The most traditional, high quality, Neighborhood food that you will find anywhere in the area. I…read morehighly recommend that you try this place. From the first bite, you will taste the freshness and the love that goes into each meal. The food is prepared as you order it never ahead, ensuring that you will always have the best ingredients. The Owner shared with me that they do not keep things stored. Everything is made fresh. In fact, I think I'm gonna go there for dinner again tonight.

Halal Food in Sunni Islam - Conditions (Translated and Organized)…read more In Sunni Islamic jurisprudence, "halal food" refers to food that is permissible according to the Qur'an and the Sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad . It must meet several conditions related to the nature of the food, its preparation, slaughtering process, and consumption. 1) Lawful Nature of the Food Itself The basic rule is that all foods are permissible unless there is clear evidence of prohibition. Forbidden foods include: * Pork and its derivatives * Carnivorous animals (such as lions, wolves, dogs) * Animals declared impure or harmful * Animals explicitly prohibited in Islamic texts (e.g., domesticated donkeys in most cases) 2) Conditions of Islamic Slaughter (Dhabihah) For meat to be halal, the animal must be slaughtered correctly: * The slaughterer must be a Muslim or, according to many Sunni scholars, from the People of the Book (Ahl al-Kitab) * The name of Allah must be mentioned at the time of slaughter ("Bismillah") * The windpipe, esophagus, and main blood vessels in the neck must be cut * A sharp instrument must be used to minimize suffering * Blood must be fully drained from the body * The animal must be alive before slaughter 3) Purity and Absence of Impurity (Najasa) Food must be free from any religious impurity, such as: * Flowing blood * Urine and excrement * Contamination from impure substances or unclean surfaces * Contact with alcohol if considered ritually impure or prohibited in consumption 4) No Mixing with Haram Ingredients Even if the base food is halal, it becomes haram if mixed with prohibited substances: * Alcohol or intoxicants used as food ingredients * Pork-based gelatin or enzymes * Fats or oils derived from forbidden animals * Any additive derived from impure or prohibited sources 5) Lawful Means of Acquisition and Preparation The food must be obtained through lawful means: * Honest trade and lawful purchase * No theft or usurpation * No use of unlawful wealth such as interest (riba), bribery, or fraud 6) Utensils and Cooking Equipment * Utensils must be clean and free from najasa (impurity) * If previously contaminated, they must be properly purified according to Islamic rules * Utensils of People of the Book are generally permissible if clean 7) Intention and Consumption Ethics * Food should not be used to harm oneself or others * Excessive waste (israf) is prohibited * It must not be used directly for sinful purposes Summary In Sunni Islam, halal food is not only about the type of meat. It is a complete system involving: * lawful ingredients * proper slaughtering * purity from impurities * lawful earning and preparation * ethical consumption

I really wanted to love Beirut and will give it another chance, but my first impression wasn't…read moregreat. I came in as a solo diner and was seated quickly, although my table was kind of nestled underneath the high outdoor bar. That meant hearing some of the bartender's phone conversations. I ordered a glass of Lebanese rose wine and liked it! But my meal wasn't impressive. The vegetarian grape leaves (one of my favorite dishes, generally) were OK, although several were split up on my plate (but hey, it happens). I thought the flavor was underwhelming; there was a lot of acidity but nothing else. I also ordered a side of "extra crispy seasoned potato fries" which just turned out to be generic crinkle fries with salt. Definitely wouldn't order those again. I thought maybe there would be some sort of twist on them? The big frustration was service. The restaurant was far from full when I went -- I counted maybe a dozen seated tables. After I finished eating, I spent more than 30 minutes trying to get my waiter's attention to get my check even as I sat with my plates pushed away, glasses empty, and credit card out. He walked by multiple times to wait on and check with other tables, and I saw at least five other employees working in the front of house and walking by me. Even when I got his attention for the check, it took quite a few minutes to get it, despite him walking out to other tables. (Although I will note he seemed busier than the other employees!) My check before tip came to $24, which felt on the pricey side for what I got. I hope I'm wrong, but I got the vibe that I wasn't exactly their favorite type of guest -- a solo diner who wasn't smoking hookah. (I noticed another solo non-smoker go similarly unnoticed by staff.) Maybe they heavily favor regulars, too. But they weren't at capacity, and I'd have gotten out quicker had I been able to pay. Maybe it was just an off night. But it's just not a great feeling to be ignored.

My wife and I tried their lunch buffet for the first time and overall, it was a good experience. At…read more$15.99 including a drink, it's a solid deal. The food was tasty, but we were disappointed with the limited meat and fish options. Roasted chicken was the only choice available. I like protein so I ended up just loading up on chicken. We were hoping for a bit more variety in that protein area.

