I liked these kebabs very much, especially the chicken, which has peppery, citrus flavors. The marinated and seasoned beef kebabs are served without sauce; they look as if they might be dry, but they aren't; they're moist and full of good flavor. A salmon fillet ordered as part of the platter is simple, freshly grilled and topped with a delicate lemon sauce.
The appetizers include house versions of such standard Middle Eastern fare as hummus, tabbouleh, baba ghanouj and falafel. The falafel are served out of pita, for dipping into a strong-tasting tahini sauce. Marinated olives are dressed with a thick beige paste made from walnuts, garlic and herbs. It's a preparation I've never seen but that now seems so obvious. It's delicious. A superb starter is the silkily satisfying sauteed eggplant, tossed with grilled onion, mint and garlic. The bean and barley soup, here called Ash-e Joe, is another delight, with intensely rich and filling buttery flavors.
The only mild disappointments were from the sandwich menu. Vegetarians will find better options than the (relatively) bland vegetarian wrap, and a ground sirloin wrap is a strip of meat served in a really big piece of the restaurant's lavosh bread that makes the meat look lost. (The problem was, in this case, you really were supposed to have held onto the cucumber-tomato salad and tzaziki.)
Dessert options include sweet cookies, baklava and homemade Persian versions of ice cream and shaved ice. After that, with your senses thoroughly engaged, you can take that nice stroll in the International Market.
On the menu
* Shirazi salad - $2.99
* Falafel - $4.99
* Sauteed eggplant - $4.99
* Kalamata olives with walnuts and garlic - $3.99
* Ground sirloin wrap - $6.99
* Salmon fillet platter with lemon sauce - $11.99
* Sirloin & tenderloin combination platter - $12.99
Ceazar Restaurant
Where: : 6801-D Douglas Legum Drive, Elkridge
Call: : 443-755-9444
Hours: : 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Sun.-Thu.; 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Fri. & Sat.
Credit cards: : MC, Visa, Amex
Appetizers: : $2.99-$4.99
Entrees: : $5.99-$13.99
Food: : *** 1/2 (3 1/2 stars)
Service: : *** (3 stars)
Atmosphere: : *** (3 stars)
[Outstanding: **** Good: *** Fair or uneven: ** Poor: *]
