The 40 thieves run supreme as food rules are broken and gangsta rap jams out the stereo. Throw in Princess Jasmine and three wishes and who knows where you could end up.
I knew I liked this place, sipping on a natural vino , tapping my Bastuma cigar, Wu Tang Clan jamming, damn I felt gangsta. I’m so happy another Sydney resto is comfortable playing hip hop. The Bastuma is rolled with cheese, crumbed and fried. Hot beef melty cheese goodness is a great way to start any night out. Cigars all round homies.
Bastuma Cigar
It is hard when a reputation is forged, expectations run high. The LCF, aka Lebanese Fried Chicken, is exceptional. The spiced batter mix has decent heat hit and a complete lack of grease. Fried to perfection, the chicken is juicy and soft, the batter is light and airy. It’s tender with interesting spice blend and the chilli reminds you life is worth living. One wish down.
LFC
Kebabs of Sharwarma wagyu and Malek Samke Hare were served next. The beef is spiced and rich, the fish spicy and fresh. Rules are broken here as they come out on mini Lebanese breads looking similar to tacos. The bread is a touch oilier giving a more flexible texture than a tortilla. This translates very well and it is easy to pick up and eat. The beef spice is delicious, rich and deep, a great cut I expect is Skirt, sliced thin with a chewy element that benefits the dish, with fresh herbs and a pickled pepper, oh how I love pickled pepper. The Snapper kebab is soft and juicy, spiced with a sharp yoghurt sauce and fresh herbs on top. Sharp, spiced, fresh, chewy, so balanced, these 40 thieves are going Indiana Jones on my prized jewels… my tastebuds. Second wish squandered.
Kebabs
The Falafel are very crispy and have some nice pickle in the kebab, more fresh herbs and a nice lemon juice hit. A hit that would have added to the Fattoush with fried cauliflower. It’s a great salad but a sour acid touch of lemon would balance the sweetish dressing with the fried bread and cauliflower. I love this dish too, this is the only comment I have that is not blowing smoke up under the magic carpet.
Falafel
Poached pears followed, with sweet labne, passionfruit sauce, toffee crumble and ground nuts. Sweet and slightly sour labne is new to me, paired with pears poached perfectly, passionfruit acidity and contrasting crumble and textural nuts, it’s a lovely combo. You know when you are full but keep eating? This is it. Three wishes gone!
Fattoush
Poached Pears
These are more than light fingered pickpockets, they are smooth talkers of the sensors. The room is small but cosy, dim lit but not dark. Nice vino, we had a Si Vitners. Great food, which is what it’s all about. You’ve broken rules you 40 thieves and broken them well, I suppose all you can say is “Gansta Rap Made Me Do It “ and all I can say where is my Princess Jasmine?
Price $46 per head + drinks
Rating 15/20
91 Glebe Point Road Glebe NSW 2037
Eatsydney 