Leila

[Hassouni]

Also locations elsewhere.

[font=arial, verdana, tahoma, sans-serif][size=2][font=arial, verdana, tahoma, sans-serif][size=2][font="arial, verdana, tahoma, sans-serif"][size="2"][size=2][font="arial, verdana, tahoma, sans-serif"][size="2"][size=2][font="Tahoma"][size="2"][size=2]In Ashrafiye, in the ABC Mall. In Verdun, sort of across the street from what I believe is the Druze Welfare Building. Right where Verdun St makes a big bend. The Verdun branch is brand new (and nicer)[/size][/size][/font][/size][/size][/font][/size][/size][/font][/size][/font][font=arial, verdana, tahoma, sans-serif][size=2][font="arial, verdana, tahoma, sans-serif"][size="2"][size=2][size="2"][size=2][size="2"][size=2][/size][/size][/size][/size][font="Tahoma"]
[/font][font="Tahoma"][size="2"][size=2]Atmosphere: Ashrafiye, 4/5. Verdun 5/5. So the former is in a mall. Now granted it's a sort of outdoor mall, and Leila has places that run out into outdoor portion, but it's still in a mall. It's nice, but it's a bit cramped. The Verdun branch, which is brand new, is in a HUGE new space, with 2 levels indoors and an enormous terrace outdoors. I've sat in both the indoor and outdoor parts, and it's a lot more spacious than the Ashrafiye branch. Decor is nice, sort of modern with a traditional/rustic edge. [/size][/size][/font][/size][/size][/font]
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Argileh: 4/5. It's nice. Not the best, but nice. Again, this is a proper restaurant, so argile sort of get second shrift. The pipes are pretty though....[/size][/size][/font][/color][/color]
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[color="#5D5D5D"][color="#1C2837"][font="Tahoma"][size="2"][size=2]Service: 4/5. Ashrafiye: fine, no complaints. Verdun indoors: no complaints. Verdun outdoors, a bit slow.
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[/size][/size][/font][color="#1C2837"][font="Tahoma"][size="2"][size=2]Food: 5/5. Excellent food. A few things not seen too often on standard menus, such as mantı (Turkish/Armenian little stuffed pasta things in yogurt sauce), cheese rolls that are grilled not fried (rkakat jibne mashwiye), and superb quality meat for their mixed grill. They also do an excellent fattoush and really great traditional Arabic ice cream.

Price: 5/5. Reasonable. I think 15,000LL for an argile, which is average, if on the high side of average. A small mixed grill was 23000 LL, a large is 37000 LL. $1 =1500LL

Overall recommendation: As with many of the proper restaurants, more of a destination for food, although almost every table was smoking. The Verdun one is really nice for a smoke if you get a seat outdoors.[/size][/size][/font][/color][/color][/size][/font][/size][/font]