Byblos Restaurant — Restaurant in Virginia

I came here a few years ago and while I don’t recall anything being nasty per se, whatever I ordered didn’t knock my socks off and I never went back. Recently, I was once again craving Mediterranean food and ordered for pickup not realizing until I pulled up that I had been there before. This time, both my husband and I ordered the lamb shank, his with rice and mine with garlic mashed potatoes, an order of grape leaves, and we tried a new salad that had both feta and blue cheese. I was expecting it to be like taboule but it was more like something you use as a spread. That being said, it was FANTASTIC and perfect with those wonderfully soft little pita breads, which they were not stingy with. I cannot wait to have some again. As for the meal, my husband had demolished his before I had a chance to even look at my food. It was amazing, and I cannot stand when people use amazing for any little thing they like. I do not use that word lightly especially when it comes to food, but our meal was absolutely AMAZING. The ONLY thing that was a bit off were the garlic mashed potatoes, which did have a nice flavor profile but they were too runny. I still ate them though because they tasted good, but I hope that was just an off day and next time they have a thicker consistency. I really have no complaints and cannot wait to patronize this establishment again in the near future. The portions are generous, the food was cooked perfectly besides the mashed, and the pricing is fair. I am a food snob and need BIG flavor in my food or I cannot eat it, and this place didn’t disappoint! The staff are very...

Byblos consistently surprises me, even after ordering out and dinging in for over 4 years. The food is always fresh and I'm finding new favorites all the time. You won't find any fried-pita here or gimmicks, just fresh, delicious, and healthy Lebanese food.

Some of my favorites include: Appetizers: Taboule and Fettoosh Salads, Falafel, Labneh (A cheesy-yogurt-type dip) and Sambuseck (Beef and onion filled pastries).

Main Platters: Kebabs - Served with mashed potato or rice-vermicelli and delicious grilled vegetables. All types are wonderful, especially the spicy Kafta.

Mihishi Koussa - Beef and rice-Stuffed zucchini with lamb and rice-stuffed grape leaves and some very mild sauces. This dish is refreshing, not spicy at all and doesn't leave you feeling over-stuffed.

Moujadarah - A Rice/Lentil dish topped with fried onions, salad and a side of yogurt. If you like lentils AT ALL, eat this... I order one with every family dinner it's gone in seconds.

Sandwiches: They are all delicious. Eat them all and you will be happy.

Other: "Dimi's Favorite Pizza" from the kids menu is an amazing "white" pizza. I really can't describe how good this is except to say that my kids absolutely destroy it and my wife and I eat whatever they can't with some Taboule on top.

If you want a nice dining experience (They have a great wine selection for dining-in) or some delicious take-out food, please give this place a try. I can almost guarantee you...

Wonderful surprise in a strip mall. I had the Shanklish Salad, Babaganoush, Mahshi Kousa, and my partner had the Ouzi Lamb. Everything tasted wonderful. Babaganoush had that slight kiss of smokiness that I have to have, and the pita break was a little pillowy, but not the overly puffy kids of pita from large bakeies. Shanklish is like a tabouli (tomato and cucumber) with a couple extra layers of flavor (Gorgonzola and red onion). Mahshi Kousa was great, a hollowed-out zucchini filled with ground lamb and rice but the stuffed grape leaves were warm, and stole the show. I've never had hot stuffed grape leaves, and I don't think I'll ever eat them cold again. My partner's Lamb was excellent...very tender and flavorful meat prepared with great skill. I really of the sauce’s tackiness that lamb dishes are prepared well.

I didn’t nose around and ask the waiter, but he seemed to be a part-owner. This seems like a wonderful, family-run business that gets a lot of support from its community…nice crowd for a Sunday night. If you haven’t been, you’re missing out. I don’t live in this area, but I’d definitely make a special trip to return and try other items...