by David P.

I'm now convinced that 95% of Austin yelpers live in the '04 or '02 - there's simply no other way to explain the outrageously high reviews that restaurants get in these areas.After reading the reviews on this place, I was so ready to dive into a Lebanese restaurant in my hood and if the food was even half-way decent, it was getting 4-stars easy.Sadly, my chicken shawarma had a strange glaze, was in presented in little 'nuggets', and they completely forgot my hummus.The pita was on the dry side, pretty thin and well, very forgettable.My wife's gyro sandwich was actually not bad, but couldn't make up for the rest of the experience. We had to walk up to the register to ask for water refills and left thinking for the money, we could have done a lot better.I'm very open to trying this place again as I so desperately want a place like this in the hood, but this food was what I would expect from a Mediterranean addition to the South Austin Trailer Park and not a brick and mortar establishment.As an alternative, I'd rec'd Athenian Grill downtown for lunch only (dinner's kinda pricey)

by Stephen J.

this place is really just ok.  i don't understand why there are so many 'omg lebanese food its so revolutionary' or 'finally! greek food' - we've got phoenicia and that sarah's joint on burnet - and honestly i feel like there is some mcdonalized gyro place in barton creek mall.its your standard mediterranean restaurant.  gyro, shwarma, falafel, dolmas etc etc.  everything tasted decent if not good and the portions were ginormous.i dunno though, there's something slighty sketch there - like i feel like if they had to nuke yesterday's chicken they would do it.the one last thing that seemed a little sketch was the lady working there pronounced the word gyro 'jai-wroe' instead of 'year-wroe'

by Stacey P.

Oh man, I feel bad because the owners are nice and it does have some great potential but both the items I've had from here were not the best. The hummus didn't really have a lot of flavor last time and the pita was hard and chewy and just didn't taste very fresh. I've had much better shawarma especially the beef-the beef shawarma weirds me out here. And the Greek salad is just sad. It's too bad since I live so close by but we won't be back. I'm so excited about this place. I can't wait to get back and try out more things.The beef shawarma…

by Einar R.

great food, good price, never a crowd, never some lipshticked-up weirdo host(ess) that gives you the hibbie-jibbies even before your first bite, because it's just a cook and a couple of nice gals ready to serve up some effin' delicious monster dolmas as appetizer, although get your fork out early - the size makes them not so fingerfood-esque like you might be thinkin' for dolmas. or how about beef shawarma on that ass one time - that's a $10 plate and it's mad big pile of little fajita-ish strips of beef with some gooey hummus in a puddle next to it mmmm so good. or how about a classic gyro wrap one two one two that's right with grecian sauce and a monster salad ding ding ding $7.  baklavas were not best i've had - were tiny for one and i swear there was like a teeeeeny hint of a soap-type flavor i swear.buuuuuuuuuuut all in all totally gives diners a FINE option to curra's right next door..... 4/5.

by jenn c.

SO TASTY!  Plus, it's BYOB.  Well, wine at least.  I'm not sure if you can lug in the hard stuff.  In any case, me a good friend tried out this place on a weeknight and had a nice experience.  I had a gyro and a salad and was pleased with the flavor.  The pita was thick, with a light and fluffy texture and delicious.  My friend had a falafel and she said it was good, but was slightly disappointed that it came out on a more tortilla like pita than mine.  The ambience is so so, but the service was good the wraps were cheap.  We did get our wraps before we got our appetizer, but that's not such a big deal when it comes out so fast.  It was nice being able to bring in our own bottle of wine, and they provided the corkscrew plastic cups.  I'll definitely be back!

by mary m.

I thought the food was great. I just ate veggie and it was fresh and tasty. Waitress (owner?) was friendly. Not a romantic getaway but who cares? I was by myself.

by matthew m.

All the other reviews are spot on. Huge, fresh portions at a reasonable price. I had Chicken Tarwook and Girlfriend had the Lamb platter. Everything was seasoned and cooked perfectly, the hummus was simple and refreshing and the salad was, well, iceburg and so not very extraordinary but it was smothered in feta which I can get behind.Sure, it's a scrubbed down taco bell with a 3-bucket paint job, but the lebanese fare served here blows away everything else that passes for mediterranean in this fine city.  Get to Tarbouch as soon as possible, but make sure to save some for me.

by Marie C.

I am solely rating the food, not the ambiance. We had " to go"  the Lamb Kabob Combo : two skewers of lamb kabobs cooked over an open flame and served with basmati rice, hummus, onion salad (needs a vinagrette), pickles and grilled tomatoes $11.99 and the Vegetarian Plate : your choice of 5 items: we chose hummus, baba ghannouj, dolma, tabbouleh, tarbouch potatoes $7.99.We asked for pita bread, which they were generous giving. This food was DELICIOUS! The kabobs were cooked perfectly, moist and tender. The hummus, baba ghannouj (smoky eggplant flavor- very unique) and tabbouleh were outstanding. The dolmas were small but so tasty.  We will definitely be back for more. Good prices and high quality Lebanese food- better than any other Mediterranean restaraunt in Austin.

by Renato R.

