Karam Lebanese - Restaurants - Portland, Oregon
City: Portland, OR
Category: Restaurants
Telephone: (503) 223-0830
Address: 316 Southwest Stark St.
Description: It’s hard to know where to begin a description of this friendly and abundant place: Karam Lebanese not only has some of the most delicious Middle Eastern food in town, but some of the best service as well. The dining room is hospitable, and the menu well priced. You can tell a lot about a restaurant by how it does the simplest things, and in a Lebanese restaurant, you should first look at the pita. Here, it is indescribably warm and fresh, and if yours looks like it is getting cold, the servers whisk it away and replace it with a new basket. Even the drinks are special—both alcoholic and nonalcoholic drinks might be flavored with rose water or tamarind. The hummus is creamy, with just the right proportions of lemon and garlic, the falafel perfectly crisped, and even the tabbouleh is piquant and delicious. But the main courses are what it’s all about. Here, you will find a wonderful variety of dishes: a savory vegetable kabob served with delicate rice and tomato sauce, a chicken schawarma, or a “Meat Mezza,” which offers small tastes of many dishes. Karam is especially known for its Goat Bil Tfeen, a stew in which goat is braised in red wine and garlic, and served with bulgur wheat, chickpeas, and potatoes. It is tender and delicious. Desserts are equally good, especially when you order a thick Turkish coffee with them. Favorites include the crispy baklava, as well as the less familiar knafe-B-kaak. This wonderful dish is composed of a mild cheese mixture that is blended with farina, baked, encrusted with pistachios, and served with a fragrant syrup. This dessert might be where ancient peoples got their ideas about the land of milk and honey, and it’s yours for the ordering at Karam.