Sumaya

"Despite being on the main thoroughfare in Principe Real, Sumaya feels like a hidden gem for Lebanese fare. With its white-washed walls, you instantly feel transported to the Mediterranean Sea. This is the perfect place for when you want a delicious dinner in a quieter environment to converse with your date. Although generally not too crowded during the week, they get busy on the weekend so a reservation is recommended. There are many plant-based dishes on the menu, so ordering several things and sharing everything is the way to go here. Recommended Dishes: For the starters: - Our absolute favorite starter here is their lentil soup. Not much to look at, but don't be fooled. Each bite of this soup explodes with a heavenly lemon flavor. - You also can't go wrong with their hummus, although we like to eat this with our main course. - Their Batata Harra -- fried cubed potatoes with spices also looks amazing, but I have yet to try it. For the main: - Don't think about it, just get the Moussaka. It's their standout dish and worth every penny. It's a large portion and comes with rice making it perfect for sharing. - Make a full meal out of it with sides of hummus and Batata Harra if you didn't already have them for your starters. For dessert: - While there are no vegan dessert options at Sumaya, if you eat honey, the baklava is delicious! It comes in 6 small pieces loaded with pistachios and isn't too sweet. To drink: - Get one of their lovely infusions with your dessert and ask for two mugs. The mint is a particular favorite. **If you are strictly gluten-free, Sumaya may not be the best place for you. You can certainly find things to eat (such as the lentil soup, hummus, and Batata Harra, but many of the other things I've recommended here have gluten in them, including the rice in the Moussaka as it contains vermicelli."