5757 Westheimer Rd, Houston, TX 77057 (713) 952-6969 cafelili.com

This family-owned restaurant has been in business for thirty years: ‘nuff said! Recently the bright young cashier pointed to a table so that I could take a respectful glance at his grandma, who began the operation three decades back. Clean, simple, and efficient, the restaurant invites diners to order from the counter from on overhead menu, and runners bring your dishes to your table, almost immediately. Fresh and nourishing flavors greet your palate, with dishes coming straight off the Mediterranean Food Pyramid described in the paragraph above. Servings are large, prices are moderate, and the cooks ‘know their way around the kitchen’, turning out delectable food. Appetizers * Falafel, parsley, sliced tomato, radishes, tahini sauce * Fried cauliflower * Hummus * Tabouli * Moujedra, lentils & rice topped w caramelized onion * Laban, plain homemade yogurt * Veggie plate * Choose 3 o 4 from the following: hummus, tabouli salad, baba ghanouj, laban, lebneh, yogurt & cucumber, green beans, moujedra, vermicelli rice, side salad, soup, vegetarian stuffed rice leaves * Foul moudammas, fava beans cooked w lemon, garlic, and olive oil * Plates * Kafta, 2 skewers w tomato, onion, & parsley * Chicken kabob, Arminian cucumber pickles, garlic sauce * Beef shawarma, romaine & sliced tomato * Beef kabob, beef tenderloin * Chicken, breast cubes * Stuffed grape leaves, ground chuck beef & rice * Fried kibbie, beef & cracked wheat, filled w ground chuck beef, onion, roasted pine nuts, then deep fried * Spinach pie * Cheese pie, onion, lemon, and baked * Salads * Lebanese * Fetoush, lettuce + bell peppers, radishes, parsley, green onion, toasted pita, w lemon-garlic-olive oil dressing * Feta cheese * Lima bean * Desserts * Caramel custard * Rice pudding * Baklava, thin layers of dough w walnuts, topped w homemade syrup & a sprinkle of crushed pistachio * Pistachio cookie * Date cookie