[Demvtr]

The relatively recently-opened Sala Thai at the corner of Clarendon Boulevard and N. Adams St. in Courthouse is closed. There's a large sign in the window advertising a new restaurant: "Me Jana." The sign states that the restaurant will feature "Fine Mediterranean Dining." Some quick Googling didn't turn up anything relevant for "Me Jana," though there seem to be one or more Mediterranean restaurants in other cities called "Mejana."

[Sthitch]

Demvtr, on Jul 17 2007, 09:11 AM, said:

The relatively recently-opened Sala Thai at the corner of Clarendon Boulevard and N. Adams St. in Courthouse is closed.

I believe that Sala Thai has been in that location for a number of years (at least 5) and was not relatively new. I also thought that I saw that the building was going to be razed for some more condos or office buildings. With all of the great Thai options available in Arlington, this is not a great loss.

[DLB]

Sthitch, on Jul 17 2007, 10:27 AM, said:

I believe that Sala Thai has been in that location for a number of years (at least 5) and was not relatively new. I also thought that I saw that the building was going to be razed for some more condos or office buildings. With all of the great Thai options available in Arlington, this is not a great loss.

No, this location just opened, less than a year ago.

[Sthitch]

Isn't it the same building as the CVS? Has a rounded set of windows that looks out onto the road? If that is the same place, I remember eating Thai there several years ago, and I swear it was Sala.

[The Leaver]

Sthitch, on Jul 17 2007, 10:52 AM, said:

Isn't it the same building as the CVS? Has a rounded set of windows that looks out onto the road? If that is the same place, I remember eating Thai there several years ago, and I swear it was Sala.

Different place. Although I believe that the CVS/Sala Thai at the 10th St. and Washington Blvd location are also not long for this world. The land is too close to the Clarendon Metro to carry all that surface parking. I thought the Sala Thai was decent, but still miss the miniature golf course that occupied the location prior to CVS/Sala.

[Demvtr]

I happened to end up in my building's elevator with a Sala Thai delivery guy this evening, and I asked him about the closing of the Courthouse location. There was a bit of a language barrier, but he seemed to say that the Courthouse location was just too close to the older location (at N. 10th and Washington Blvd.), and the new location in Courthouse was not getting enough business. (And I bet the rent was on the high side.) The delivery guy said that the older location is expected to stay open for the foreseeable future.

I suspect that part of what happened is that if one lives in Courthouse, Sawatdee is the place to go for Thai. My apartment overlooks the now-closed Sala Thai location, but I always walked right by en route to Sawatdee.

[cheezepowder]

Demvtr, on Jul 17 2007, 09:54 PM, said:

The delivery guy said that the older location is expected to stay open for the foreseeable future.

Sala Thai's older location (next to the CVS) has a sign that says Garfield Park Condos, Coming Spring 2007. Given what the delivery guy said to you, and given that Spring 2007 has come and gone without any sign of condo construction, I guess there's been a bit of a reprieve.

[cheezepowder]

I saw that Me Jana is now open. It's a Lebanese restaurant, and their menu has a number of cold mezze, hot mezze, as well as main entrees (and I think some kabobs).

[goldenticket]

I haven't eaten AT Me Jana, but a friend had them prepare some food for a party over the weekend. Everything I tasted was quite good, despite the fact that it had been sitting out for a while. Kibbeh was crispy with lots of flavor in the groun lamb center. Hummus was creamy and garlicky. Falafel was not at all greasy, very fresh tasting - I'm a bit of a falafel snob and I'm not entirely convinced it wasn't from a mix, but if it was a mix, it was a good one. Based on what I tasted, I would definitely like to check out the restaurant.

(I'm questioning the listing on OpenTable that says $31-50 - seems on the high side for Lebanese - anyone seen a menu?)

[cheezepowder]

goldenticket, on Sep 24 2007, 11:04 AM, said:

(I'm questioning the listing on OpenTable that says $31-50 - seems on the high side for Lebanese - anyone seen a menu?)

Their website with menus and prices is now up (click).

[Kibbee Nayee]

Mixed grill at $25 for dinner doesn't seem too outrageous to me.....

