| Address | 7945 Norfolk Ave., Bethesda, MD 20814 |
|---|---|
| Hours | Open Mon-Thu 12pm-2:30pm, 6pm-10pm; Fri 12pm-2:30pm, 6pm-10:30pm; Sat 6pm-10:30pm; Sun 6pm-10pm |
| Phone | (301) 657-1722 |
Absolutely Authentic!
As a Lebanese American who has traveled abroad I have been blessed with the opportunity to sample my home Countries cuisine in all shapes and forms. I would rather eat here than at my own mothers house.
The food is prepared with care in a fashion not seen at many so called fine dining establishments.
Every time a guest comes from out of town I take them there.
Love this place.
We went to Bacchus on the last day of Bethesda's Restaurant Week. It was also the last day
Bacchus was open for business, prior to a planned two-month shutdown for remodeling. The menu didn't include a Restaurant Week meal offering. When we asked to see it, we were told that Bacchus was not participating. It seems they could have mentioned that when we called for reservations. The Bethesda Chamber of Commerce is advised to verify that restaurants are participating before they're listed in Restaurant Week advertisements.
Bacchus is badly in need of renovation. Fortunately, we were the last customers to see the restaurant in that deplorable state. As we left, shortly after 9 PM, they were already removing the tablecloths from nearby tables.
Bacchus' wine list features several wines from Chateau Ksara, Lebanon's oldest winery, which is
located in the Bekaa Valley, Lebanon's wine country and home of Hezbollah. Incidentally, Ksara is a half-hour's drive from Baalbek, and the ruins of a Roman temple devoted to Bacchus. Wines from Lebanon have a good reputation; but not good enough to entice us into buying anything from the Bekaa Valley. Instead, we selected a California wine. The waiter informed us that they were out of that wine and suggested a similar wine that cost ten dollars more. We asked him if they would sell it to us for the same price as our original selection. He refused; but indicated that they still had an open bottle of our original selection; available for purchase by the glass. Note that it's customary for a restaurant to offer a diner the next higher-priced bottle of similar wine on their wine list, if the diner's first choice is not in stock.
Bacchus' menu has many unusual appetizers. One of the appetizers we ordered, the majoudara, was
a lukewarm scoop of spiced lentils and sauteed onions. This was priced at five dollars, a bit
steep for a scoop of lentils. Our entrees were slow in coming; but when they arrived, they were
hot and tasty. Pieces of fish, probably swordfish or halibut, skewered with peppers, mushrooms, onions, and tomatoes, were presented on rice, and in generous portions. The chicken breast with garlic and yogurt also received high marks.
Service was competent; but not friendly. They probably just wanted to get us out of there, so
they could close up.
Though still a good place for appetizers, our long-time favorite main dish has been downgraded. In the fatte bel djaj (chicken in a yogurt sauce with pomegranate seeds and toasted pita), the pomegranate seeds have been replaced by pine nuts and diced tomato.
Bacchus Bethesda, and any other Bacchus location is always a winning bet among those of Lebanese descent, (myself included) and not. The food is always delicious and most definitely worth the price. It is not terribly expensive, but on the higher side for a nice evening out; but the food is well worth it. My family and I always get several appetizers to share including kibbee (both cooked and uncooked, though the latter is less likely to be ordered by those of non-Lebanese descent just for the fact that it is something you more or less must grow up with in order to appreciate, most likely.) The hummus is out of this world and all the food is very authentically Lebanese. The service is very attentive and the atmosphere is truly enjoyable. I highly recommend this Bethesda and DC favorite.
Delicious! We ordered a bunch of appetizers and they were all great, especially the eggplant salad and the hummus.
Always reliable. The hummos is fit for the gods. If you can, stick with the juicier dishes (some of the shish kebabs tend toward the dry side, but EVERYTHING is beautifully and subtly spiced.
