Editor’s Note: This establishment is no longer located at the address below.

Beirut Express
787 Fort Street
Victoria, BC

J: Beirut Express can best be described as a hole-in-the-wall with murals showing off the beauty of the Middle East. The place was immaculately clean. To find tables with chairs next to them were sparse and what seating was available were near the front door.

Our seating arrangement wasn’t one of my best ideas when considering how cold it was outside, but Ed was never in any danger of a numb bum.

The radio played as we sat but it struck me as odd that the TV was also turned on. I didn’t see the point. We ordered-up and then retrieved our canned drinks from the cooler.

Curiously, they were dented.

E: I had to wonder what was up with that. Fortunately, we weren’t victims of cola exploding onto our faces, but when the baba ghanoush we ordered arrived a few minutes later, what I saw didn’t look appetizing at all.

I’m used to eating food with vibrant colours to highlight the details, not something sprayed out of Mt. Vesuvius.

J: I’ve never tasted baba ghanoush before. There was a smoky flavour that triggered a wide-eyed stare and that wasn’t a good thing.

But after a few bites I became accustomed to its strong taste. There wasn’t the creaminess I hoped for but rather a slightly rough texture. And it was cold and it didn’t sit well with my stomach.

E: Like the wind that was blowing outside, eh? I haven’t seen a winter chill in a long time, and sheiza, I needed warmers in my glove for that day.

In a dish that’s primarily made out of eggplant (my favourite vegetable), I was expecting something warmed than chilled.

As an update to this article, I have to thank some anonymous reader to point out that this is how this meal is served and how it actually tastes. That’s fine, and the taste is definitely unique for James and I.

However, I still have to point out that I tasted a lot of lemon which spoiled its overall taste. I didn’t mind the flavour whereas James did. And the pita bread was simply stale. I’ve had better from a grocery store.

J: I should have ordered their lamb shawarama ($7.49). One read from the menu and my mouth watered. But for that moment I attempted to rinse the baba ghanoush away with a Sanpellegrino orange drink. It could best be described as a thinner version of Koala Springs.

E: Now that’s a drink I haven’t had in a long time.

In a place which is trying to get a reputation here in town, perhaps what it’ll take here for it get noticed is to remain in operation while a volcano erupts in the Pacific Northwest.

You need to have the heart of a lion in order brave the tastes at Beirut Express. I’ll go for warmer meals when out on a cold day, and stick to cooler ones during the summer now that I know what to expect.

2 Blokes out of 5