I had such a great time here! First off, love the name…read more Found this spot on Yelp, as it was close by to where I was working that night. The owner came over and spoke with us, and told us his story, as well as answering any questions. We dived right into small pizzas called maneesh- I selected the Cheese and Zaatar- and it was delicious! Behind us, there was a table set with items for a dinner buffet. The owner also assured us we should check out the Dubai chocolate store next door- so we did! Thank you so much!

Came here for the buffet around 5:30pm and had the place to ourselves. The buffet options were…read moreimpressive especially if you love meat! My husband was thrilled! They have pita, hummus, baba Ghanoush, salad, cauliflower, potato and lentil soups, chicken, couscous with chickpeas (not sure), beef kofta, chicken kebob, and my favorite lamb with rice. Everything was delicious and flavorful. I was not familiar with the lamb and rice dish but our server told us that the last item at the end of the buffet table was actually the sauce for the lamb. It really elevated the flavors, sooo good! They also have coffee (tasted like a Turkish coffee) and tea plus of course, a dessert. I forgot the name of the dessert but it was the only thing that we did not particularly like because it was too sweet for our taste but I'm sure other people will like it. Do come and try this place, you will not be disappointed!

What a hidden gem!…read more From the outside it looks like a run of the mill strip mall market but then you walk into a beautiful little cafe style restaurant with a bar, decked out with stylish leather chairs and fashionable tables. The food was absolutely to die for with a good mixture of Palestine and Greek choices. The tea service was adorable, and we had more fun trying new things and talking to our amazing server than we ever anticipated. If you want to take someone out that if a big foodie this place would seriously impress!

Halal Food in Sunni Islam - Conditions (Translated and Organized)…read more In Sunni Islamic jurisprudence, "halal food" refers to food that is permissible according to the Qur'an and the Sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad . It must meet several conditions related to the nature of the food, its preparation, slaughtering process, and consumption. 1) Lawful Nature of the Food Itself The basic rule is that all foods are permissible unless there is clear evidence of prohibition. Forbidden foods include: * Pork and its derivatives * Carnivorous animals (such as lions, wolves, dogs) * Animals declared impure or harmful * Animals explicitly prohibited in Islamic texts (e.g., domesticated donkeys in most cases) 2) Conditions of Islamic Slaughter (Dhabihah) For meat to be halal, the animal must be slaughtered correctly: * The slaughterer must be a Muslim or, according to many Sunni scholars, from the People of the Book (Ahl al-Kitab) * The name of Allah must be mentioned at the time of slaughter ("Bismillah") * The windpipe, esophagus, and main blood vessels in the neck must be cut * A sharp instrument must be used to minimize suffering * Blood must be fully drained from the body * The animal must be alive before slaughter 3) Purity and Absence of Impurity (Najasa) Food must be free from any religious impurity, such as: * Flowing blood * Urine and excrement * Contamination from impure substances or unclean surfaces * Contact with alcohol if considered ritually impure or prohibited in consumption 4) No Mixing with Haram Ingredients Even if the base food is halal, it becomes haram if mixed with prohibited substances: * Alcohol or intoxicants used as food ingredients * Pork-based gelatin or enzymes * Fats or oils derived from forbidden animals * Any additive derived from impure or prohibited sources 5) Lawful Means of Acquisition and Preparation The food must be obtained through lawful means: * Honest trade and lawful purchase * No theft or usurpation * No use of unlawful wealth such as interest (riba), bribery, or fraud 6) Utensils and Cooking Equipment * Utensils must be clean and free from najasa (impurity) * If previously contaminated, they must be properly purified according to Islamic rules * Utensils of People of the Book are generally permissible if clean 7) Intention and Consumption Ethics * Food should not be used to harm oneself or others * Excessive waste (israf) is prohibited * It must not be used directly for sinful purposes Summary In Sunni Islam, halal food is not only about the type of meat. It is a complete system involving: * lawful ingredients * proper slaughtering * purity from impurities * lawful earning and preparation * ethical consumption

The best Baklava I had in Jax! I love that they were homemade and very sweet, nutty, with a hint of…read morecinnamon. I also loved the kind lady upfront! I appreciate her recommendations and opinions on what's best on menu.

