Chadra: Lebanese and Labs

Chadra Mezza & Grill had me at hello. It happened to be “Pooches on the Patio”(every Wednesday from 4-7 pm) when my husband and I finally tried it out. I’m a sucker for anything canine-related and was therefore completely taken in. Any restaurant that has a special happy hour each week for dogs and their owners gets an “A” in my book. Fortunately for my integrity as a reviewer, the restaurant itself did not at all disappoint, and my bias towards the pups was secondary to the fantastic food and atmosphere. I can safely say that even if there had been nary a pooch in sight, I would be equally enthusiastic about Chadra.

Located near the corner of 8th and Park Place near the hospital district, Chadra embodies the warmth of its revitalized neighborhood. It feels very homey, and though its simple décor does reflect a Middle Eastern theme, the laidback atmosphere is more “Cheers” than exotic. Service was fairly slow, but we soon observed that most of the wait staff were visiting with the patrons, sometimes even sitting down for a chat. Once we grew accustomed to the pace, it was endearing rather than annoying. Towards the end of our dinner, a cheery manager named Megan came to see how we were faring. We easily fell into conversation with her about the history of the restaurant and its owner/chef, Nehme, who arrived from Lebanon nine years ago and worked his way up from washing dishes to launch Chadra, which is named after his home village. Megan has promised to remember us next time we come in, and I have full confidence that she will.

Kafta, Shawarma, and Babaganouj galore, Chadra serves up traditional Lebanese fare at its best. We opted for the Chadra Mezza platter (small portions of ten different appetizers) in order to try out as many different dishes as possible. Nothing was disappointing and several items stood head and shoulders above other Lebanese that I’ve tried in the area. The hummus was incredibly garlic-y and delicious, and the falafel was perfectly cooked and seasoned. Surprisingly, the Foul Moudamas was the favorite dish of the night. Made of fava beans in garlic sauce, it was not much to look at next to its enticing plate-mates, but the taste was out of this world. My husband and I were not-so-subtly fork jockeying for every last bean. For those with less than adventurous palates, Chadra also offers Italian inspired choices on the menu. From pizza to lasagna to eggplant parmigiana, the Italian choices looked fantastic, though I don’t understand how anyone could pass up the wonderful Lebanese.

In short, Chadra is everything a neighborhood restaurant should be, and I highly recommend trying it out. The price is right, the food is delicious, and I think it’s safe to say that at least one person will know your name (and probably your lab's name, too). Lunch - $, Dinner - $$