Bliski Wschód Vege Street Food&Cocktail Bar
Warsaw
At a glance
Reviews
Wonderful spot. Atmosphere inside is very comfortable. Great vegan options especially excellent hummus and pita.
Food was quite good, staff was kind and friendly. Outside they have a nice seating area which you can enjoy when the weather is nice. We really liked the pizza. Cold soup was also good, but it was more like tzasziki, rather than cold soup. Finally, it was a bit strange that you can get a shisha at a nice restaurant like this. But I can still recommend.
Bliski Wschód Vege Street Food and Cocktail Bar is reportedly run by someone of Lebanese origin, so my expectations for the shawarma were naturally high. I was hoping for a thoughtful vegetarian take on the dish, something that could capture the depth and slow-roasted flavour of the original while celebrating plants instead of meat. What arrived, however, was something else entirely. While perhaps not completely unrelated, it was far from what one would encounter in Beirut. In Lebanon, you will not find shawarma of this size or with such a wet, heavy texture. Whatever meat substitute the filling was made of, it did not resemble slices carved from a rotating grill. The flavour lacked the layered smokiness and quiet tension between crispy edges and a tender centre that defines the best shawarma. The interior, however, is undeniably charming. The space feels curated and warm — a place designed for long conversations. The service is polished and composed. Prices are on the high side, which naturally raises expectations of authenticity and execution. When the core dish of a cuisine is interpreted so loosely, it becomes difficult to feel curious about the other classics on the menu. If the foundation wavers, why explore further? At some point, I found myself questioning the concept itself. While a vegetarian restaurant with an extensive wine offering can certainly work, here the identity feels blurred rather than intentional. While the experience is pleasant enough, those seeking a faithful expression of Lebanese cuisine may be left with questions.
What a lovely place, great veggie food full of flavour and style. Ambience was amazing with live hand pan band. The service was also excellent. I was solo traveling on business and it was a perfect place to chill and soak up the atmosphere.
