Carnival Restaurant
Sherman Oaks, CA 91423-3031
Phone: (818) 784-3469
- Price:
- $$
- Cross Street:
- Ventura Boulevard
- Hours:
- Daily 11am-10pm
Editorial Review for Carnival Restaurant – by Andrew Rosenblum
In Short
This Sherman Oaks institution has slowly expanded in its mini-mall location over the past two decades. Hungry customers pack the main dining room, which with its inexpensive wood-surfaced tables and almond-shaped doorways, feels like an upscale Lebanese coffee shop. The food is anything but ordinary: Hummus, kabobs, and shawarma have consistently drawn raves, and lots of repeat business. The chef also serves Lebanese specialties such as makanek sausage sauteed with lemon juice.
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Insider Tips
Save TimeThe restaurant is almost always busy, so customers not prepared to wait should phone or fax in a take-out order.
When to GoThe restaurant features a standard rotation of daily specials, which means that the okra leaf stew known as mlokia is only available on Mondays, and half a chicken stuffed with rice, meats and nuts can be had on Fridays.
The ExtrasThe restaurant offers catering for a variety of occasions. Call for details.
User Reviews for Carnival Restaurant
06/11/2008 Posted by Tixona
Okay, if you want great mediteranean food, this is the place to go. If you are in a rush, avoid this place like the plague. If you would like to cozy up to your server, head for the hills because it won't happen here! Food is the best. We ONLY go here for the food. The service stinks. Seriously, it's bad. You'll wait forever for initial service, your food and your check but like I said, the food is worth it. We go probably once a month. We just know we aren't loving our waitress and we are not on a time limit. A couple of times, we have walked out because no one even approached us when we were first seated. We waited almost 20 mintues! We still go back. Says something, eh?
Pros: Food quality and quantity
Cons: Waitstaff
11/07/2007 Posted by themaxter
Great food; especially the foul, lebneh, and babagonush (the lamb was quite tasty as well) but the service was terrible! Having to track down waiters to get water at the table...and as the frizzy haired blond Lebanese waitress was bringing the food to our over crowded table, she yelled, "come on people--help me out here!" as our guests scrambled to make room in an impossibly small eating area. There was live entertainment of a transsexual belly dancer and woman whose stomach was quite large and folded several times as she danced. The entire staff stopped attending to the guests in the restaurant to watch. The show was more comical than cultural. Next time I'd get take out.
Pros: the food taste, parking
Cons: slow service, rude service, and FILTHY bathrooms
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