Urban Bites: A piece of Lebanon in the city

With Lebanese cuisine suffering from an almost non-existent presence in Singapore, Urban Bites is only all too glad to fill the void with its medley of exotic Lebanese food. Helmed by a chef with over 30 years of experience in countries such as Dubai, France and Italy, you can count on this restaurant to provide a gastronomic escapade for the glutton in you.

The Ambience
Design wise, there is little to shout about. While noticeable effort was made to doll up the restaurant, a rather cramped seating arrangement, unimaginative lighting and ordinary furniture render the aesthetics here a little mediocre. Negatives aside, the presence of an open pizza kitchen gives it a cosy feel reminiscent of an Italian pizza house while a couple of artistic paintings and vintage memorabilia give the restaurant a cosmopolitan interior.

The Food
Food items here are characterised by a distinct flavour that is created by using copious amounts of garlic, vinegar and lemon. Besides, a number of dishes were mildly accented with a tinge of Mediterranean flavour to give it an extra special taste.

Au-natural ingredients imported from Lebanon and Dubai ensures an authentic treat. The insistence of using fresh spices; organic produce and nutritious olive oil makes it a good place for healthy eating as well. 

The restaurant is very generous with its servings. The Mezza Platter ($15) came served with gargantuan portions of tangy Mediterranean dips, hommos, motabal, tabbouleh, fattoush and falafel. The hommos (chickpeas paste) and motabal (eggplant paste) was particularly addictive as both dishes consist of a unique blend of herbs that leaves a very pleasant aftertaste. 

The Mixed Grill ($18) proved to be quite a delightful feast as well. The dish is best remembered for the finger licking good marinade that accompanied the various types of meat – namely, mutton, chicken and beef. In addition, the saffron rice provided was unexpectedly flavourful and soft.

Going by the sheer portions of the dishes here, you shouldn’t have plenty of room left for desserts. As such, desserts come mostly in bite-sized portions that do well to satisfy your sweet tooth. Do give the Namora (semolina pastry soaked in sugar syrup) a try if you cannot decide from the restaurant’s numerous dessert offerings.

The Service
Unless you are familiar with Lebanese food, you would probably require the assistance of a wait staff to explain the items in the menu. Fortunately, the hospitable service crew ensures that all your queries are promptly and politely answered. Should you be interested, the crew will also be more than glad to provide a brief introduction to Lebanese cuisine and culture.

The SD Food Advisor’s take on Urban Bites
While there were a few notable shortcomings, Urban Bites has made eating exciting all over again with its very unusual and arresting array of Lebanese food. To top it off, prices are remarkably affordable despite its location in the central business district. With Lebanese food hard to come by in Singapore, this is perhaps your best bet for a taste of Lebanon’s rich culinary fare.

Rating 3.5/5