A Generous Lebanese Meal at Prince Lebanese Grill in Arlington

Warm pita, a bowl of hummus, and a plate of grilled meat make a fine starting point at Prince Lebanese Grill, a long-running Arlington stop for Lebanese and Mediterranean cooking. The menu is broad enough for a full shared meal, but it also works nicely when you simply want a shawarma plate and a few good sides.

This is casual restaurant food in the best sense: generous, familiar, and meant to be enjoyed without much ceremony. Solo lunch, family dinner, an easy meal with friends, or a larger table with several plates in the middle all fit the rhythm of the place.

The restaurant occupies a compact, neighborhood-style building that has been described as a former Sonic. Inside, memorabilia includes references to a Guy Fieri food television appearance, a small reminder that this unassuming Arlington dining room has attracted attention beyond the neighborhood.

Hummus is one of the dishes people return for. It arrives with warm pita and can serve as a simple opener, a companion to grilled meats, or the center of a lighter meal built around vegetables and spreads.

The spicy hummus with beef is a particularly popular order. It adds a little heft to the usual creamy dip and makes sense alongside shawarma or a gyro plate, especially if the table is sharing several dishes.

Baba ganoush, tabouli, lentil soup, and other mazza-style selections give the meal plenty of room to unfold. A sampler platter is useful for anyone who would rather taste around the menu than commit immediately to one spread or appetizer.

Chicken shawarma, beef shawarma, gyro plates, lamb dishes, and other grilled meats form the meatier side of the menu. The plates are known for substantial portions, so a full order tends to arrive as a proper meal rather than a token serving.

Lamb chops with rice make a more substantial choice when the appetite calls for it. The Prince Lebanese special is another filling grilled-meat plate built around that same generous approach.

A spicy gyro plate, a beef shawarma plate, or chicken shawarma can be a dependable first visit. They also show the restaurant’s useful balance of savory grilled meat, warm bread, rice or sides, and the cool, tangy contrast of hummus and salad.

Prince Lebanese Grill has a clearly marked vegetarian selection, and it is more than an afterthought. Falafel, hummus, tabbouleh, baba ganoush, and vegetable-forward mazza offer enough variety to build a satisfying meal without ordering around the menu.

The fried cauliflower deserves special attention. Served with garlic-butter sauce, it is one of those side dishes that can quietly take over the table once everyone has tried a piece.

Falafel can anchor a vegetarian plate, while spreads and salads let diners add texture and variety around it. A mixed group can easily order grilled meats for some people and fill the rest of the table with dips, cauliflower, tabouli, and pita.

Pistachio baklava is a good final note after a meal full of garlic, grilled meat, herbs, and warm bread. It provides the familiar crisp, nutty sweetness many diners want from a Lebanese meal without turning dessert into a major production.

Daily specials add another reason to look beyond the regular menu. One Thursday offering paired a gyro plate with hummus and tabbouleh, along with unsweetened hot cinnamon tea—an appealing combination for a relaxed midday meal.

Specials can change, of course, but they suit the restaurant’s repeat-visit appeal. There is enough on the standard menu to develop favorites, and enough occasional variation to make another look at the board worthwhile.

The dining room has an easygoing, lived-in feel, suited to quick lunches as well as longer shared dinners. It can get lively and noisy when busy, particularly given the restaurant’s relatively small footprint.

An enclosed outdoor patio provides another seating option and may be the calmer choice for a conversation. Depending on conditions, it can also feel cooler than the main dining room.

The setting is informal enough that a meal can remain simple: a bowl of spicy hummus, pita, and a shawarma plate does the job nicely. But the menu also encourages a longer table session with multiple appetizers, grilled plates, and dessert.

Prince Lebanese Grill offers both dine-in and takeout, which helps explain why it has become a repeat stop for Arlington regulars and returning visitors. The food travels naturally in the form of plates, spreads, pita, and sides, though a meal in the dining room gives you the benefit of warm bread and freshly served grilled dishes.

A free parking lot with ample parking removes one common Arlington nuisance. Typical meals generally land around $10 to $30 per person, while a larger spread of grilled meats, appetizers, and desserts can push the total higher.

For a first order, it is hard to go wrong with hummus and pita followed by chicken shawarma, a gyro plate, or falafel. Then add the fried cauliflower if the table is willing to share.