Jeff N.
Yelp
Amal is a revelation of culinary purity and strength, strength and culinary purity. A brilliant, Lebanese restaurant in Coconut Grove breathes fire and desire with a tantalizing array of course dishes that will heighten your senses and sharpen your tongue to where everything else will pale in comparison from here to kingdom come.
I was unsure what to expect when I made my way to the glory that is Amal on Main Highway. My boss had reservations for the 18 of us, split between two tables, for an evening of intimate dining based on the low-lit ambiance, which was quite lovely and full of allure. Between the ambiance and the cuisine, I can see why people are a fan, such as my boss. The food is magical and scrumptious.
The bottles of white and red wine my boss ordered for everyone were excellent and nicely complemented the dishes we enjoyed. Additionally, I ordered the Magenta, a nectarous blast of Tanqueray 10, ginger and lemon juices, lavender syrup, butterfly pea powder, Kensington aromatic bitters, and Fever Tree sparkling water. While not as sparkling as I anticipated, it was an exquisite gin-based cocktail that brought me to the appropriate place of comfort and clarity before the constant delivery of tapas and dishes began.
And when I say the delivery of dishes was constant, I mean it. I'm sure we enjoyed half of the menu. We had the privilege of enjoying four courses worth of enticing eats that sent our palate into the stratosphere of culinary wonderment and wonder.
The grape leaves and marinated olives were good starting items that allowed us to enjoy some light and citrus-brushed treats that turned our tongues and readied us for the first courses.
The Mezze Sampler was quite the sample of baba ghanoush, hummus, and muhammara that was glorious with warm pita bread served. Between that and the Amal's Hummus, comprised of this glorious sauteed beef surrounded by more hummus, brought me to a place where I knew every dish would be glorious and good, good and glorious. Word to the wise; however, you want to ensure you don't fill up on hummus and bread because you will find yourself unable to eat anything else afterward.
My favorite dishes from the first and second courses remained the Truffle Rakakat and the Octopus. The former consisted of a crispy fried shell drizzled with honey and a flavor explosion when combined with a slice of grape when you took a bite. The octopus was truly heavenly and full of hellacious happiness as that was cooked to perfection and served with turmeric potato, charred onions, and a delicious pepper relish... Perfection.
I feel like I should say that again... Perfection.
The Nabulsi Salad with solid -- I specifically enjoyed the avocado as it embraced me as its friend. The Makanek consisted of savory house-made beef sausages, with pomegranate molasses, and lingered on my palate. The Falafel was breaded and fried terrifically, as well as quite filling. The Roasted Cauliflower was cooked well, but I found the green tahini to be a tad too citrusy.
With the third course, we received a gorgeous skewer platter that consisted of pistachio kababs, chicken tawok, beef tenderloin, and tiger shrimp; all served with this creamy, delish garlic sauce and some green sauce that, while I couldn't quite pinpoint the flavor was certainly savory. But the garlic sauce was divine to the number nine, especially when you combined it with either the beef tenderloin or tiger shrimp.
My mouth was a place of titillating tantalization from the explosion of culinary completeness of the dishes the Amal servers provided throughout the evening. I had a bite of the Mistkeh ice cream, creamy and nutty, thanks partly to the pistachio encrustation. The cotton candy served on top looked more like shavings of halva than some cloud-like concoction that you would find at a county fair -- but I found it very good.
I was giddy but full. I was surprised I didn't have to be wheelbarrowed to the curb following the meal's ultimate conclusion. There was so much goodness to be had, but this was not my first rodeo. I assured myself at the beginning that I would take small portions so I could enjoy the full sampling of the evening's meal without descending into a pure food coma from which there may be no return.
The exquisite food was the exemplary service that was bar none, some of the best I have experienced, especially for a large party that we had. Our wine and water glasses were constantly filled, and they ensured we had everything we needed, from utensils to napkins to whether we needed our plates cleared once it looked like we had finished one of the courses of dishes we had eaten. They were there without being overly there in a Chevy Belair. It was as if they knew when we were ready to have our plates cleared or if we needed something in particular. I wouldn't go as far as to say psychic, but the servers at Amal were excellent.
Amal should be on your list to embark on a culinary journey.