I went to Tarbouch with my wife and roommate on their first week of opening.   Had it not been for a few touches here and there I would've given this place 5 stars.  One thing that kinda got to me was that when I ordered water they gave me a water bottle.  Yes I know my griping makes me look like a cheap bastard, but hey, I like my water, and I'm not big on this whole bottled water BS. I am also willing to forgive them since it was their first week, they may have not had soda fountains up by then.  Other than that the food was fantastic.I ordered the hummus appetizer, which we all shared and it was fresh and delicious.  My wife ordered a Gyro while I ordered the falafel wrap.  Mine was so fresh and flavorful, yet filling.  My wife's was a blend of rustic beef flavors with the crisp taste of the tzatziki sauce.  All in all the food was a great experience, I do think this place has a lot of growing to do, but the food does not need to change at all.

by Laura C.

I went with 3 others to Tarbouch for lunch and we all loved our food.We started with 2 orders of dolma. I had never had it before, so I took to the flavors relatively well. It was tasty, just not my favorite blend of flavors. The others in my party enjoyed it more than me.I ordered the falafel wrap and it was much larger than I'd expected. With the wrap and the salad that comes with it, I was stuffed by the time I finished my meal. I love falafel, and the falafel at Tarbouch was 4/5. However, falafel can vary day-to-day, so I'll have to go back again before I give my final verdict on falafel. (also: I'm pretty picky with tahini dressings, so I asked for it on the side to prevent it coating my wrap entirely. Upon taste testing, I loved it! I've not had a tahini dressing I like this much.)My lunch companions ordered:1. Chicken Shawarma Wrap -- loved it. Couldn't finish the full meal; took half of the wrap home.2. Gyros Wrap -- loved it. It had a pita pocket wrap (rather than a burrito-style wrap for the other wraps ordered at lunch) that had a great consistency.3. Lamb Kabob Platter -- really loved it. My Dad was the person who ordered this meal. He loves Middle Eastern/Mediterranean/Grecian food, and I'll be surprised if he doesn't return to this restaurant at least once a week until he tests out everything on the menu.All the wraps come with salads. All the entree platters come with hummus and a salad. I wasn't able to get a taste of the hummus, but the others said it was pretty good.When I return and order the full vegetarian plate, I'll let you know my more extensive opinions on those dishes. ...I'll bring my Dad so that he can give me an opinion for the meats. Sound good?

by Melanie L.

I hate to be the first one to give this place a bad review. Maybe I went with too high of expectations. All in all, I was unimpressed. So from the get go we were completely ignored. After a minute or two of that awkward standing I walked up to the counter to ask if we order up front or seat ourselves. The dude told me to be seated, he will take our order from the table. So we sit at a small table by the window and stare at each other and the Curra's sign for about five minutes because we still weren't given menus. Eventually a girl comes up, gives us one menu and tells us to share it because apparently they are out of menus. It wasn't like this place was packed or anything, how could they be out of menus? Anyway, soda's are served by the bottle which I always find annoying but I was pleased by my food. Boyfriend was unimpressed by his but my chicken wrap was quite tasty. We shouldn't have grabbed the seat by the window. It was like I could smell the Curra's guacamole. Generally, I felt quite unwelcome there, as if I stepped in on a family dinner or something. I will not be returning.

by meredith g.

We visited Tarbouch last night for the first time and i think this place has potentialFirst of all, the area really needed a place like this - something that is not tacos, something not too hipster, something simply good. I really was torn between the vegetarian combo and the lamb kabobs. Ultimately, I went with the lamb, which came with onion salad, hummus, a grilled though flavorless tomato, and a big mound of rice, along with pita.  There was way too much rice, which was rather dry. The lamb was not that greatMy husband ordered the gyro plate and we both agreed it was delicious, and not super greasy, as a gyro can sometimes be. It too came with hummus, a salad with cabbage and feta (which provided a nice contrasting crunch), and pita bread. Another criticism i have is that Tarbouch uses styrofoam cups (like many places here in Austin, probably because they are most economical) but still...as well as plastic flatware and paper plates (probably because they just opened), i hope.i'd give  this place another chance but i'm not dying to go back either

by Tara M.

