www.CostaRicaTicas.com

This is a Lebanese Restaurante on Paseo Colone a couple of blocks West of the Scotiabank building (This building is also called the Torre Mercedes building in case anyone else but me has ever gotten directions for an address 100 metros Norte Torres Mercedes and spent hours going up and down Paseo Colone looking for a Benz dealership that no longer exists).

The decor is not necessarily Lebanese but sort of Pan-Arab. Pictures of Camel caravans and Ziggurats dot the walls and the wait staff try to maintain their dignity while wearing fez's.

The menu has an English translation underneath the Arabic and Spanish and the Waiter spoke English and was eager to practice. A curious number of items on the menu included raw meat dishes, which I thought was an Ethiopean(sp?) specialty and not an Arab one.

I was in the mood for Hummus and was going to order the vegetarian platter until the the waiter explained to me that the Mixtura Lubnan included a sdie of Hummus and pita. Sold!

This was three Shesh Kabobs of Chicken, cow and lamb. Also on the side was a Ground up portion of some other meat (Lamb I think, it was slightly gamey). Two sauces were added on the side, a garlic butter and a hot sauce. The hot was Atomic and the garlic was very garlicky. The sauces were good and the meats were enjoyable (except the ground up one) , the hummus was excelente. This was followed by Turkish coffee. If you are unsure what Turkish coffee is, it is stronger and harsher then regular coffee and served in its own pitcher.

Add a beer and a tip (they did not charge for the coffee so I left an extra couple of bucks) and it was $15. If you have a hankering for hummus and dont mind tasting the garlic the next day, then this is the place.

Kibbi Nai (sp) is a traditional raw lamb Lebanese dish. I have not been to Lubnan but htere is a lebanese population here and several restaurants, There is one that a Lebanese friend recoomends that is somewhere 1 block North of LaSabana. I do not recall the name.

I love Lebanese food. P.S. Panama is full of good Lebanese and Arabic restaurants.

Habibis on Calle Uruguay is very good, and located right in the action.

BKTUNA
I am never going home

BKT,
The name is "BEIRUT" , around the corner, in a small mall , from ApartHotel LaSabana ,, 200 mts north of RostiPollos in Sabana Norte.

Much better food, great service , nicer setting than "Lubnan".

Found the service on a busy Friday eve at "Lubnan" to be worst ever anywhere in San Jose.


Cygnus

Nice info Mickey, always looking for ethnic alternatives in dining. BK, Cyg appreciate the input as well

love lubnan myself, especially the garlic dip, hahahaha, the raw ground beef and spices is great as well as the schwarmas and chicken kebabs