Restaurant Review Round-Up: Saleem's West

The website for Saleem's West proudly proclaims that "Garlic is king!" and it's a sentiment that the Restaurant Review Round-Up can't but help agree. 

The Mediterranean restaurant was original located on S. Grand Avenue in St. Louis and is famous for being a trailblazer in the city's ethnic cuisine scene. The Lebanese specialties include lamb, shawarma, kibbe and tabouli and the menu offers options for vegetarians as well as kabob lovers. 

The following reviews collected by Patch are a representative sample aimed at giving you a flavor of what local residents are saying. Have an opinion on the best dinner in the area yourself? Add a review of your own right here on Patch.    

From Yelp (4.0 avg./13 reviews)

Patt C. gave it 2/5 stars and said: "The food was OK, but [our meal] (including two glasses of wine) cost $70. Kinda steep. Minus a star for the price-point!"

Andy T. gave it 5/5 stars and said: "I consider myself a sharwarma connoisseur, since I have had it all over the world. Saleem's has one of the best  chicken shawarma wraps I have had in US. The Tahini, and humus are rich in flavors, along with the sour pickles and pickled turnips make this wrap a winner."

Chip K. gave it 4/5 stars and said: "For dinner, I ordered the kibbeh/tabbouleh combo; that's a baked ground beef dish (kibbeh) served with a parsley-based salad (tabbouleh) and rice.  The kibbeh was a little burnt around the edges, but for the most part it was very tasty and satisfying.  The tabbouleh was a little odd at first -- imagine a mouthful of parsley with pieces of onion and tomato covered in a tangy dressing -- but it really grew on me after a few bites."

From Urban Spoon:

Kay Johnston liked it and said: "I have been going [to] Saleems since he opened on Grand Ave. I can't go more than a month without my Kebobs and Hummus. Try the Garlic Potato dip, it is the best ever."

Les Taylor didn't like it and said: "Rridiculously overpriced for what you get. I have never been to a lebanese restaurant that does not give complimentary hummus and/or bread. It is like going to a mexican restaurant and having to pay for chips and salsa."