Of course Nick M. beat me to the first review:) A friend called me at the last minute to invite me to the Grand Opening and I was there as soon as she said "Lebanese" even though I was not the least bit hungry at the time of her call... We started with yummy garlic packed Hummus (2.99) and Tarbouch Potatoes - sauteed with cilantro, garlic, roasted chili lemon juice (3.59). And we shared plates of Sheesh Tawook (2 skewers of chicken served with cabbage salad, hummus, garlic sauce and pickles) and the Gyros Plate (ground beef and lamb thinly sliced served with grecian sauce, hummus and greek salad). Our bill came to 35.00 with a generous tip including 2 teas - they do not yet have liquor licences and am not sure if you can bring your own booze..My 70+ year old Lady Friend commented on the "funky lamps" - the hookahs:)

by Victoria D.

It's always nice to see a new joint open nearby.  Even better that it's not TexMex, Burgers or BBQ (I mean, I love 'em but some variety is a good thing!).We trundled down to Tarbouch during the first week of business.  The food was plentiful and hearty and oh hell yes tasty.  The lamb? Sublime.  It's a causal little place but you'll get a good hearty meal made with love by the owner. Go forth and enjoy! These folks deserve to do well.Oh! and the owner tells us there are hookah pipes and seating outside to come.  Sweet.

by Roxanna R.

Honestly, I am basing my 5 stars on the Gyros (ground beef and lamb).  Otherwise, it would be a genuine 4 with potential.After one bite of Gyros and Grecian sauce wrapped in warm fluffy pita with all the appropriate fresh toppings........mmmmmmmmmnmhmmnnmmmm...The look of future addiction spread across my face!We also sampled the chicken shawarma and lamb kabob.  They were tasty but not knockouts like the Gyros.  Hummus fresh and yummy...My only complaints - the salad was not so exciting.  The dressing was like Wishbone Italian.  Also, I'm not too big on the paper plates.The gentlemen working the evening we went were delightful.Will return (to the chagrin of my waistline) for more Gyros.  Often.

by Brian S.

Wow - so many reviews so quickly! You can tell that South Austin was just dying to have a place to get some Lebanese food.I was pretty excited to try Tarbouch, but less excited once I got my food, sadly. Everything is still being served on disposable plates, so presentation was lacking.The falafel was cooked very well and was spiced nicely. If only I could get these falafel in a Kebabalicious spicy wrap.The hummus was plain old boring. I didn't care for it. The baba ghanoush was a step up, but still not amazing. Potatoes were good, but not amazing. The cucumber yogurt salad was not the most pleasing thing to eat on its own, either.On the plus side, the staff was very kind and friendly and this is one of the only places to get such Mediterranean food in South Austin. If only Kebabalicious were open during non-vampire hours, I could get my lunchtime falafel cravings satisfied there. Tarbouch is not the best, but it will do for now.  I'll give them another try in a month or two to see how things have progressed.

by Robert P.

This place is the real deal - best tabbouleh I've ever had and the only baba ghanoush I've ever liked.  We had a Vegetarian Plate (so we could sample everything) and a Shawarma Plate - the meat was delicious.  Actually, everything was delicious, so we tried some baklava and it was terrific, too.  If you love Mediterranean food or want to try something new, go get your fill.The decor was pretty much as expected.  Although much brighter and cleaner than the greasy dive that was there (which had a certain charm), it doesn't have much of it's own personality.  I don't ding them too much for this since I haven't found any ethnic food joints in the U.S. that had great food and atmosphere, and I'll take great food over atmosphere any day.

by Destiny G.

Technically I should not review this until I have eaten a full meal, but I must say any restaurant at which I can pull a drive by in search of dolmas is worth a slightly premature review. Driving down the street I realized that I could get dolmas a few blocks from the home of a guy I am seeing. The prices were ridiculously low, and if the dolmas are a reflection of the rest of the fare, then dinner will be great. There is the issue of feeling like you are in a taqueria, but for the price it should become a staple of my diet very soon.

by D S.

After seeing all the reviews on here I basically jumped in my car and ran over to check this place out... I really can't say it was aweful, but I also can't say I remeber anything AMAZING.

by Brendan C.

Ordered take out here on a Friday night and really wasn't impressed. Asked for the chicken shawarma plate and the beef plate. The meats were super dry and the other yelp reviewers are right, the salad is terrible (feta and an italian like dressing). The hummas was ok and the dolmas was good.I am glad we decided not to eat there. Why would i want to sit in a completely white room on patio furniture or outside viewing the majestic Oltorf?I want this place to do well and these things can easily be fixed so I'll give them another shot in a month or two.

by Jaye J.

Awwwwww yeah! As a Lebanese woman who grew up eating her dad's amazing cooking, I'm always on the lookout for the good stuff and Tarbouch is just that.I'm on a 10 day detox to search for allergies and I can only eat meat and veggies more or less (and no chicken), so Tarbouch seemed like a great place for lunch. I had the beef shawarma and it did not disappoint. The meat was tender with a tiny bit of fat and a nice sour bite to it. Served on top of an onion salad and with pickles and hummus, it was a ton of food for a reasonable price. It also came with a Greek salad which was pretty boring. It was pretty much salad from a bag with bottled Italian dressing. Or at least, that's what it tasted like. I don't think I'd order it again really.I can't wait until I can have grains/gluten again so I can try the Fatoush and the tabouleh, and the falafel! All in all, I really like this place and I'll be back...quite a bit.

by Nick M.

