Persian / Mediterranean, ooooooo!
I'm really glad I went...
For this one dish especially, I'd go again...
Heck, from Tampa it's just over the Causeway!
The Lamb with Eggplant....
It was a slow braise, and the lamb chunks were soft and flavorful, no bones & not gamey at all... An interesting mildly seasoned red sauce that was thickened with roasted eggplant...
The eggplant wasn't in cut chunks, it seemed swirled in...
KNOCKOUT! spooned over the herbed green rice.... I told em'...
They had a pretty white and orange regular Basmati rice as well, but I always seem to put together a more delicious concoction when I use the green rice like they also have at Cilantro in Temple Terrace...
This was Dill rice, but it didn't taste too dilly somehow... And at Cilantro, well...
The seasoned Ground Beef Kababs were fresh and juicy and I loved them...
Chicken ones too, but beef was better...
There were 3 or 4 other hot dishes on the buffet and they were tasty, but they didn't blow my mind...
Little fried crusty hushpuppy-lookin' falafel balls were GREAT to munch on....
Half the 8' buffet is cold things... Stuffed grape leaves (too tangy), creamy hummus, tabouleh, olives, pickles, baba ganouge , etc....
The place is not beautifully decorated, but it is very clean, very friendly, and the service was perfect...
I was the first customer, getting there 15 minutes after they opened for lunch, and everything was fresh, ready, and individually wrapped tight and wrinkle-free like a Marine's bunk with plastic wrap...
Being first, I buckled my seatbelts preparing for last night's 'whatever', but no...
Freshiddee fresh fresh!
 |
| Platter of Lamb with Eggplant, Dill Rice, Beef Kabob, Chicken Kabob, Baba Ganouge, Hummus, Beef with Greens, Crispy Falafel, & Pita... |
Little triangles of Baklava for dessert were cinnamonny and not too sweet....
I just ate the one I wrapped in a napkin and brought home for my wife...
$12.00 with soda refills.... I dig....
http://www.miragerestaurant.com/
