Marhaba Mediterranean Cuisine

I'm crazy.  I think no one who knows me irl would argue with that assertion. For example: one year my birthday fell during a six month flirtation with vegetarianism. Where did I decide to have my birthday dinner with my friends? Shorty's. That's right, while my friends sucked on ribs I had corn and a baked potato.  And I love BBQ.

So Sunday, being Mother's Day, my darling, long suffering brother decide to take the mess of women he is burdened with out to lunch. To Marhaba Mediterranean Cuisine. Now, I suffer from a chronically bad stomach. I actually spent last Sunday in the ER because I had been throwing up all night, and it felt like the witches brew simmering in my tummy was going to explode. I had been coddling myself all week with chicken soup and crackers and still didn't feel right (though, it's been so long since I've felt right I might not recognize it at this point).  So, maybe Mediterranean food is not the wisest choice for someone with a tender stomach.  At least we didn't go to an Indian place.  I ordered grilled chicken breast with fries, the seemingly mildest thing on the menu and the only thing my kid will eat.  But I tasted everything.  It was all delicious, probably more so since it was the only flavorful thing I'd eaten in forever.
 
My sister-in-law's lamb was wonderful, as was my brother's beef dish, my mom's lentil soup, and all the appetizers they ordered.  Everything was tasty without being at all spicy.  I didn't care for the dessert and for a date juice I ordered-they both seemed faintly perfumed with violets.  It might have been the honey they used?  They have shot glasses of tea (shai, I believe) which were very nice, but the size of the glass was a cruel tease.  The reviews I read online faulted the service but I thought it was fine, though, the restaurant was pretty empty and we were a pretty big party.  The place is attractive and upscale-honestly more expensive than I'd willingly pay for, myself.  $19 for grilled chicken breast is pricey.  They have outdoor seating and apparently offer hookah, and the location (near Sunset Place) is a great place to hang out.  All in all it was a great meal, a nice change from the perpetual sushi (which mom wouldn't eat anyway) and...Happy Mother's Day!
 
I do have to say that I did get sick that night, but after crying a while and feeling sorry for myself (my son graciously bestowed kisses-because of course children's kisses have miraculous healing properties) I laid in bed and pressed the painful spot and breathed into it (I did learn something in yoga class!).  Then I thought of doing a castor oil pack and it helped a lot more-at least I didn't throw up again and slept all night and woke up feeling  no worse than normal.