Licking... fingers.... between... keystrokes....Ooooohboy, that was some tasty middle eastern grub. Tender lamb kabobs, flavorful beef schwarma, warm and buttery pita - all with yummy hints of lemon, parsley and onion.They're brand new, so the inside is a little stark (they're still getting set up) but I met the owner, who was super friendly and very welcoming.I got my order to go, but sat next to some dapper looking guys speaking Arabic as I waited - between bites they were talking excitedly about either soccer or the Iranian protests... couldn't tell which. Always a good sign to be the only honkie in a new place.The baklava I just finished up left hints of roseoil and honey on my palate... and now I want another one.Glad to see a new place open in south austin in this economy - and we've been hurting for some good Lebanese food!Tarbouch also has hookahs, if you're in to that... but the phenomenal food should be the main draw.Ok, I think I can lick some more hummus out of this to-go container...

by Anna F.

One bite and I knew it: Lane Bryant, here I come. Future Me is going to be majorly chubby. I'm conflicted over whether or not I should be writing this review. On the one hand, I want you jerks to stay away and not mob the amazingness that is Tarbouch. However, if they ever close down it will ruin my life. So here we go:Tarbouch (which means a little fez-type hat in Arabic, btw) is situated in a funny little building next to Curra's on Oltorf. As soon as I spotted the place I knew I had to have dinner there because Le Boyfriend is Syrian/Lebanese. He misses the taste of the motherland and has found no reasonable replacements in Austin...until now. The guys who work there are friendly and adorable and will have no idea what you're saying unless you point at the menu or happen to know Arabic. If I could give their hummus, tabbouleh. baba ganouj, potatoes, falafel and baklava all seven stars I would. Freaking amazing. Order anything with "Grecian sauce" on it. It's actually strained yogurt with garlic and spices added and is the thickest, creamiest thing you've ever put in your mouth. (Yeah, I just typed that) . Everything is so authentic and absolutely delicious. I was stuffed at the end of my dinner, but somehow still wanted more. Dinner, dessert, coffee, etc was about $25.I'm going to get the sh%*  smacked out of me if my mother-in-law ever reads this, but the food here is better than hers. True story.

by Christian N.

The blurb for the 3 stars rating suits this place perfectly: A-Ok.I hit up this new south Austin Lebanese joint for lunch today, and I'm satisfied. Nothing spectacular, but pleasurable enough. It wasn't too busy around 1 o'clock, and the food came out promptly enough. It's been a while since I hit a middle-eastern influenced restaurant, and this one was worth a go.I had the Mast-OKhiyar, and it was just that...OK. Diced/sliced cucumber in yogurt with pita wedges, a good appetizer but not particularly flavorful.My entree was a Chicken Shawarma wrap with a side salad. Definitely satisfying and filling, but a little lacking in the flavor department. Ingredients tasted fresh, the pita wasn't stale or anything to complain about, and the salad was formidable. Only complaint about my wrap would be the pickle wedges that came in there, but that's simply a matter of taste and could easily be remedied by just having them excluded next time. Currently it is also BYOB, which might be an upside to you craft brew drinkers, so come prepared. They also feature a modest hookah tobacco list, but you're limited to smoking outdoor on their front patio, and frankly, it's August in Austin, so forgive me for not subjecting me to that pain. 10.99 is a little steep for a bowl of Shisha, but, come cooler weather it might just hit the spot.Give it a try, these folks could use the business and they've got a fantastically enthusiastic attitude for anyone who comes in.

by SMASH C.

So, I think its been said, but I'll say it again, the decor is definitely lacking. But that is THE ONLY thing negative I can say. And, quite honestly, with food this good, who needs to look at the walls? Your face is going to be in that big ass plate my friends! So, we had falafel plate, gyro plate and the chicken shawarma. YUM YUM YUM. Plates come with hummus (delish) and Salad. The salad was made with Iceberg, which I usually am not very excited about, but the dressing was soooooooo good I would have probably would have eaten it with paper. The lamb was divine. Seriously, go eat there.

by Steve O.

