Review: Kababji Grill sure knows its grills

There’s almost a Lebanese joint on every corner, so it takes special effort to rise above the noise. Imported with a more than 20-year legacy means authenticity expectations are high of Kababji Grill.

The ambience: We ordered in, so jovial. Portions are massive, so instantly feast-like.

What we loved: Salads and appetisers are fresh and tasty, with a great balance between straightforward — like fattoush and moutabel — and jazzed up — like hummus with beef and pine nuts or Raheb salad: charcoal-grilled eggplant with tomato, bell pepper, parsley, garlic and onion, finished with lemon juice and olive oil. The latter is a personal favourite, surprising since I’m usually not a fan of eggplant (it’s the texture).

The grills are above par, which — given the name — should come as no surprise. Still, each item on the mixed grill has a gentle smokiness that doesn’t detract from the flavour of the meat, while the kebabs are perfectly spiced.

What we didn’t: Having no space for seconds.

The verdict: Kababji doesn’t serve anything exceptionally unusual, but it’s the little tweaks that do it for me.

The details: Branches in Dubai Marina and Al Rigga, with a third said to open in Mirdiff soon, 600 595951, Kababji.com