The Wake

When I was in middle school there was a foreign exchange student named Alan. He was from Lebanon, and he was the kind of kid that invited teasing; he wore high water pants and he sang “It’s My Life” by Bon Jovi ever so gently in his falsetto voice. One of the many horrible running jokes surrounding the kid was that Lebanon’s national cuisine was hot dogs roasted over garbage fires.

This couldn’t be further from the truth. Zakia Deli, a Lebanese-American joint on Kennedy St. and Stinson Blvd, presents food far from my 7th grade stereotype.

Lebanese food is similar to other traditional Mediterranean cuisine; there are olives, vegetarian dishes, cheeses, and various spiced meats. Additionally, because of its history of foreign rule and invasions, there are subtle Middle Eastern influences in many of the offerings. The American element to Zakia Deli is the, well, deli. One of the features of the restaurant’s menu is a build your own sandwich bar for $3.99 (there are loads of different possible combinations.)

The menu features multiple daily specials and permanent specialty sandwich menu items. Some of the mainstays are falafel, gyros, and kibbi, which is a sort of cross between falafel and gyro meat. I ordered a “Kafta Meatball” specialty sandwich for just under $6.00. Wrapped in thin grilled pita bread, the seasoned meat was dressed with onions and parsley, and laid over a thin layer of mild hummus. For the price, it was incredibly filling and hit the spot perfectly.

No matter what your taste is, Zakia Deli most likely has something to satisfy you. And for the price, few restaurants in the area compare.

Overall 8.5/10