Ok Austin yelpers, get your shiznit together.This new little place is a freaking gem, and if you don't start visiting it and giving it some dope reviews, and as a result it disappears from the face of our fine city, I will never forgive you.You hear me?  If we don't do our part and they go under, it's over between us.  I'll go over to Chowhound.  Or maybe I'll get in a Delorean time machine and get on City Search.That said, this place is freaking awesome.  Full disclosure, I'm on the vegetarian train at the moment and didn't try any meat dishes, but I tried EVERY (to my knowledge) veggie dish they offer already, and I plan on going back tomorrow.And now I shall simultaneously rate and misspell everything I tried:Fallafel: badass.  Tabouleh: badass.  Babaganoush: badass.  Stuffed grape leaves: hell yes.  Potatoes: hells to the f*#ing yes.  Mastokiyar(?): Cool, refreshing, badass.  Hummus: marry me.  Rice: yummy.  Greek salad: perhaps the only non-standout, lettuce was a little wilted.  Baklavah: so good, I actually got angry at my dog when she begged for some.This is a perfect place to eat in the summer, everything was fresh and refreshing.Exceptional restaurants in general and great ethnic food specifically are some of the few benefits of a rapidly growing city.  Make sure you support them.P.S.:  BYOB.

by Kevin S.

First, atmosphere - I agree with previous reviewers that it was sparse and unpretentious but don't think this is a bad thing. Simple and to-the-point. Something must have changed because they have upgraded from the Styrofoam and plastic that previous reviews mention.Food was great for the most part. I enjoyed my hummus but it wasn't the best I have ever had (hello Ali Baba's in Dallas!). The Beef Shawarma was very tasty and the pitas were excellent, if a little on the thin side. The salad was lackluster, mostly due to the amount of iceberg lettuce that took over the plate. The baklava was decent and not overly sweet as I've had at other restaurants. I couldn't tell if it was handmade or not, though. I would go with  not.Overall, I will be back but will not necessarily be raving about it. It's great to have the choice for Lebanese in South Austin, though.

by M B.

Add me to the list of people who think this place is TERRIFIC.Atmosphere is cheaply renovated Taco Bell, plates are paper and forks are plastic, but you won't notice or care when you start in on the eatin'.  I got the veg plate ($7.99) and spouse got the lamb kabobs ($11.99).  First, the lamb.  Best baaaa-baaa around - tender lean chunks chargrilled and served with fluffy rice, grilled red onions, big grilled tomato, and hummus.  For the veg plate ($7.99), you get to pick 5 items - we got baba ganoush, tabbouleh, falafel, cucumber yougurt salad, and grilled potatoes.  Everything was fresh, fresh fresh, especially the lovely springy leafy tabbouleh - and definitely get the potatoes.  They sound boring but they are sprinkled with something that makes them really, really, really good.  Maybe it was just sea salt, but I wouldn't be surprised if it was crack.Free pitas served warm on the side.  Mmm.  A bit thinner than I'm used to, but still good.The only tiny flaw was the flavorless iced tea - it was dark, it was cold, but it just seemed bland.Location is easy to find - just east of South Congress on Oltorf, right next to Curra's.

by Anthony C.

It is seat-yourself.  I had a moment of indecision when I entered...what to do!  Oh no.Just sit down.I ordered the falafel wrap with salad, sat by the window and watched as people jockeyed for parking spaces at the Curra's next door (which I have never been to because and the ridiculously small parking lot.)The water was in a Styrofoam cup, the food was served on Styrofoam and the utensils were plastic.  I guess they didn't want to hire a dishwasher, but it seemed really wasteful to me.The salad was okay.  Just okay.  The dressing was nice and tart- maybe overly so for some people.  The salad otherwise was iceburg lettuce with two (2) small bits of red onion and a dusting of feta.  The falafel wrap was large and filling, and everything in it was good- pickles, sauce, some onion.What wasn't good?The falafel.It had bits of hard stuff in it.  Like, really really hard.  Grit.  Crap that I couldn't chew and ended up on my plate.  Where did this grit come from?  Falafel is chickpeas, parsley and onions, none of which seem very gritty.I may be back to try the vegetarian plate, which looked too substantial for lunch if I wanted to remain awake in the afternoon.  I may, but I doubt it.

by Jessica D.

I was thrilled to find out that a Lebanese restaurant would be opening right down the street from me!! This is my favorite ethnic cuisine. So... I ordered the Beef Shawarma Plate. Oh yeah, we ordered to-go and my husband picked it up so I cannot comment on the decor. Anyhoo, the beef and hummus were both excellent. Because of this I will be coming back for more.I have to mention the negs though too; we ordered a side of Dolmas, but received Baba Ganoush instead. These things happened when a restaurant is new, you have to give them time to work out the kinks, so I'll be forgiving. The one thing that was the major disappointment  is the dressing for the salad. I'm pretty sure it's bottled, grocery store Italian dressing. Eww. I was expecting a fresh, cold cucumber-yogurt dressing. Oh well.

by Crystal A.

