Khoury's Mediterranean Restaurant

LVA Review

This restaurant was reviewed in the July 2012 LVA; some of the information contained in the review may no longer be accurate. What sets Khoury’s apart from other Mediterranean restaurants in Las Vegas is that it’s Lebanese, which is a different style from Greek, Iranian, or any of the others that serve Middle Eastern cuisine. The house mezza (appetizer plate) is fantastic, including tabouli, hummus, baba ghanoush, loubieh (green beens), bamieh (okra), olives, pickles, grape leaves, falafel, and more. A large mezza is $28.95 and will feed an entire table, or there’s a mini-mezza for $17.95. There are six different shish kabobs ($16.95-$18.95), schwarma and gyro sandwiches ($9.95), whole baked chicken ($15.95), homemade lentil or beef and rice soup ($6.95), and salads of all kinds made with tomatoes, cucumbers, beans, spinach, onions, mint, lemon juice, and … you get the picture. The most expensive main course on the menu is kibbi-nayi (see below) for $25.95. Lamb chops are a bargain at $23.95. If you aren’t familiar with this cuisine, the list above might sound exotic. But it’s pretty much the norm for Mediterranean fare. What makes Khoury’s stand out are things that those who really understand this food will notice. For example, the pita is baked fresh in brick ovens and brought to the table hot and risen. The kibbi-nayi, which is ground raw lamb mixed with cracked wheat, is a dish that you don’t find very often and it’s excellent. And the grape leaves are the best in town. If there’s a negative, we’ve noticed that there’s a strong cumin influence in some of the food. If it’s not your thing, just ask about the preparation before ordering. It’s a bit of a ways west off the Strip, but fairly easily reached by driving straight up Flamingo or Tropicana and making a left on Ft. Apache. We’ve eaten here with Lebanese friends who confirm that this is the real deal, so you’ll find it worth the trip.