[Demvtr]

Me Jana's name conveys the Lebanese restaurant's desire to make its customers feel like family. Diners are greeted with a kind word and a basket of warm pita at the table akin to the soft, pillowy bread served at Zaytinya. A small plate in the center of the table contains olives, zatar (a spice), olive oil, and labneh (a thick yogurt), and the pita is well-served by a quick swipe through the olive oil and a dip in the labneh.

Me Jana’s interior suits its neighborhood. Red walls, glossy wood floors, and dark wood tables set a hip, stylish tone. Black cloth napkins, candles on the table, and stemless glasses for red wine help round out the ambiance, but the restaurant is not so urban, upscale, and/or grandiose in appearance that it seems out of place in Arlington. One can walk in wearing jeans and a sweater or a going-out-on-the-town outfit and feel comfortable.

The dinner menu consists of over 40 small plates and fewer than ten entrees. The small plates range in price from $5.00 (thyme fries) to $14.00 (lamb shank); entrees range in price from $17.00 (kafta kebob) to $29.00 (lamb chops).

Me Jana’s prices are a potentially fatal problem and may scare many diners away, particularly the diners in surrounding apartment and condominium buildings who might otherwise become regulars. The fattouch salad, at $7.50 for a small bowl, is almost two dollars more than at Zaytinya and over two dollars more than at the excellent Pita House in Old Town Alexandria. The savory, minty salad, a Lebanese restaurant staple, is also more expensive than at Me Jana’s closest geographic competitor, Aladdin’s Eatery. Seven dollars for four small falafel patties exceeds the prices at Aladdin’s, Pita House, and Zaytinya, and many other items are similarly overpriced.

Price complaints aside, the food does not disappoint. The aforementioned fattouch salad is a strong rendition, featuring well-diced tomatoes, onions, peppers, and cucumbers doused in olive oil, enlivened by sumac, and complemented by pita chips. The kitchen may wish to ease up a little on the mint and be a bit more generous with the sumac and pita chips, but those are minor issues; the salad is a superb start to a meal. The goat cheese and oranges salad also won approval from its recipient.

The falafel is one of the better versions in the area, superior to the offerings of Aladdin’s Eatery or Pasha Café, and on par with the chickpea patties at Zaytinya. No unappealing dryness or crumbly texture here, and every drop of the shallow pool of tahini sauce on the plate deserves to be swept up.

Me Jana’s version of fatteh, consisting of two long, thick strips of fried eggplant covered in thick yogurt sauce, chickpeas, and pita chips, reads well on the menu, but loses something in translation from paper to plate. The dish is satisfying, but some aspect of flavor is missing; maybe the omitted element is tanginess in the somewhat bland yogurt, a dusting of zatar, or hot, melted butter (which saturates the fabulous version at the Pita House). Despite the need to revisit the recipe, the dish is worth keeping on the menu.

Cheese-centric plates are crowd-pleasers. The cheese rolls, which are, in essence, manchego- and feta-filled spring rolls, were roundly hailed. Zucchini fritters were enjoyed, but at least one diner opined that the dish fell a hair short of Zaytinya’s version. The potato kibbe, potato dumplings filled with melted feta cheese, elicited nothing but positive remarks, and the four potato dumplings come with a small bonus mound of tasty baba gannouj in the center of the plate.

The baba gannouj is also available as a separate small plate, and while it is a high-grade version of the eggplant dip, $6.50 is a D.C., not Arlington, asking price.

Me Jana’s staff seems well-trained, and is inarguably enthusiastic. A host or hostess greets patrons with a big smile, and servers are equally cheery. Water glasses are filled quickly after a diner indicates that ice water is fine, bread comes out (and is replaced) quickly, fresh cups of coffee appear without request, and one can expect to be asked at least twice during a meal whether he or she is enjoying the food. Despite a few dishes that are stilll works in progress, the answer will almost certainly be “yes.”

[Baccala]

Review from Siestema (Nov. 28, 2007)

http://www.washingto...ies=Restaurants

[foodlover007]

Just visited me jana few days ago for dinner. very upscale looking restaurant and the menu is quite revealing in their desire to bring true lebanese to arlington. I tried some appetizers i.e. beef kebba, hummos, and falalal..and found it to be excellent. The chef himself came to my table and introduced myself and it was very nice of him to explain the different flavors found in traditional lebanese cooking.

