Just minutes away from McLean High School lies Cafe Levantine, a locally-owned Lebanese restaurant that honors the pillars of hospitality and culture. While the establishment may look unassuming from the outside, once inside we were met with a clean, modern look and the comforting feeling of community.
However, mediocre food and slow service undermined our positive impression of the eatery. We appreciate the ode to traditional Lebanese food and heritage, but after our experience, we ultimately feel disinclined to return.
Sfouf – 3.5/5 stars
I did not know what sfouf was when I ordered it, yet it turned out to be a pleasant treat. The olive oil cake was spiced with a subtle note of turmeric and plenty of shredded coconut. It was drier and more crumbly than expected, but still tasty. The excess of coconut on top was necessary to elevate its flavor. While the sfouf did not blow away my taste buds, it was still a solid dessert that paired nicely with the rest of our order.
Brown Sugar Shaken Espresso – 3.5/5 stars
This coffee, while not technically Lebanese, was still an enjoyable beverage. It was served a lot darker than expected, and I recommend adding creamer if you are not accustomed to the bitter taste of coffee. Additionally, the cup was mostly filled with ice, leaving little actual coffee to drink. Overall, the coffee was on par with the comparable Starbucks version: satisfactory but not mind-blowing.
Pistaccinno – 2/5 stars
The Pistaccinno was described as a cappuccino with pistachio spread lining the cup. The picture on the menu looked promising, but when I was served my drink, I was unfortunately let down. Unlike a traditional cappuccino, which has frothed milk, this was much darker in color and less creamy. Upon tasting the beverage, it seemed that it was just a regular brewed coffee with some milk in it. The pistachio flavor was rich and nutty, but I would have preferred more of it, as the flavor was lacking. The drink presentation was visually appealing, but for $9, I would consider this small cup of bland coffee to be a waste of money.
Rice Pudding – 3.5/5 stars
This rice pudding was a pleasant dessert, as it was milk-based and was topped with plenty of cinnamon. Frankly speaking, the pudding was average. It was a nice and light palette cleanser, but was a small portion and nothing special. While I did not mind it, it was unimpressive and not a reason for me to come back to Cafe Levantine.
Muffins – 4/5 stars
The two muffins I ordered, orange cranberry and blueberry, were the best out of all of the items I tried at Cafe Levantine. They were moist and were a great size for only $4 per muffin. The blueberry muffin was slightly sweeter than I would have liked, but that did not take away from the overall enjoyable eating experience. These muffins were pretty similar to those at other cafes, but they were a good addition to my beverage.