At the insistence of fellow Yelper Steve O., I chose to have my birthday dinner here. We drove all the way down from NW Hills to have a delicious dinner, and accomplished our goal.The owners could not be nicer, and it's a family run business. We got a vegetarian plate, and they guys were nice enough to let us mix chicken and beef schwarma on one plate. We also got a big Greek salad, though the dressing was a little different than I am used to.The Dolma was so wonderful. Usually things wrapped in grape leaves are way too vinegary for me, but i loved these. Hummus, best tabbouleh I've ever had, babaganoush (which I decidedly have decided is a dish I just don't care for), tarboush potatoes (dip these in garlic sauce, seriously). And those pickles are so good! I wanted to order some to go!The meat was delicious. (That's what she said!) The beef tasted like there was a little cinnamon there, and the chicken just melted in your mouth. I got an extra side of the garlic sauce. When I received it, the gentleman said, "It just makes you want to keep eating." Boy, was he right. I started putting that sauce on everything! Before I knew it, we ordered the Lamb plate to go.I asked about a dessert that wasn't on the menu, and he let us try a whole piece for free (thought I forgot what it was called/how to pronounce it). Unfortunately, I was a little too stuffed for the lamb that night, and in my hurry this morning I didn't grab it for my lunch. It's ok though, 'cause I know we'll be back.

by Jason P.

Came her this past Friday  night, actually just stumbled upon it driving around looking for a place to eat.  I saw the place and remember seeing this place on yelp.  Positivefood was quite excellent in my opinion; i enjoyed my meal of lamb kabob and beef kabob.  Beef kabob was very flavorful and handmade.Rice was excellent complement w/ beef along w/ yogurt.My girlfriend had the gyros and we shared; i enjoyed the gyros as well.NegYes the parking stinks; it's a crowded space.service was excellent as they were nice; food came out relatively quickly as well.I'd def. come back here!

by Kristina K.

We noticed pretty quickly walking into this place it was not filled with very happy clients. Everyone had that "am I ever going to get my food?!" look on their faces. We decided to stay anyway to see how it might pan out for us.After a not-so-long wait, a waiter came by to take our orders. Pretty quickly after that, and to our surprise, our food came. My order was wrong and sent back, but it returned corrected pretty quickly after that. I also noticed that others around us who had been in there before us still didn't have their food, and a couple of tables walked out before eating (from what I could tell). I can't really complain about our service, overall. It was speedy and sans the order mistake, pretty good overall. I have to dock it a couple stars for atmosphere (just a little square place with not a lot of decoration and a pretty empty display case), being low staffed (according to our waiter) and the unhappy looks that surrounded us. It may have just been an off-night for them. I might go back - bring some wine and smoke some sheesha on their front porch area sometime, but I'm sure there's a place that offers a better environment for this that I will seek out first.

by Alex A.

Pointed to the south side by the owner of Big Bite for some Lebanese food, I drove down to Oltorf for the lunch special advertised on the Tarbouch web site - buy a chicken shwarma and get a potato side and a drink for free during lunch. It wasn't very good; certainly not tasty enough to get me back there. The dishes were completely lacking in flavor. What does it say when the iceberg salad's dressing packs the most punch? (It should be noted that the Chronicle agrees with this sentiment). I explained to the uber-friendly hostess/waitress/cashier that they need to give it a kick, and she said that they toned it down for American tastes. If authentic Lebanese amplifiers go to 11, this was a 2. The bread was perfect for the wrap but that's about the only positive thing I can come up with. The rosemary/garlic potatoes were undercooked and greasy. Clearly this place suffers from being understaffed and reliant on the microwave.  However, the price was right, as I drove away full-bellied for about $7.50Will try again in 6 months or so.

by Amber B.

I went here to eat before I went grocery shopping. The parking was much better than Curra's. I was hungry, impatient, and in the mood for something different.Prices are a little high but there was enough food for two people (did I mention I was going grocery shopping? I wanted to be full!) I had Baba Ghannouj and the Tarbouch Kabob Combo - I really liked the Khafta. The people were nice and were explaining to me how the hookah thing works (I smoked on one in college but have never smoked at a restaurant.) I want to try the hookah next time.The atmosphere could be improved by dimming the lights in the dining area, putting up some artwork, and sprucing up the front porch. I give four stars because I am glad for some variety other than tex-mex and burgers, which are abundant in this neighborhood. :-)

by Laura C.

A welcome addition to the neighborhood for fresh, good, Middle Eastern food in an unpretentious place.  It would be nice if they did more to embrace old South Austin like the old grill did... Tip - they don't have a liquor license so you can bring your own beer or wine.

by John P.

