There is a new Lebanese restaurant debuting on West Broad Street called "The Phoenician". The sign and the facade have already been changed at 4401 West Broad Street, formerly La Casita Mexican Restaurant. Outside it doesnt look like much but inside the decorations are very cool-very fantasy Moroccan but not tacky. There are huge middle eastern lamps hung all over the place with fabric banners that attach to them and silk pillows that line the seats at the larger tables. They play ethnic music while you eat (not live of course), and the red burgandy and gold walls give everything a warm bellydance oasis feel. Okay so enough of that, the food is AMAZING I've never had such a great kabob and my boyfriend loved his falafel. They give you pita and two kinds of hummus/olives before your meal, that alone was worth going for.
For two at lunch its around $17.00 without dessert!!
Two for dinner with all the workings including dessert and starters -er more like $60.00.
Not a lot of people have heard about them, and they're worried locals wont go for the whole Lebanese cultural food thing-so go try em out!!
posted by:
Sadira
Richmond
  • I just went for lunch today. I thought the food was acceptable - not the best Mediterranean food I've ever had, but plentiful and reasonably priced for lunch ($7 or so) and the atmosphere was quiet and pleasant.
    There is more room for dancing there than in a lot of the restaurants people dance at around here. My only concern is that it's expensive for dinner -- $17 for entrees. So maybe a good place for a dancer to go, but a lousy place for a hafla or other event where everyone is expected to buy food for the privilege of performing for free. It's just too expensive for that.
    • What were the vegetarian options? Overpiced "sample-plates" of pita bread, iceberg lettuce, hummus, baba ghanoush and three sickly looking dolmas? Or REAL vegetarian options?
      • As far as the dancing goes I'd say just ask the people that own the joint and see if they are even amenable to dancer(s) or haflas.

        There are some real vegge options......like falafel-the food is made by a little old lady from that particular region when I went-so no , the food is ethnic to a degree, meaning if theres something that would take someone hours to make I'm sure they get it from Nicks med. Btw the pita and hummus is free with the meal. Like I posted the food for dinner is expensive but the surroundings are very nice and the place in my oppinion is too unique to not give a little post on. The food isnt going to be five star but it is very good, better than most "fancy" restuarants I've been to in richmond. Having had alot of those foods homemade I was happy with it-although Lebanese food is very different from alot of mediterranean dishes its kind of all on its own.