Talk about a return to some of the best Lebanese food in Connecticut! Hanna's Middle Eastern Restaurant at 72 Lake Ave in Danbury was our restaurant of choice tonight and we were extremely happy with their delicious food.
As some of you might know, one of us Old Chick's is Lebanese and Hanna's has always been our go-to for Lebanese recipe ingredients on the store side. But the restaurant side! Wow! We ordered the Mezza with 12 different and delightful plates including Spinach pies, Kibbee, Mousakaa, Hommous, Grape leaves, Baba ghanoush, Syrian cheese and olives, Stuffed Cabbage Rolls, Falafel, Taboulie, Moujadara, and Labne. There was so much food, I thought I was at my Sittoo's (grandmother's) again! Our mother's would have been proud to know there is a Lebanese restaurant that is so authentic to the foods she grew up on, the same way she cooked them, and the way she taught her children.
The Mousakaa, which is an eggplant based dish, was perfectly simmered in a tomato sauce with the most delicious flavors cooked into it.
The Spinach Pies were stuffed to the brim with a slight hint of lemon and onion and One Old Chick said she could eat them all day because the bread dough was outstanding.
The Kibbee, which is made from lamb, was tender, perfectly formed, and had pine nuts to add to the flavor.
And the hommous was better than anything you can ever buy at the store, which we would never do anyway.
The Vegetarian Grape Leaves were stuffed with rice, chick peas, tomatoes and onions.
I think John (the owner) has his own garden because the eggplant in the baba ghanoush tasted like it was freshly made with a slight hint of garlic.
The Stuffed Cabbage Rolls are perfectly sized with lamb, rice and garlic and a smidgeon of lemon. Delicious.
The Falafel was fresh and tender, and a vegetarian's dream of a great dish.
Sometimes we save the best for last, and one of them was the Moujadara, a lentil dish with rice and Lebanese seasonings, topped with fried onions. OMG!
But then, folks, came dessert. And if you want the most delicious desserts this side of Lebanon, you better head over to Hanna's. The baklawa melted in your mouth and the Knafe (pronounced "Kanafee") which is a warm cheese pastry soaked in a sugar based syrup is enough to send your senses into heaven.
We are so glad we went early before the tables were all filled!
We were so impressed with the food at Hanna's we decided that it's time we visit Lebanon next year. It's no wonder they were voted Best of the Best Restaurants by Connecticut Magazine! read more