Apparently the same chef that was part of Byblos up north opened up this location.  Had I reviewed Byblos I would have given it 5 stars.  Byblos has similar to a cafeteria in that many of the sides were already made and you could pick out what you wanted.   There was A LOT more variety at Byblos.  At Tarbouch you sit down and order therefore it's more expensive due to price increases and tip.  I had the Lamb Kebab Combo Plate.  The rice was dry and boring and the lamb was pretty awful.  Most pieces were very chewy and fatty.  The hummus was pretty good but the grilled tomato had some strange taste.My girlfriend had the Chicken Kebab Plate.  The chicken was decent at first but after a couple of bites I got tired of the very lemony/citrus marinade on the chicken.  It was pretty bitter.   Other people we were with got plates that came with a greek salad which looked pretty good.  On a side note, I don't understand why so many restaurants use the pita made by Phoenicia.  It is pretty bad piece of bread.  In all, don't think I'll be returning.  I loved Byblos but this place just doesn't cut it.

by Jim T.

I really love Lebanese food,  and Arabic food in general.What I experienced here had nothing to do with either :(I was really excited when I heard that a new Lebanese place was opening.. and on Oltorf.The lamb was absolutely disgusting.  Overcooked, fatty, gummy.. must have been cooked poorly, then reheated in a microwave :(4 other people ate there with me,  and ordered a wide variety of different food... ranging from chicken to eggplant, hummus salad... and were all equally disappointed.  Everything was poorly seasoned, poorly cooked... and everything seemed as though it was nuked in a microwave.I'm absolutely blown away by the plethora of positive reviews for this place.  Did I just happen to go there on the worst possible day?This place straight up sucks... and gives Middle Eastern food a very bad name.  They really need to get their shit together to even try to pass themselves off as a legitimate restaurant.

by Howard T.

I've eaten here twice, the first time I came and sat down with a friend. Took forever to get our food, which neither I nor my friend were impressed by. The second time I called in a to go order, and again I had to wait once I got there. My order consisted of a side of potatoes and falafel. Sad because I like Lebanese/Mediterranean food and this location is the closest.So much about this place is lacking, from the service to the over-priced food. I'm not a picky eater so I think the food is actually okay, but for their prices you expect better (or at least more, which I typically prefer). I want to like this place, but I don't. Not much more to say, except that I really wish I lived closer to Arpeggio Grill.

by Orion G.

Really surprised by the bad reviews... we just got home from eating there and Yay! I'm a fan!Three of us, my sweetie, her 16 year old and myself stopped in for dinner. I started with the Baba Ghannouj, my sweetie got the Falafel. I was a little concerned when I got my Baba... I'm used to it being fairly smoothe and this was slightly lumpy, but the flavor was very nice. The Falafel was nicely done and had sesame seeds cooked into the exterior adding a slight crunch.For our entrees, I got the Gyro plate. The 16 years old got the Chicken Shawarma plate. My sweetie got the Tarbouch Kabob Combo. My Gyro was tasty, as was the hummus, but I was a little disappointed that my Greek Salad was made with iceberg lettuce instead of Romaine. The Chicken Shawarma was apparently tasty as the 16 year old did nothing but grin and tuck it away... even eating and enjoying his hummus. I tried a piece of my sweeties beef and it was yum! Her rice was apparently tasty - I didn't try it as it looked like it had some saffron on it and I'm allergic.Then, of course, my sweetie and her son HAD to have Baklava, so I had a coffee while they ate dessert. I should say... inhaled dessert.All this food was enjoyed (though not finished due to the large portions) for the mere price of $54. Our little family will be back!

by Orion G.Howard T.Jim T.

Really surprised by the bad reviews... we just got home from eating there and Yay! I'm a fan!Three of us, my sweetie, her 16 year old and myself stopped in for dinner. I started with the Baba Ghannouj, my sweetie got the Falafel. I was a little concerned when I got my Baba... I'm used to it being fairly smoothe and this was slightly lumpy, but the flavor was very nice. The Falafel was nicely done and had sesame seeds cooked into the exterior adding a slight crunch.For our entrees, I got the Gyro plate. The 16 years old got the Chicken Shawarma plate. My sweetie got the Tarbouch Kabob Combo. My Gyro was tasty, as was the hummus, but I was a little disappointed that my Greek Salad was made with iceberg lettuce instead of Romaine. The Chicken Shawarma was apparently tasty as the 16 year old did nothing but grin and tuck it away... even eating and enjoying his hummus. I tried a piece of my sweeties beef and it was yum! Her rice was apparently tasty - I didn't try it as it looked like it had some saffron on it and I'm allergic.Then, of course, my sweetie and her son HAD to have Baklava, so I had a coffee while they ate dessert. I should say... inhaled dessert.All this food was enjoyed (though not finished due to the large portions) for the mere price of $54. Our little family will be back!I've eaten here twice, the first time I came and sat down with a friend. Took forever to get our food, which neither I nor my friend were impressed by. The second time I called in a to go order, and again I had to wait once I got there. My order consisted of a side of potatoes and falafel. Sad because I like Lebanese/Mediterranean food and this location is the closest.So much about this place is lacking, from the service to the over-priced food. I'm not a picky eater so I think the food is actually okay, but for their prices you expect better (or at least more, which I typically prefer). I want to like this place, but I don't. Not much more to say, except that I really wish I lived closer to Arpeggio Grill.I really love Lebanese food,  and Arabic food in general.What I experienced here had nothing to do with either :(I was really excited when I heard that a new Lebanese place was opening.. and on Oltorf.The lamb was absolutely disgusting.  Overcooked, fatty, gummy.. must have been cooked poorly, then reheated in a microwave :(4 other people ate there with me,  and ordered a wide variety of different food... ranging from chicken to eggplant, hummus salad... and were all equally disappointed.  Everything was poorly seasoned, poorly cooked... and everything seemed as though it was nuked in a microwave.I'm absolutely blown away by the plethora of positive reviews for this place.  Did I just happen to go there on the worst possible day?This place straight up sucks... and gives Middle Eastern food a very bad name.  They really need to get their shit together to even try to pass themselves off as a legitimate restaurant.

