Maha's Lebanese Restaurant, Monterey, California

[baklawa]

BLAH.  We went here based on the many great reviews we read.  It was a Saturday night and the place was packed, so we were confident that it lived up to its reputation.  It didn't.  On the plus side, the service was great, and the samboosak appetizer was yummy.  Other than that, har manshee.  I don't think there was a salt jar anywhere in the restaurant.  The food was completely flavorless.  The hummus tasted like it came out of a can.  There wasn't an ounce of lemon in either the fattoush or the tabbula.  Our entrees -- lamb shank, and chicken shawarma -- were bland and boring.  And the dessert -- the namoura and baklawa were completely dry and tasted like they had been sitting out for days.  They did have a bellydance show, which was nice, even though the place is so small that they hardly had room to perform properly.  Everytime the dancer swung her hip she seemed to hit something -- a chair, the counter, a waiter.  Overall, a big letdown.

 

[JayC]

I made a research about this restaurant as I got amazed with some reviews. I am planning to go to California next month and I actually look for some restaurants that offer something not only delicious but extra-ordinarily made and packed by the restaurant itself. One thing that made my cravings intense is the belly dancers that would enlighten you while you eat or wait for the food you ordered.