My mom always said, “The way to a man’s heart is through his stomach.” This is why San Jose has found a special place in my heart. San Jose has some of the most popular restaurants in all of Costa Rica. You can find a wide variety of restaurants from Benihana’s to Church’s Chicken, but what I love even more is finding hidden treasures. In Sabana Norte you can find a 
Lebanese restaurant called “Beirut”. This Lebanese restaurant is located in a small shopping center, so small in fact if you were walking on the street you might just miss it. When you first enter the restaurant the owner who speaks Spanish, English and Lebanese will greet you with a big inviting smile. You will also notice a variety of Lebanese souvenirs; you can even buy some baklava to go.
You will find choosing your seat is much easier than choosing what to order. The menu offers a wide variety of delicious dishes. The variety platter makes a great appetizer though it can easily be shared between four people. It is well worth it even if there are just two of you. The variety platter comes with stuffed grape leafs, samosa, hummus, tabouli and much more. Surprisingly this is probably the best tabouli I have ever had (and I grew up in a Middle Eastern community eating a lot of it!). The best part is if you get there a little early before the lunch rush typically the owner may throw in an extra item or two to your sampler.
When trying to decide what to order for lunch the owner boasts to cooking the best lamb there is. He is even willing to make this challenge: if you don’t like his lamb he will give it to you for free. This was a challenge I was willing to take because first of all I was wondering where in the world could you find lamb in Costa Rica and secondly I hate lamb. So basically, I was thinking that I would get a free meal.
When my plate arrived I was served a salad, jasmine rice with raisins, roasted potatoes and finally the lamb. The salad is a very typical Lebanese salad but what I was very pleased with was the amount of dressing that came on the salad. One thing I have found is that salads in Costa Rica are either drenched in dressing or come with no dressing at all. I am not very fond of raisins as it is, and so I thought they would taste even worse in rice but honestly that was some great rice and everyone at my table couldn’t stop eating my food.
Now as for the lamb: it was so tender it fell right off the bone. It comes in delicious gravy that you just want to dip everything in. I was very upset with the lamb because after the first bite I knew I was going to have to pay for my meal. If I could give one recommendation after ordering the lamb several times now is request the leg of the lamb, as it was the most savory part. If you are in Sabana Norte make sure you stop in to Beirut where I promise you will find losing a challenge can sometimes be better than winning and this is the case with the lamb at Beirut.
Beirut is open from Tuesday to Saturday 11 am – 3 pm and from 5 pm – 11 pm. Sundays they are open from 11 am to 5 pm.
Phone: +(506) 2296–9622
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