Ever since The Food Network’s “Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives” featured the restaurant, the word has gotten out about Prince Lebanese Grill which is no longer one of Arlington’s best-kept secrets.
Prince Lebanese Grill
502 W. Randol Mill Rd
Hours: Mon-Sat, 11am-9pm; closed Sun
(817) 469-1811
www.princelebanesegrill.com
Yes, when you see the Prince Lebanese Grill for the first time, you’ll have the same thought as the rest of us: hey, this looks like an old Sonic, but repainted blue & white! You’re correct, it is an old Sonic drive in. But instead of waiting in your car for a kid on roller skates to bring you a limeade, go inside and dine at one of the better kept secrets of Arlington (who knew you could fit so many tables inside an old Sonic).
Actually, Prince Lebanese Grill isn’t that much of a secret anymore. Ever since it was featured on The Food Network by Guy Fieri, the word spread pretty quickly.
Fresh ingredients, friendly service, and healthy options, and delicious food have kept this place in business since 1989. Its patrons are loyal.
Some of you may think, “no way would I try Lebanese food, I don’t even know what it is!” You’re missing out. Besides, if you’ve ever had a Gyro or a beef kabob or chicken kabob, you’ve already tried something on this menu.
The menu includes pictures of entrees which is particularly helpful for those of who are unfamiliar with Lebanese food. Seeing a photo of what you’re ordering takes some of the fear out of trying something unfamiliar. In fact, you can click here and see their menu posted on-line (photos included): http://www.princelebanesegrill.com/menu.php
All meat entrees come with grilled vegetables, a serving a cucumber sauce, a bed of rice, and pita bread. You can also add sides to your entrée for only $2.49 (the sides include a choice of Greek Salad, Tabouli, Babaganoush, or Hummus).
Prices are affordable. The sandwiches start at $3.49 and go up to $4.49. The salads (small $4.99, large $5.99) include: Greek salad (served with homemade vinegar, olive oil & oregano dressing); Fetoush (chopped onions, tomatoes, cucumbers & parsley in olive oil dressing), Tabouli (parsley, lemon juice, tomatores, cracked wheat, onions, olive oil spices) or the Lebanese Salad (chopped tomatoes, onion, cucumbers in lemon juice & olive oil dressing).
The Specialty Salads ($7.99 lunch, $9.99 dinner) come with Chicken, Falafel, or Gyro meat on top of the Greek Salad or Fetoush or Tabouli.
If you have a very large appetite, get the Prince Lebanese Special because it’s a sampling of all the grilled meats. At $14.99, it’s the most expensive item on the menu, but there’s plenty to share. In fact, if you’re coming with a friend, order this and share. The assortment includes Kafta Kabob (beef kabob), Mashwi Shish Lamb (marinated and grilled), and Shish Tawook (grill chicken breast).
Other entrée choices include:
*Shawarma Plate ($8.99 lunch, $11.99 dinner): beef or chicken cut into small pieces & stir fried with onions & tomatoes, served on bed of rice.
*Falafel Plate ($7.99 lunch, $8.99 dinner): Falafel patties served with hummus, Tahini, pickes, tomatoes, olives & pita bread (Falafel is popular with vegetarians especially; it’s ground up chickpeas mixed with spices and fried into little bite-size pieces).
*Gyro Plate ($8.49 lunch, $10.99 dinner): strips of grilled gyro meat on rice, servied with the cucumber sauce and gyro bread).
*Grilled Vegetables ($7.99): fresh off the grill, put on top of a bed or rice.
*Dolmas Plate ($7.99): rice & spices wrapped in a grape leaf (bite size, normally an appetizer). These dolmas are served alongside a bed of rice plus the grilled vegetables to make a nice portion for dinner.
As for the appetizers, if you’re coming with friends & family, you can get the Mezza Plate ($9.99) which is a sampling of the Hummus, Babaganoush, Tabouli Salad, Dolmas, Olives and Pita Bread.
Appetizers ($4.99-$5.99)
*Babaganoush Dip: (you dip the pita bread into these dips) grilled eggplant mixed with tahini, lemon juice & garlic.
*Hummus Dip: mashed chick peas mixed with tahini, lemon juice & garlic.
*Falafel: fried bite-size pieces of mashed chick peas mixed with onions, parsley & spices.
*Dolmas: rice & spices wrapped in grape leaves, served with sauce.
*Fava Modamas: fava beans mixed with tahini, lemon juice & garlic, servced with pickles, tomatoes & pita bread.
*Thyme Pie: Middle Easter open pie topped with herbs/Thyme.
Note: Dinner portions start after 3pm.
The dessert menu is small, but as long as Baklava is on there, that’s all you need (hmm, the walnut or the pistachio….). You can get an order of Baklava ($1.99) or smaller portion of a Baklava finger (99 cents). Honestly, I still haven’t tried the Borrma ($1.99). Next time, I’ll get the Dessert sampler ($4.50which includes Baklava and Borrma.
Are there any coffee lovers out there? Have you tried Turkish coffee? You can try it here, but allow a few minutes for preparation because they make it fresh upon ordering. The coffee is $1.89.
Take-out is a big part of their business. Call ahead to place your order at 817-469-1811. The restaurant’s Web site will eventually have an on-line order form, but was not ready as of July, 2011).
Prince Lebanese Grill is on located on W. Randol Mill Road, just east of Cooper Street (between Cooper Street and Collins), about one mile west of Cowboys Stadium. If you’re traveling westbound on Randol Mill from Collins, you’ll go through the intersection at Center Street. For a map/directions, click here then scroll down: http://www.princelebanesegrill.com/contact.php
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