Halal Food in Sunni Islam - Conditions (Translated and Organized)…read more In Sunni Islamic jurisprudence, "halal food" refers to food that is permissible according to the Qur'an and the Sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad . It must meet several conditions related to the nature of the food, its preparation, slaughtering process, and consumption. 1) Lawful Nature of the Food Itself The basic rule is that all foods are permissible unless there is clear evidence of prohibition. Forbidden foods include: * Pork and its derivatives * Carnivorous animals (such as lions, wolves, dogs) * Animals declared impure or harmful * Animals explicitly prohibited in Islamic texts (e.g., domesticated donkeys in most cases) 2) Conditions of Islamic Slaughter (Dhabihah) For meat to be halal, the animal must be slaughtered correctly: * The slaughterer must be a Muslim or, according to many Sunni scholars, from the People of the Book (Ahl al-Kitab) * The name of Allah must be mentioned at the time of slaughter ("Bismillah") * The windpipe, esophagus, and main blood vessels in the neck must be cut * A sharp instrument must be used to minimize suffering * Blood must be fully drained from the body * The animal must be alive before slaughter 3) Purity and Absence of Impurity (Najasa) Food must be free from any religious impurity, such as: * Flowing blood * Urine and excrement * Contamination from impure substances or unclean surfaces * Contact with alcohol if considered ritually impure or prohibited in consumption 4) No Mixing with Haram Ingredients Even if the base food is halal, it becomes haram if mixed with prohibited substances: * Alcohol or intoxicants used as food ingredients * Pork-based gelatin or enzymes * Fats or oils derived from forbidden animals * Any additive derived from impure or prohibited sources 5) Lawful Means of Acquisition and Preparation The food must be obtained through lawful means: * Honest trade and lawful purchase * No theft or usurpation * No use of unlawful wealth such as interest (riba), bribery, or fraud 6) Utensils and Cooking Equipment * Utensils must be clean and free from najasa (impurity) * If previously contaminated, they must be properly purified according to Islamic rules * Utensils of People of the Book are generally permissible if clean 7) Intention and Consumption Ethics * Food should not be used to harm oneself or others * Excessive waste (israf) is prohibited * It must not be used directly for sinful purposes Summary In Sunni Islam, halal food is not only about the type of meat. It is a complete system involving: * lawful ingredients * proper slaughtering * purity from impurities * lawful earning and preparation * ethical consumption

IMPORTANT LOCATION UPDATE!! The restaurants near St Augustine Rd is PERMANENTLY CLOSED!…read more The new location address is: 1821 Parental home rd unit 7 Jacksonville fl 32216 Please update your plans to visit accordingly.

This place should have way more reviews than it actually has. It could be because the name on the…read moreactual restaurant is different than what it is on yelp, but nonetheless, this place has quality in every bite. The inside is cute nicely decorated. I recently sat outside on the patio with my friends and it's usually the same few people that work the restaurant and they are always so nice. I wish I knew better Arabic so that I could actually feel at home. My friends and I ordered a mixed grill family size. Altogether it came out to $174 and when I tell you, it was enough food for a battalion. We all 38 till we rolled around and still had two carry out boxes each for lunch the next day. The meat is grilled to perfection. It tastes delicious and it is not dry whatsoever. The rice is seasoned exactly the right way and just makes you feel like you are at home.

My new FAV Mediterranean/Greek spot in Jacksonville!!! It's…read morea cute little mom-n-pop shop in San Marco with fast and friendly service. The food is amazing!! The spinach pie is the perfect appetizer and it comes with a side of tzatziki sauce to dip it in. The baba ganoush was too smoky for me but the pita was soft and tasty. The kiftah was my favorite dish. It's like a thin meatloaf that's well seasoned and moist. It comes on a delicious bed of Mediterranean rice with peas and onions. Will definitely be back!!

Consistent, solid Mediterranean food in the neighborhood…read more Service is always very friendly and food comes out regularly fast! The place feels cozy, always clean and never loud

I really loved how the food here was sharing size. We were…read moreable to try many food items and we were a group of 5 people. Service was slow here, we only saw one server. The owner stopped by to say hi. We had great wine also. Other than that the ambience transports me back in time.

Had a quick lunch there during my visit to Jacksonville. The restaurant serves Lebanese food. For…read morelunch, besides the regular menu, they also offered a small buffet, but I decided to try their regular menu. Ordered the Kafta Istanbuly -- a platter of two skwers of lamb kafta, grilled eggplant, lightly sauteed veggie (carrots, broccoli, zucchini), raw spinach and yellow rice. Descent serving size. Light, but very delightful seasoning. The lamb and veggie were just like what I make at home! The rice was cooked with peas and carrots and was good. It weighed about 6oz. Overall the dish was hearty and healthy. My server also gave me some complimentary fresh pita and zataar & olive oil (delicious). At only $27.5 (as of Feb 2026), this was a perfect deal! As there are not many Middle Eastern restaurants in Jacksonville, I am glad to find it and I would go there again the next time I visit this city!

Visited The Experience for a day party and really enjoyed the indoor/outdoor space and overall…read morevibe. The only drawback was the shared bathroom area for men and women, but the wait wasn't bad. I'd definitely come back for another event!

From the owner: Welcome to The Experience, where history meets modern elegance in the heart of Jacksonville's…read morehistoric Riverside neighborhood. Our 2000 sqft event space was once home to an old ambulance company, and it has been transformed into a unique and versatile venue for all your special occasions.