by Orion G.Howard T.Jim T.John P.Laura C.

Really surprised by the bad reviews... we just got home from eating there and Yay! I'm a fan!Three of us, my sweetie, her 16 year old and myself stopped in for dinner. I started with the Baba Ghannouj, my sweetie got the Falafel. I was a little concerned when I got my Baba... I'm used to it being fairly smoothe and this was slightly lumpy, but the flavor was very nice. The Falafel was nicely done and had sesame seeds cooked into the exterior adding a slight crunch.For our entrees, I got the Gyro plate. The 16 years old got the Chicken Shawarma plate. My sweetie got the Tarbouch Kabob Combo. My Gyro was tasty, as was the hummus, but I was a little disappointed that my Greek Salad was made with iceberg lettuce instead of Romaine. The Chicken Shawarma was apparently tasty as the 16 year old did nothing but grin and tuck it away... even eating and enjoying his hummus. I tried a piece of my sweeties beef and it was yum! Her rice was apparently tasty - I didn't try it as it looked like it had some saffron on it and I'm allergic.Then, of course, my sweetie and her son HAD to have Baklava, so I had a coffee while they ate dessert. I should say... inhaled dessert.All this food was enjoyed (though not finished due to the large portions) for the mere price of $54. Our little family will be back!I've eaten here twice, the first time I came and sat down with a friend. Took forever to get our food, which neither I nor my friend were impressed by. The second time I called in a to go order, and again I had to wait once I got there. My order consisted of a side of potatoes and falafel. Sad because I like Lebanese/Mediterranean food and this location is the closest.So much about this place is lacking, from the service to the over-priced food. I'm not a picky eater so I think the food is actually okay, but for their prices you expect better (or at least more, which I typically prefer). I want to like this place, but I don't. Not much more to say, except that I really wish I lived closer to Arpeggio Grill.I really love Lebanese food,  and Arabic food in general.What I experienced here had nothing to do with either :(I was really excited when I heard that a new Lebanese place was opening.. and on Oltorf.The lamb was absolutely disgusting.  Overcooked, fatty, gummy.. must have been cooked poorly, then reheated in a microwave :(4 other people ate there with me,  and ordered a wide variety of different food... ranging from chicken to eggplant, hummus salad... and were all equally disappointed.  Everything was poorly seasoned, poorly cooked... and everything seemed as though it was nuked in a microwave.I'm absolutely blown away by the plethora of positive reviews for this place.  Did I just happen to go there on the worst possible day?This place straight up sucks... and gives Middle Eastern food a very bad name.  They really need to get their shit together to even try to pass themselves off as a legitimate restaurant.Apparently the same chef that was part of Byblos up north opened up this location.  Had I reviewed Byblos I would have given it 5 stars.  Byblos has similar to a cafeteria in that many of the sides were already made and you could pick out what you wanted.   There was A LOT more variety at Byblos.  At Tarbouch you sit down and order therefore it's more expensive due to price increases and tip.  I had the Lamb Kebab Combo Plate.  The rice was dry and boring and the lamb was pretty awful.  Most pieces were very chewy and fatty.  The hummus was pretty good but the grilled tomato had some strange taste.My girlfriend had the Chicken Kebab Plate.  The chicken was decent at first but after a couple of bites I got tired of the very lemony/citrus marinade on the chicken.  It was pretty bitter.   Other people we were with got plates that came with a greek salad which looked pretty good.  On a side note, I don't understand why so many restaurants use the pita made by Phoenicia.  It is pretty bad piece of bread.  In all, don't think I'll be returning.  I loved Byblos but this place just doesn't cut it.A welcome addition to the neighborhood for fresh, good, Middle Eastern food in an unpretentious place.  It would be nice if they did more to embrace old South Austin like the old grill did... Tip - they don't have a liquor license so you can bring your own beer or wine.