For the entree, i stuck with what i know, best..Shawarma..i went with beef and it was amazing.. succulent juicy beef portions in a warm pita bread.. very good!!! bakalava was very good to..made on premise..

overalll, enjoyed my dinner at me jana. looks to be a great date place, and even afterhours..it was extremely busy on a friday night. pricewise, i was very satisfied w/ the quality of food, and service.. cheers

dcfoodlover

[hexerei]

Normally when my wife has a craving for lamb shank, it means me swinging by Layalina on the way home from work and getting an empathetic look from the owners as I grab the carryout ("ah, pregnant wife" the look says. wrong wrong no wrong no. some ladies just want lamb) and rush home.

Me Jana definitely gives Layalina a run for the lamb shanking money. Even the bread condiments alone, with homemade lebneh and zaatar for dipping, are worth going for. We did, unfortunately, have one hiccup that was bad enough that my wife doesn't want to go back and I'm definitely more forgiving of: the lamb shank comes in appetizer and entree portions, $14 and $28 respectively. My wife wanted the appetizer but only said that she wanted the lamb shank, to which the waitress asked "the appetizer?" and my wife heard "an appetizer?" to which she answered "no." Hence a slight shock when the bill came, as I thought maybe we'd been charged for two, but the waitress explained what had happened. Milady thinks that if identical items are present, the waiter should be extremely careful in ascertaining which was ordered. I think responsibility rests heavily on the diner to make oneself clear, so I'm hoping that she'll come around if not by the power of my argument then at least by the power of lamb.

I suppose a quick solution would be to give the two items different names. The larger portion should be the lamb shank and the smaller could be the lamb shiv.

[hillvalley]

As I sit and type I am enjoying some of the best baba ganough I have ever had. (I have no idea how to spell it no matter how good it is.) There is a smoky under tone going on that brings this dish to a different level. This is my third dinner at Me Jana, tonight was take away, and I have yet to be disappointed. All three times the kibbeh nayeh has been fabulous although I admit I don't know what bad kibbe tastes like. The fries are amazing, back when it was colder the lentil soup was a perfect way to warm up, and the manek could stand up to any sausage anywhere. Most importantly, the pita kicks ass. When dining in the restaurant it comes out as soft, warm, pillowy goodness. I was worried it wouldn't last the car ride home but it remains soft and pillowy. Perfect for dipping in the baba ganough.

Service has always been warm and friendly. The first time I ordered kibbe they double checked that I knew what I was getting into and delighted in my friend's reaction as she tried it for the first time. Dessert hasn't disappointed either.

My only complaint is that the two tops in the back room are very close together so you end up getting to know your neighbors quite well. I recommend reservations, it has been packed each time I have enjoyed their food.

[sacrilicious]

Dined here last Friday night and was very pleased. We ended up at a table outside on the sweet outdoor patio. Service was friendly, and even though it lagged at times, the weather was great and we were in no rush to go anywhere, so it worked out well.

The pita is incredible and served with accompaniments, labneh, olives, olive oil and a spice mix (is that zatar? I didn't know). We shared several of the vegetarian hot mezze. The common theme was fried food and more fried food. But despite that, everything was greaseless and perfectly cooked.

Thyme fries - thin, crispy, addictive
Potato kibbe - filled with some kind of spiced feta, also delicious
Cheese rolls - filled with manchego and feta
Fatteh - fried baby eggplant topped with yogurt, chickpeas and pine nuts
Zucchini fritters - with mint and manchego, also very good

The only item I wouldn't order again were the cheese rolls. They are somewhat one note - logs of cheese wrapped in phyllo - and the cheese filling becomes a little overwhelming and heavy after a few bites. It only stood out because the other items were relatively light despite being deep fried. I'm not a huge eggplant fan so I can't really give a good read on that, although my dining companion loved it and even had the two remaining pieces wrapped to go.

Prices are a bit high for what I think of as "small plates": mezze range from about $7-14. Bill for two (inc. tax, tip, glass of wine) came to about $68. But the portions are generous enough that we couldn't finish all the food. Given the quality of the food, the pleasant outdoor seating, and the friendly service, I'd be more than pleased to go back and continue to work my way through the menu.

[goodeats]

Hillvalley's right about getting to know your neighbors very well when seated at a two-top. In fact, I felt like Julia Sullivan in her aisle seat in The Wedding Singer, except that I kept getting bumped into by the servers. Thankfully, nothing dropped.

