My fridge smells amazing right now. And by amazing, I mostly mean garlicky. It’s enticing me to eat my leftovers, not always something I’m eager to do.
But let’s rewind a day. It’s around 11:30 a.m. I score the final table available at Lebanese Kitchen in Fairfax. Apparently, I’m the last to know the secret.
There are near-infinite combinations for a Meaty Monday. I’m curious about the shawarma pizza, loaded with slices of marinated chicken or beef. There’s fried kibbeh to start. There’s even a Lebanese-style burger, served on a kaiser roll. But I’m feeling lazy. Or hungry. Both, really. So I simply order the mixed grill.
For $17.99, the meal includes portions of three meats that are indeed fresh from the fire. I start with the kofta, onion-and-parsley-flecked ground lamb and beef with an exterior that’s crisped by the grill. Cubes of beef are tender and a bit pink in the middle, with just enough garlic in its marinade so as not to overpower the natural flavor of the flesh. But best of all is the chicken kebab. It’s tangy, aromatic, and melts in my mouth. Paired with yogurt sauce, yellow rice, and grilled veggies, I would be perfectly happy to have it as the sole protein on my plate.
But the best Meaty Mondays are all about excess. Three meats? It’s the way to go. And thanks to those ample portions, I have a fridge that’s calling to me. // 13031 Lee Jackson Memorial Hwy., Fairfax
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