Beirut Rock Café
The Beirut Rock Café is only a short walk from the UTA campus, and is the closest true Lebanese/Mediterranean cuisine a hungry UTA student may experience. Located on Doug Russell Rd and Cooper, the façade of the building is as fleeting as the correct pronunciation of its menu items by its guests.
The menu is simple, featuring an assortment of specialty drinks ranging from Arabic and American coffee, to be purchased by the pot, to a variety of fresh-squeezed juices, to the mint or sage teas.
Appetizers range from traditional salads, such as Greek and Caesar with Chicken, to native Lebanese dishes like Tabbouli (tomatoes, parsley, and onions) or Fattosh, to Custed Lintel Soup, or Hommous — a Mediterranean appetizer that consists of chickpeas pureed with tahini sauce, lemon juice, and a hint of fresh garlic, all of which is served with olive oil and pita bread.
More Mediterranean dishes present themselves, most noticeably in the Mixed Maza Combo Tray that contains of a mix-match of a little bit of everything — Hommous, Baba Gannosh, Tabbouli, Fattosh, stuffed grape leaves (Dolmades), mixed pies (containing both lamb and chicken), Kibbee, and Falafel. There are also Greek sandwiches, called Gyros, that are one kebob skewer of char-grilled cubes of tender seasoned meat (lamb, chicken, beef), tomatoes, pickles, onions and tahini sauce wrapped and toasted in pita bread.
For dessert there is the Baklava, a Lebanese kind of walnut and cinnamon pastry, and the most winning compliment to a great meal.
Christina Bily works at the Beirut Rock Café part-time while also being in the nursing program at UTA. When asked what she liked most about the restaurant she responded “I like the food, the customers and the atmosphere.” Bily also commented on the hard work of owner Kassam Benjar who works side by side with his employees 7 days a week, 12 hours a day.
The Beirut Rock Café stands out among other less unique fast food stops located around the UTA campus.
More info: Call Beirut Rock Café at 817-860-5499
