Cedars Lebanese Restaurant — Restaurant in Roanoke

Sheila and I dined here on Saturday evening, August 24, 2019. We were in Roanoke for a brief stay, and as both of us love Lebanese cuisine, we were hoping for a dinner “like Sheila’s Mom used to make.”

YES! Cedars is the place! Roanoke has a substantial Lebanese-American population, and one might wish for Lebanese dishes at every streetcorner: but it is a sad fact that Lebanese cuisine at its best is one of the most labor-intensive cuisines on the Earth, and the elements demanded in the preparation must sometimes reach around the world, even to Lebanon itself. So it is a courageous restaurateur who even thinks of opening a Lebanese restaurant anywhere in the United States, and it is a brilliant and loving chef who can succeed in creating once more the ancient and glorious dishes in this very foreign country.

As one might reasonably judge an Italian restaurant solely by a portion of its spaghetti and meatballs, a litmus test for a Lebanese restaurant might be a bowl of tabouli. The tabouli at Cedars Lebanese Restaurant is as good as any I have enjoyed in my life, and as it is prepared in this instance without bulgur wheat, it makes a wonderful fresh salad without the density of a main dish. The main dishes we enjoyed—Sheila chose the Kefteh made with beef sirloin, and I had the Lamb Kebab—were flawlessly executed, cooked precisely to order, spiced distinctively, and served in generous portions.

Another reviewer has noted that the lamb kebabs were “tough,” and one should I think note that leg of lamb is a very lean meat, which is why it is generally wise to order it “rare,” and to anticipate needing to carve the kebabs (with the sharp carving knife thoughtfully supplied) into small easier-to-chew pieces before it enters your mouth. There is remarkably little waste in lamb kebabs—and they are delicious!

Lebanese wine and beer is available, among more common beverages. Cocktails are also available. Service was prompt, attentive and friendly. The irestaurant itself is housed in one of the classic Downtown Market buildings, very charming, decorated with a flag of Lebanon and large photographs of various historic locations in Lebanon. Chairs and tables are comfortable and capacious enough for the variety of dishes.

Lebanese desserts are to die for, and I have little doubt that eventually they will finish me. Sheila rides herd on my appetite, fortunately. Not all of the desserts served at Cedars Lebanese Restaurant are prepared in-house, but the quality control of Cedars ensures that you will have an excellent dining experience—as we certainly did—from beginning to end! This is the restaurant I would happily have taken Sheila’s Mom to—or even...

Not only is the food delicious and reasonably priced at Cedars, but the staff is second to NONE. This is a homey, family-oriented place, and the service exudes that kind of welcoming, friendly, honest, good naturedness. When I visit the Star City, Cedars is first on my list of dining preferences.

Want your faith in humanity to be restored? Read on... and THANK YOU to Cedars' amazing staff.

The week after Christmas ('16), I was meeting my father in Roanoke to celebrate the holiday. He lives in NC, and I live in Harrisonburg. Roanoke is right between the two of us. During dinner, my father handed me $200 cash. I didn't have pockets and wasn't carrying a purse. I sat the money next to my phone in the booth and forgot about it. I left the restaurant, returned to Harrisonburg, and did not remember the cash existed until SIX days later.

I knew it was probably long gone, but called the restaurant just in case... Not only did Cedars find the cash when they bussed our table, but they had also been trying to find the rightful owner! They worked hard to ensure the cash went home with the right person; someone had already tried to claim it, but they failed to answer any of the waitress' questions about the meal. She asked basic things like, "What did you order? What's the name on the credit card used to pay for the meal? What time were you here?"

After answering these questions Cedars mailed me a check, satisfied that I was telling the truth. I offered a $20 finder's fee, but she refused immediately saying, "Absolutely not! This was a Christmas gift, wasn't it? I am not doing this for a reward. I am doing this because it is the right thing to do."

I also must also mention that my father is a notoriously terrible tipper. On our $60 meal, the waitress probably earned about $3. She did the right thing even though I did not deserve her grace. That kind of integrity makes me pause and reevaluate my own morals. I aspire to be the kind of person who always does the right thing simply because it's the right thing to do. But I've also worked a lot of crappy customer service gigs, and had I been in this waitress' shoes, I am not sure I would've cared about the customer who carelessly misplaced a wad of cash.

I am humbled, and I am grateful for this experience. Thank you, Cedars, for demonstrating honesty, integrity, and respect. It's what we do when no one is watching that says the most about our character.

So to those of you who are still reading, visit Cedars if you want tasty food in a welcoming setting prepared by awesome folks who absolutely deserve...

I was having a really hard day last Tuesday, and after being through so much, a friend and I wandered into downtown to find a nice place to eat. Cedars chose itself for us when we caught the smell walking by, it was absolutely heavenly, and when we entered the empty restaurant and were asked to seat ourselves we claimed a booth near the counter where we could both smell the kitchen and admire the decor. The seating is very comfortable and the mix of interesting memorabilia gave it the ambiance of a family home, creating a very relaxing setting for a meal. The lighting was warm and plentiful, but it was gentle enough that I was able to enjoy my food without wearing my glasses, something that really improved the experience.

I ordered beef with onion, parsley, and tomato, and my friend ordered beef stew. The food was ready quickly, and came to our table carefully presented and elegantly framed in garnish. The beef was cooked through but remained juicy and tender, and not being very familiar with Lebanese cuisine, the seasoning was a fun departure from the usual. The woman who served us was polite and attentive, and our glasses were never less than half full throughout our stay. At the end of the meal I was excited by the idea of dessert, but I ate much too fully to indulge any more than I already had. We asked for two checks, but considering the troubles I had before our arrival, my friend offered to pay for the meal. Our hostess was gracious and returned with one check, and we paid and were on our way (though maybe a bit sorry to have to go).

Our visit served as a perfect ending to what had been a perfectly awful day, and I hope to stop in again soon under better circumstances. Cedars is an excellent choice if you're looking for a place to eat...