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Open since Friday, Leila Café (401 S. 13th St., 267-319-1903) is whipping up Middle Eastern grub on the corner of 13th and Pine, in the former Wasabi House. (That’s now at 1218 Pine.)
Co-owner Al “Smiley” Chebab, who runs the place with partner Mouhammad Kammon, has been in Philly for just five months. He came to the country from Lebanon about 33 years ago, and since that time he’s opened or helped open a total of 35 businesses — cafés, fast food, burgers, Middle Eastern, burritos, etc. — in a number of states. Chebab says he’s learned how to say “thank you” in a different language with every opening. (Meal Ticket watched him test out an well-delivered “arigato” on a satisfied customer.) Leila, the name of Kammon’s daughter, means “pure night” in Arabic.
There’s room for about 24 inside, with two outside tables. Menu features all sorts of combo platters, sandwiches, an extensive smoothie selection and plenty of vegetarian options. Ten different flavored tobaccos for hookahs, which run $17.
Food, drink and hookah menus after the jump. (In the early going, they’re opening between 10 and 11 in the morning and closing by midnight, but the hours will eventually expand to match those on the third menu page.)
D and I had the shawarma sandwiches for lunch and they were very tasty. They also had a variety of smoothies which all sounded very healthy. Dave tried the banana, milk and honey smoothie which was really good.
The ambiance and decor is very casual but elegant in a Mediterranean sort of way.
The owner was very friendly and the best part is that they have long open hours to 11pm weekdays and 2 or 3 am weekends. Excellent spot for late night meals.
What a freaking PITA it was walking past this place last night, as they take up 80% of the sidewalk space. You are either forced into Pine St., and even walking single file, have to brush up against tables and people. Too much.
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What a freaking PITA it was walking past this place last night, as they take up 80% of the sidewalk space. You are either forced into Pine St., and even walking single file, have to brush up against tables and people. Too much.
I'm sorry that you had trouble. I work at Leila Cafe, and I will pass your concerns on to the owners.
I have lived at the corner of 13th and Pine for a year and a half. Even if I weren't working there, I do have to say that I'm happy that the space is occupied- I was sick of looking out my window and seeing the building with the newspapers lining the windows.
Besides that, the food is excellent. I started as a customer, and it really is the best falafel I've ever had. I came in for five falafels in six days before I applied for a job, and I still come in for sandwiches even when I'm not working.
I'm sorry that you had trouble. I work at Leila Cafe, and I will pass your concerns on to the owners.
I have lived at the corner of 13th and Pine for a year and a half. Even if I weren't working there, I do have to say that I'm happy that the space is occupied- I was sick of looking out my window and seeing the building with the newspapers lining the windows.
Besides that, the food is excellent. I started as a customer, and it really is the best falafel I've ever had. I came in for five falafels in six days before I applied for a job, and I still come in for sandwiches even when I'm not working.
Well thank you. The amount of space they take up on the sidewalk is probably not legal, and someone nearer to the restaurant will complain if they have not done so already. I was just voicing displeasure at being forced into the street itself.
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I usually pack lunch, but Monday I was lazy. After reading what one of the workers and owner wrote about the tables outside figured I needed to give the place a try. They sure seemed to care about what customers think the food had to be good right?!
We went there about 1:30 pm placed a take out order. The girl working the counter was very helpful. I told her I wanted a vegetarian sandwich not sure what to order. She recommended the Falafel hummus and told me why she liked it. Elfreth ordered the Chicken gyro. We were told how long the wait would be less than 15 minutes and offered drinks while we waited. Really I did not mind waiting and we could have called ahead so they did not have to be so nice. When our order was ready I assume it was the owner that spoke with us. Very friendly man.
Our food was great. I'll definately be forgetting to pack lunch more often so I can go to Leila Cafe. Or maybe I'll head there on the weekend for a relaxed sit down meal.
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With the opening of Leila Cafe, this space is returning to its past in a way.
When I moved to Philly in 1983 and took up residence one-half block away from this corner, it was occupied by Sabra, a Middle Eastern restaurant run by an Israeli. The restaurant changed hands from Israeli to Arab owners and changed its name slightly (to Sababa) about five years later, but the menu pretty much remained unchanged.
What goes around comes around, I guess.
Wasabi House occupies the former Taco House space (most recently Cafe Centraal), right?
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While Leila is a small room, it is inviting. The tea, which has a touch of cinnamon, is served in my favorite vessel for hot tea - a tall glass mug that you can wrap your hands around. The coffee is spiced and served much like Turkish coffee.
Leila's Maza ($13.99) is a bargain and a good way to sample your way through most of the menu. The combination includes about six dishes - a meal for two or appetizers for four.
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Another good salad was the fattoush, a mix of toasted pieces of pita tossed with chopped vegetables. It reminded me of Italian bread salad with pita pieces replacing the dry bread.
The stuffed grape leaves on the maza were compactly rolled, yielding a great texture for the rice. The leaves offered enough briny taste to add some zip and contrast.
My tasting panel was at odds over the baba ghanoush.
There was one really thumbs-up, one in the middle, and I was less than enthusiastic as it seemed overly salted and the flavor of the eggplant was nonexistent.
The meat platters are $9.79 and are served with a side of tabouleh and hummus, but you can substitute a Greek or garden salad.
Chebab blends his own spices for the dishes and makes everything fresh.
Rather than use a mix for the falafel, he makes a combination of his own secret spice blend and chick peas. He also makes his sauces from scratch.
A big hit with all the tasters was the Shawarma Platter. It was piled high with perfectly shaved pieces of beef on a bed of creamy basmati rice.
Another good dish was the Beef Kaffta, or what some refer to as the Arabic hamburger. The meat is usually seasoned with cumin and coriander – Chebab creates his own blend.
Coming in a close second was the Beef Kibbie Platter, which featured tasty patties of a beef and grain blend.
The platters are a lot of food, but don't overlook the sandwiches. We enjoyed the Chicken Sandwich ($6.59) which was like a giant pita wrap. It had a great texture contrast - a pickle and lettuce added crunch while the creamy tahini and hummus sauces blended with the seasoned chicken.
We all loved the pickles and hot peppers that come on the platters and sandwiches. They add a nice little extra. The pickles have a slightly different taste profile than a traditional deli pickle, and the peppers offer the perfect amount of heat.
The only real disappointment of the meal was dessert. There are two kinds of Baklava, both of which our server said were made elsewhere. The Walnut ($1.25) was dry and flavorless, as was the Chocolate Almond ($1.79), but at least it had chocolate.
For cultural reasons, Leila Café has a no alcohol policy so don't even think BYOB.
Chebab says he wants to offer a different environment and show off their beverages.
The fruit Smoothies ($2.99 regular; $3.79 large) are divinely inspired. All of them have a bit of banana for the base and you can choose a combination of berries and fruit juice.
There's also a plain milk or chocolate option, which would make a fine dessert choice given the current options.
You can also linger over a hookah and purchase one of their specially blended tobacco and aromatics. It's communal but sanitary. The pipes are cleaned regularly and there are disposable plastic tips for inhaling
Leila Cafe - 13 St and Pine
