Hummus from Heaven
DESCRIPTION: Being a student at nearby Tulane University, I frequent Lebanon's when in town. Service is usually great, the atmosphere is conducive to conversation, the food is great, and the price is right. Alfresco seating is available, and if you're lucky you won't be downwind of a smoking student (Tulane's a chimney.) Despite the name, the owner and many of the recipes hail from Iraq. Warm pita and a silky, perfect hummus drizzled with quality olive oil and topped with a sprinkling of sumac and seasonings forms the base of each meal. (Rice is available, but I don't recommend it.) For students on a tight budget, a well-seasoned lentil soup, gyros on pita, or eggplant sandwiches are all great and under $5. Dinner is also affordable, usually no more than $10-$15/person. Items to pass up are the hummus with roasted lamb and the lula kebab; both are bland. Recommended are the well-seasoned kibbeh or falafel, a homemade gyros, and grape leaves stuffed with lamb and rice. Most dinner items are available as appetizers, along with faul (a hummus-like preparation made with fava beans), Indian-style samosas, and labneh; one possibility when out in a group is to eat tapas-style and sample a bit of everything. Take the opportunity while here to skip the coke or the New Orleans-style "sweet tea" and sample some more exotic fare. Available are spearmint and sage iced-teas (both refreshing), as well as a house blend called "Lebanese tea" made with instant sweetened tea, lemon, rosewater, and pine nuts. However strange it sounds, it's good. On occasion, Lebanon's is understaffed and hence the waitstaff seems inattentive, but they're always friendly and accommodating.
DATE: 2002-06-30
FOODRATING : 8
SERVICERATING : 8
AMBIANCERATING : 6
OVERALLRATING : 8
RECOMMENDED DISHES : hummus, Lebanese tea, mint tea, lentil soup, shish kebab, falafel, kibbeh, gyros, grape leaves

Not worth the $$
DESCRIPTION: My fiance (a certified and experienced sommelier) and I decided to try this restaurant recently. He decided to order a glass of the Albarino with his seafood. Unfortunately, the bottled was "corked" so my fiance asked to have another glass from a different bottle. The owner came to the table and explained that the wine was not corked and that my finace did not know what he was talking about. He explained that he personally did not like the vintage and that he thought it was "tart". My finace explained that he had had this wine before and that what he was referring to had nothing to do with the taste, but rather with a bacteria called TCA that sometimes infiltrates the wine. The owner refused, at first to open another bottle (even though that was the only kind he wanted with his dinner)and began a tirade of how he has been doing this for eight years. Once my finace explained that he too knows what he was doing the owner hesitantly opened another bottle all the while demeaning my finace's knowledge. I am completely aghast at the way this man treats his customers. Although our food was good and the waitress even better, we will never return to this place and suggest others do not as well. There are plenty other wonderful places in this city that have owners who really know what they are doing.
DATE: 2004-12-01
FOODRATING : 4
SERVICERATING : 2
AMBIANCERATING : 4
OVERALLRATING : 2
RECOMMENDED DISHES : None

Good for quick lunch
DESCRIPTION: I have eaten at Arzi's probably 25 times in the last 10 years. I always get the same thing, the Chicken Schwarma plate. It is good, predictable and usually quick. If you like Greek/Lebanese food, this is a good try for lunch. Nothing fancy, the building is old, but it is accecptable. The bathrooms are nasty, though! (Men's, anyway.)
DATE: 2005-02-20
FOODRATING : 6
SERVICERATING : 6
AMBIANCERATING : 6
OVERALLRATING : 4
RECOMMENDED DISHES : Chicken Schwarma Plate

Pleasantly Suprised!
DESCRIPTION: My husband and I are avid restaurant diners, however, we have found very few great, unique restaurant ideas lately. This one was the best in a long time. The restaurant was not busy the night we went and the service was very friendly. The food was the best we have had in Gonzales. This is saying a lot since I was raised here.
DATE: 2005-06-28
FOODRATING : 10
SERVICERATING : 8
AMBIANCERATING : 10
OVERALLRATING : 10
RECOMMENDED DISHES : cheesecake sampler is superb