Cedars of Lebanon

The kebabs are always delicious, and the rice is perfect every time. The staff members are also always friendly and accommodating. Definitely a culinary staple in Old Greenbelt.

I used to live in Greenbelt many years ago and it was so nice to come back to my old stomping grounds. This evening, we happened to have free tickets to the Greenbelt Theater. As we walked into the screening room I stopped right in my tracks and had a few movie goers look in bemusement at me. I had no idea how small the theater was! There are about 40 seats and I couldn't decide where to sit! lol. All I can say is that there is no bad seat! After the movie we walked over to the Cedars of Lebanon for dinner. I am so glad we did. What a delightful restaurant. I grew up with parents who ran a restaurant and everything I saw at Cedars reminded of what a family-run business feels like. There were children in the back doing their activities at the table while the parents and grandparents worked. I wanted to try everything. We shared the chicken shawarma and lamb kabobs for our entrees. Both were excellent dishes. For the appetizer, we got the falafels. I'm always up for a good falafel. They were nice and crispy. For dessert, we got the passion fruit custard and baklava. I never turn down baklava! The custard was okay. The passion fruit was just a syrup so not much to write home about. But the entire meal was so worth the trip. Plenty of parking in the lot in the area.

This is a cozy, vibrant, family-run restaurant in the historic Greenbelt area. The restaurant was filled with locals, which is always a great sign. The restaurant was well-decorated and the bathrooms were spotless. The service was good with the server being attentive, despite not being fluent in English.The food was good. The vegetarian Mediterranean platter was fresh and every item was well seasoned. One criticism would be that all the items were sour, which can be a bit much.The Mouzat was our favorite. The lamb shank was fall-off-the-bone tender, the broth/gravy was complex, the rice was fluffy, and even had charred crispy bits to it. The lamb kebab was delicious: charred to perfection and well-seasoned, despite being on the tougher side this time around. I was oddly a fan of the roasted onion. The apple pie was great, but the apples were on the sour side, which I like, but may come as an interesting flavor profile to others. All in all, I highly recommend a visit.

And in conclusion......I honestly don't see how this place has such high reviews. Appetizer:The cheapest, dry, thin, store bought pita and cold (which means not fresh) baba ganoush with too much lemon. Entrees:Chicken Shawarma Sandwich platter:The sandwich contents were good, but wrapped in that cheap pita. Got potatoes instead of fries and the potatoes were cold and only almost fully cooked. That's not an issue if warm but when not warm it just feels like an uncooked crunchy potato.Vegetarian Mezze Platter:Hummus- good but not greatDolmas - too much lemonOther items were okI don't leave a lot of negative reviews, but we've been here twice and neither were worth more than 3 stars. It is absolutely worth the drive to Laurel to Olive on Maine if you're looking for Mediterranean food. Prices are relatively the same and everything is way better. Again, I really can't comprehend how anyone could 4+ star this place unless they have never in their lives had good Mediterranean food.

Cedars of Lebanon in Greenbelt Center in Greenbelt, MD was recently featured on a local food network. Chef Karim doesn't disappoint and the recognition he received from the food network is well deserved. My wife and I recently stopped in for a late lunch after a walk around Greenbelt Lake this past weekend. Our daughter had thoughtfully purchased a gift certificate that was just waiting for us to redeem it. We were immediately seated and given water while we looked over the menu. My wife opted for the Malak Platter which is an assortment/sampler of entrees, while I decided to go with a Beef Schwarma Platter that came with rice and a salad. The beef schwarma came wrapped in halves; the rice and salad sides were a generous helping of each. The sauce that dripped from the schwarma actually complemented the white rice and the salad was crisp.Our waitress was friendly and attentive to keeping our water glasses full and checked on us several times to see if we were happy with our order? We were! For dessert, my wife and I shared a Chocolate Mousse that the waitress thoughtfully served us with two spoons. The Chocolate Mousse was light and creamy! Everything was delicious and we'll definitely be back!

Came here for the first time for lunch on a weekend with a friend. My friend ordered their hummus appetizer with meat and passion fruit mousse. I ordered their vegetarian Mediterranean mezzanine plate.What's hot- Quality. Delicious. My favorite was the hummus, grape leaf, and spinach pie. Their food is pretty well-seasoned and not too salty.- Menu. Very good options and variety. There's something for everyone- meats, vegetarian, and vegans. Their small section of pizzas looked appetizing, as well. - Price. My single platter was approximately $14, which is good. Pretty reasonably priced, especially given the portions. Their actual platters are well-sized for large groups, even small groups- Portions. Pretty decent. My single size platter was enough to get me full, not stuffed.- Parking. There's a decent size parking lot, which is helpful.What's not- Passion fruit mousse. Not great. It's just syrup poured on top of a plain mousse like pudding. Don't recommend, but to be fair, that doesn't mean their other desserts are bad.- Space. Don't recommend a group larger than 4. Their tables don't seat more than 4. They can push tables together, but it appears that it'll be tight.Final AnswerPretty good and would like to come back.

This appetizer combined the creamy, smooth texture of hummus with the bold, spiced flavors of shawarma. The hummus served as a rich, neutral base that allowed the shawarma's complex spices to shine. The shawarma itself was tender and flavorful, with a perfect balance of seasoning that complements the hummus without overwhelming it. The contrast between the cool, smooth hummus and the warm, spiced meat creates a satisfying and delicious experience. It was an ideal appetizer and worth the order. What I enjoyed for my main was the Mouzat. The lamb shank in this dish was slow-cooked to perfection, resulting in meat that was exceptionally tender and succulent. The addition of tomatoes and onions on top added a vibrant layer of flavor. The tomatoes contribute a fresh, tangy element that cuts through the richness of the lamb, while the onions bring a subtle sweetness and depth. The overall dish is hearty and full of robust flavors, with each ingredient complementing the other. It's a comforting, satisfying option for a main course, perfect for those who enjoy a well-balanced, flavorful meal. My partner enjoyed Maria's Salmon and thought it was delicious. His side of bulghur was exceptionally flavorful and I would recommend trying it for the side if given the opportunity. Overall the food was delicious and the service was extremely nice and welcoming. The ambiance isn't fancy but it is still very cute.

Doesn't get any more authentic than this spot. From the time you walk in the door, you feel like you are in Lebanon. The ambiance, serving and food is totally on point. I met the squad here for lunch and it was excellent. Highly recommend this place and will definitely be back.

The food is EXCELLENT!!! Fresh, well seasoned and excellent value for the money...you won't regret trying this one out...it's my go to for great tasting Mediterranean food.

What a great place. It has a down-home vibe with excellent food at good prices. Went on a Friday evening. We were lucky to squeeze in without a reservation. The mezze platter was outstanding. The spicy chicken was delicious. I always love the garlic sauce that comes on the side. Mmm! Lots of happy diners. We'll be back.