Cedars Cafe - A taste of home cooking for my friend, Elizabeth
The Cedars Cafe
309 Lancaster Ave.
Frazer, PA
(610) 644-5551
Like so many things these days, this venture starts as a post on Facebook. My friend Elizabeth wants to know if anyone has been to the Cedars Cafe in Frazer. What kind of food? I inquire, but it doesn’t really matter. It’s been a couple of weeks since I lunched with girlfriends because of weather and work, and we quickly get willing companions for a Middle Eastern or Levantine Girls Lunch.
The Cedars Cafe is next to Staples in Frazer with lots of easy parking. Lee Ann, Lisa, Elizabeth (this could be easily the Girls Names that Have An “L” In Them Lunch) are coming at one, but I get there about half an hour early so I can scope the place out. I can choose any table in the house, according the pleasant waitperson. First thing I notice is that this restaurant smells REALLY good.
While I am waiting, I order the *Cedars Combo Appetizer (13.99): Classic Hummus, Baba Ghanouj, Grape Leaves, Falafel, Sanbousik, Spinach Pie and Kibbeh. 
I know no one will notice if I eat one of those falafels before they get here. They don’t know how many were on the plate. And one of the grape leaves. And some of the hummus. Well, that showed, but these are ladies I am lunching with and they didn’t mention it when they arrived. It’s all delicious and exotic!
Elizabeth is half Lebanese, and is our guide through the menu. Tasting each thing on the combo plate, she tells us how her aunts made it slightly differently. The real test, she says, is going to be tabouli.
We chat about the family foods we each remember, the meals and conversations that took place in kitchens throughout our lives. I think about my German/American grandparents and how I don’t remember eating anything remotely German in their home or even hearing German spoken. Conversations about food lead us to conversations about Family and how each of us got here. Maybe it’s our age, but we are all suddenly interested in our roots. For more information on how you can trace your roots, try Ancestry.com. They have a great new show on Friday night at 8pm on NBC.
Lee Ann orders Chicken ShishTawook (11.99), which is marinated chicken cubes, onions, bell peppers, served with rice, classic hummus, tabouli, garlic bread and pita bread triangles. Elizabeth steals a chicken cube and says it’s moist and delicious. Lisa and I order Shawarma (7.50), a rolled pita sandwich filled with parsley, lettuce, tomatoes, onions and either chicken or marinated lamb and beef. The idea was that we would sort of share, but I am beginning to notice that my friends do NOT share, no matter what their intentions are, because I never got to try anyone else’s. We passed up the fries or house salad side in favor of the tabouli. Elizabeth orders the Kibbeh Platter (10.99) that is served with more hummus, baba ghanouj, tabouli and pita bread. The portions are reasonable, and only Lee Ann takes some home.
Tabouli or Tabbouleh (Arabic: تبولة; also tabouleh or tabouli) is a chopped salad of tomato, cucumber, parsley, bulgur, mint, onion, lemon juice, olive oil, and black pepper. The Cedars Cafe tabouli is fresh fresh fresh, very lemony and light. The texture is like that of a salsa, with chunks bigger than a mince, but not huge. I would definitely go just for this.
Elizabeth’s Kibbeh Platter
We finished the meal by sharing Baklava (2.50) layers of phyllo, walnuts and orange blossom syrup and Namoura (2.50) which is a semolina cake drenched in orange blossom syrup (like honey). Lee Ann had a tiny cup of Turkish Coffee which we agreed would put lead in her pencil for the day.
The menu also includes kabobs, lots of vegetarian selections and options for family dining. We also had a coupon from The Clipper, so be on the look out for that.
What You Need To Know Before You Go:
Rating: YMMMY (out of a possible YMMMMMY)
Bring: Cash and credit/debit cards accepted.
Very satisfying meal with appetizer, drinks, and dessert plus twenty percent tip for around 20.00 each. We stretched this lunch out for three hours, so I don’t think the usual lunch would cost you more than 10.00 or so.
Family Friendly and Free WIFI
Casual Atmosphere, whatever you are wearing is fine.
Service was pleasant and efficient!
*Glossary:
hummus: chick peas mashed with garlic, lemon, olive oil, spread on pita triangles
baba ghanouj: tahini (a condiment made with sesame seeds), egg plant, garlic, lemon, cucumbers, parsley and tomatoes.
grape leaves: also “Mikshee” according to Elizabeth, are stuffed with rice, possibly lamb or beef, spices like cinnamon and garlic
falafel: can be a pita sandwich filled with mashed chick pea and spices formed and fried as croquettes, or just the croquettes themselves, drizzled with tahini or garlic sauce.
sanbousik: half circle pastry stuffed with meat, rice, spices, also spelled saMbousik
kibbeh: bulgar, meat and spices formed into a football shaped ball and baked or fried. Here, they are baked. Served with tahini or garlic dipping sauce.
