Cedar By The Water — Restaurant in Western Australia

My husband and I love Lebanese food, so we were excited to discover this restaurant in Bunbury and decided to have lunch there. We arrived at the restaurant around 1.00pm and ordered Falafels. Fatoosh and Mansaf Lamb.

Falafels – The menu stated 6 Falafels, Tahini Sauce, Tomato, Parsley, Lebanese Bread. We received 4 Falafels, 2 boat shaped items that appeared to contain minced lamb, Parsley and several green chillies. There was no Tahini Sauce, no Tomato and no Lebanese Bread. Though tasty, the Falafels and the other item were exceedingly dry and needed to be eaten with a water chaser.

Fatoosh – The menu stated Lettuce, Cucumber, Tomato, Onion, Crushed Garlic, Pomegranate Molasses, Lemon Juice, Fried Lebanese Bread We received the above, but with no Lettuce (a couple of strands of what looked like white cabbage may have been used as a substitute) and six tiny squares of what looked like crackers for the 'fried Lebanese Bread'. The salad was sitting in a lake of, I assume, Pomegranate Molasses and Lemon Juice.

Mansaf Lamb – The menu stated Rice & Minced Meat, Roasted Lamb Pieces, Fried Mixed Nuts, Cedar Special Yogurt. We received Rice, shredded Lamb, Yogurt similar to Tzatziki and a small bowl of salad. The salad was the same as the Fatoosh, but without the crackers and was again, sitting in a lake of 'juice'. Looking at the menu again, it appears we were served with a cross between the Mansaf and Shawarma, but the menu states that latter is served with Lebanese Bread and a Garlic Dip and we received neither of these.

I didn't have my phone with me, so there are no pictures to post.

The restaurant is located in a lovely spot, the prices are reasonable and the staff were friendly, but after this disappointing experience, we will not be dining...

I do t want to knock this place, I’d heard it was really good. I came down from Yanchep to try the food. I waited at the counter for a few minutes, another customer came in and called the staff, and he was attended to first. But that didn’t. Bother me. We picked a table and were given menus,about 10 mins later a very nice young man came to take our order. I asked for the trio of dips and the chicken mansaf He quickly told me there were NO. Dips available and what they did have was being used on the mains. So I asked for falafel, cauliflower and the mansaf, I made it clear I wanted it all at the same time to share with my hubby. It came out seperate again not really an issue. But the food was really poor quality the cauliflower was overcooked, the falafel was ok. But the mansaf was just a pile of yellow rice, some pine nuts and the chicken was just boiled chicken piled on top, not cooked in any spices or yoghurt, so very disappointing. I’m not wanting to bag the place , but if you want to sell Arab food , then this wasn’t the deal....

For a change of cuisine for our last night in Bunbury we dropped in for a taste of Lebanese.

Place was not busy and there was only one person serving the whole restaurant, a cheery and friendly girl.

Mansaf lamb - roast lamb pieces were stringy and dry, yoghurt saved the dish somewhat but the lamb was lacking flavor and flat.

Kafta lamb - lamb was overcooked and dry; again, yoghurt came to the rescue to rehydrate the parched protein.

Rice in both dishes had no discernible taste and provided no redemption. The only thing that stood out was the side salad which overshadowed the lamb. We had to chase down the Lebanese bread to go with the dips but it was eventually served cold. Reheating it made them dry and leathery so a disastrous outcome.

When making payment, they waived the cost of one dish so I give them credit for acknowledging the poor service. But the mistreatment of the lamb in a Lebanese eatery is disrespectful to...