deep-fried. The hummus (pureed and flavored chickpeas) and baba ghanoush (pureed eggplant seasoned with garlic and lemon) were delicious on their own and tasted even better when spread over the warm, toasted pita bread.

For lunch, the chicken shawarma ($6.49) proved to be a serious disappointment after such a delicious appetizer. Grilled boneless chicken breast, topped with hummus, onions, tomatoes and tahini sauce, were stuffed inside a warm pita pocket. The grilled chicken was charred, bitter and overwhelmingly dry. And to top it off, a watered-down tahini sauce drenched the entire shawarma, resulting in a soggy, falling-apart pita pocket and messy hands.

A more satisfying lunch option was the kifta, also known as ‘The Arab Burger’ ($6.49).A warm pita pocket is filled with ground beef, hummus, lettuce, tomatoes, onions, cucumbers and tahini sauce. The ground beef was succulent, richly seasoned and nicely complemented by the fresh, crunchy cucumbers and tomatoes.

Finally, for dessert, the baklava cheesecake ($1.75), which the menu described as ‘soon to be famous,’ was another shining star in the meal and a sweet way to wrap up our Mediterranean experience. This dish combines a classic American dessert with a baklava topping made of crunchy toasted walnuts, tossed in a sugar and rose water syrup.

Overall, eating at Munjed’s was an enjoyable experience. The service was friendly and speedy, and the food was tasty. If you’re feeling in the mood to try some classic Middle Eastern dishes, head down to Westcott Street. Your taste buds — and your wallet — will leave happy.

jpimente@syr.edu

Published on February 8, 2011 at 12:00 pm