Does anyone have recommendations for Middle Eastern food in Austin?

I only have secondhand recs.
Phara's on North Loop, across from Work Horse
Alborz (technically Persian) on Anderson Lane just east of MoPac

I've heard good things about Pharas

Been wanting to try this place http://www.yelp.com/biz/peace-bakery-and-deli-austin-3

Dimassi's is a buffet, but it's pretty good. Their salads are very fresh.

Arpeggio is good
If you do alborz do not do the buffet

Phoenicia bakery has always been good. Not a sit down place though. I go to the one on south lamar but haven't been there in a couple of years.

Dimassi's is my favorite. I grew up eating authentic arabic food (we had lebanese family friends) and this is the closest I have found to match the yumminess I remember eating as a child It is a buffet, but the quality is excellent and everything is made fresh. Their pita breads on site as well. Baklava is amazing as well. Definitely give it a try in your quest for middle eastern food!

Go to Peace Bakery and Deli in North Austin at Lamar and Braker. You will not be disappointed.

Another vote for Peace! It's owned by a Palestenian family. All you can eat pita when you dine in so make sure you get plenty of hummus or similar. While we are on Mediterranean food, I also like Sarah's on Burnet.

I have to ask, what are you looking for when you ask for "Middle Eastern" food?

Went to Sarah's for the first time this week. It was delicious.

I'm also a fan of Sarah's and of Alborz, though I agree that the buffet is not as good as the menu.

quote:

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I have to ask, what are you looking for when you ask for "Middle Eastern" food?

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That's an interesting question with few bright-line answers, particularly because I am not unusually knowledgeable about Mediterranean cuisine.

I would say that I am looking for a Mediterranean menu with a little more emphasis on lamb than is common in a Greek-driven restaurant. Eggplant moussaka, baba ghanoush, and mutabel are also appreciated. I don't claim to have a refined sense of this food.

It's a lot like Greek food, but the spices are a little different (think of the difference between shwarma and a gyro). As a joke, the difference between a Lebanese restaurant and a Greek restaurant is that a Greek restaurant serves "hummus" and a Lebanese restaurant has a "hummus menu."

If a place can serve the bottom portion of the rice (tadiq, is the Persian name), that is also a plus.

Deserts that I am looking for are typically nut-and-flaky-pastry driven. Think several varieties of baklava-like substance.

You need to visit Peace Bakery based on that response.

Will do.

+3 for Damasi's-- go hungry

Tarbouch on Oltorf is really good Lebanese food.
http://www.tarbouchfood.com

DiMassi's is also pretty good.

Beirut Food Truck

Find them on Facebook as "Beirut Austin Food Trailer".

Great Lebanese food and even better people who own it.

http://www.yelp.com/biz/beirut-austin

2nd the Rex for Beirut! I'm friend's with the owners and they are good people, husband is from Lebanon. Great place. Also, peace bakery is good. Pars Deli on Burnet has a great gyro but I think the baklava is store bought. I haven't been to Phara's but went all the time when it was Ararat. Phara was a belly dancer at Ararat and now runs the joint and I have heard good things. Will be trying it soon.

I also used to go when it was Ararat. I need to give it a try.