The pita did not disappointed, nor did the service. Our server, Bruna, was very attentive to refilling pita straight from the oven: hot, soft, fluffy pillows that does remind one of those served at Zaytinya, but had better flavor and did not harden up so much like its counterpart once they cooled. I was told by Bruna that the zatar mix contained Thyme and Sesame seeds. Other than those two items and a bit of salt, I think, I could not distinguish the other spices. I found the combination of labneh and olive oil spread together on the pita bread very addicting and was very grateful for the multiple pita refills.

At a two-top, there was barely enough room for 2 plates and service, an oversized candle holder (it is pretty romantic though by itself with just the table settings), 4 mezze, 2 water glasses, a basket of pita bread and 1 wine glass. If you plan on ordering several plates, I highly recommend waiting for a bigger table. Or don't drink water or drink wine but no water. Part of the issue is that 2 of the small plates were rectangular. I feel like if I had to draw a diagram of our table, it would resemble a football play in action -- too many arrows and x's and o's.

My dining companion and I split: Hommus ($6); Sea Scallops ($12); Seared Haloumi ($8); and Fatteh ($8.50). For a total of $34.50 pre-tax, there was 1 piece of the haloumi, 1/3 of one strip of fatteh left and two huge swipes of hommus -- certainly enough for two hungry ladies.

The flavors in the sea scallops worked very well -- a blend of lemony acid with a bit of cream smear of a sauce. It was a bit undercooked for me, but made for a real tender bite. Most people would say just right. This dish was probably my favorite, although I would pair it with the sugary-seared pear slices + dates from the haloumi plate. I forget how salty cheeses can be and for some reason, the haloumi flavors didn't work for me. Maybe it was cut a bit too thick for me, or maybe because I miss the flaming cheeses of Chicago-Greektown restaurants. For whatever reason, the sweetness of its fruits couldn't drown or dim the sodium of the natural cheese.

It was definitely packed for a Friday night and a good sign that this area's restaurants are faring better than other big cities. Bruna was super-attentive and patient with us -- great service, as she and another gentleman kept checking on us, despite the place being packed. I'm sure once the patio opens up, it will be great to sit outside, linger and enjoy some mezze.

[goldenticket]

Given that Me Jana is right around the corner from the office (and RTS isn't open for lunch...yet...one can hope), it has become our go-to spot for business lunches. I have had the pleasure of being included in two such lunches in the past week and have thoroughly enjoyed the meal each time.

We've left the ordering in the capable of hands of our server who suggested the "Journey" - basically several mezze followed by a mixed grill.
The selection was the same both days, consisting of:
Tabouleh - fresh and loaded with parsley (like it should be)
Hommos
Babba Gannouj - as Hillvalley has said before, *smoky* and smooth
Grape Leaves
Fried Kibbeh
Cheese Rolls - fried phyllo-wrapped Feta and Manchego
Makanek - little sausages in a light sauce

Every dish above was very good, the sausages being my personal favorite because of the fragrant spices used in the sauce.

Mixed Grill - A combination of chicken, lamb, and Kafta Kebob - all cooked 'just right' and served with that killer garlic paste

Achta - Phyllo dough layered with a milk pudding, sliced bananas, honey, and pistachio
Halawet el Jeben - Rolled sweet cheese, stuffed with achta, orange blossum syrup and pistachio - OMG - this is SO good, not overly rich, fragrant with the orange blossom, and creamy in the middle. My new favorite dessert!

Everything is brought out family style to be shared by the table. It' s a great way to try several dishes, but not get too full in the process. The only tiny downside is that they don't turn on their bread oven for lunch, so you get standard pita (fresh and warm) instead of the nice pillowy stuff straight from the oven. Not a big deal.

Service is very friendly and efficient, even when dealing with a group of 6 or 8. The owner is always there and very enthusiastic - I think he mentioned that they are going to be adding more Lebanese dishes to the menu soon and (fingers crossed) will be making bread during lunch too! I'll definitely be back to spend my own money sometime soon.

[smoamy]

I really enjoyed my meal at Me Jana this week. I especially liked the lamb chop, the Hallumi (sp?) with grilled pears and dates, and the hummus with meat. Delicious. My friend and I also ordered the Achta, which she loved, it was overwhelmingly lavender heavy to me, may just have a sensitivity for that. Great atmosphere, prompt and friendly service. We will definitely be back!