Squid Eats: Zaytoona

There's a new halal restaurant in South Burlington, Vermont!  We're big fans of Middle Eastern cuisine.  Unfortunately, such dining options in Vermont are limited so any new place is well worth checking out. 

(Don't feel too sorry for us.  Nearby Montreal offers plenty - plus my wife is pretty damn good at cooking her own.) 

We went to Zaytoona for the first time this past weekend and I'm confident in predicting it will become part of our regular rotation.  The chefs are Jordanian and the owner is Yemeni so the Arabian peninsula is the focus.  The space is small, sparse and simple.  Service is prompt and very friendly.  Prices are reasonable.  Informal, too.  The staff were enthusiastically following a football match on the television.  PSG v Bayern Munchen.  I appreciate a place that feels human.

Right, the food.  I got the lamb & beef shawarma bowl, my wife the kofta bowl.  As you can see, there's a lot on there.  There's rice under the meat, salad and hummus you can see in the photo.  It was both tasty and filling - quite filling.  I almost couldn't finish mine.  As is often the case, I think my wife ordered better.  The pomegranate lemonade was lovely, too.  The restaurant is BYOB so it's nice they have satisfying non-alcoholic option.

We'll definitely be back.  Unfortunately, the mixed grill options - kababs, ayares, tawook - are not available for lunch.  So, dinner next time.  Based on this one visit, I'd say I still prefer Istanbul Kebab House in Burlington but it's good to mix things up.

I also may feel differently once I've tried the kababs.