re: I need the best Greek/Lebanese restaurant in Baton Rouge

I love chicken shawarma and hands down the best in town is Roman's. Can't really speak to the rest of the menu.

I can't believe people would even consider any place in town besides Zorbas as the absolute best. I like other Greek/Lebanese places in town but none of them can even come close. They are fine if I want cheap and quick but Zorbas is the real deal.

i know somebody from detroit who hoots and hollers about how good "arabic" food is in detroit and how ordering a gyro or shwarma anywhere else is blasphemy.
Ive always thought thats bs because we have incredible offerings that feature gyros and shwarma, but we dont ever call it arabic food, we call it greek/lebanese, and we do have a lot of lebanese folk in louisiana.

so am i right in saying weve got a surprisingly strong showing of greek/lebanese restaurants?

imo romans, arzis, serops, albasha, zorbas, and atcha bakery are all very good meals

Atcha Bakery on Nicholson was one of my favorite restaurants at LSU.

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so am i right in saying weve got a surprisingly strong showing of greek/lebanese restaurants?

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Yes we do. There is a sizable cohort of Lebanese (Catholics) in Baton Rouge as well as a few Palestinians (Muslims). Lafayette has a crazy amount of Lebanese people. They use to have a little restaurant called The Green Olive that was outstanding.

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Greek: Zorba's
Lebonese: Albasha's (the one on corporate, specifically)

My favorite is down in Gonzales, LA. It's called Kamahl's

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Yep, Zorba's and Kamal's are my favorites

zorbas or albashas

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Albasha's (the one on corporate, specifically)

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love their chicken schwarma

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Of the restaurants posted the Zaroona menu seems to be the most authentic Middle Eastern restaurant . Zorba's seems to be the most authentic Greek restaurant. Depends on what you are looking for.

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Nailed imo. They are both good. Zorba's gets my vote based on their lamb chop dish tho.

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Any body know which places in town sell raw kibbeh?

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None, unless they know you. Insurance liability due to raw meat aspect. Sammie and Rostum(Arzi's), or Vasken(Serop's when at old Gov St location), used to sell it to folks they knew. If you decide to make some yourself, Mr Carlino at Calandro's on Govt St is your man, or Bet-R at Overpass. Seeded fresh jalapeno believe it or not, is a trick you will not find in most any recipe books, but makes it pop. Fresh herb garden True Spearmint a must!

There is no one single answer as best Lebanese food in BR, some do things better than others, some owned by differing Arabic nationalities which make for adjustments to recipes/spices/etc..most in BR not Lebanese owned.

Serop's house salad dressing, fattoush salads, hummus, is much better than Albasha and the rest.

But, Serop's serves dry chicken shawarma, and it isn't very spicy, unless getting it as a kebab at Johnny's Moss Side Lane location of Serop's(best Serop's location by far). He does fab fried shrimp, amongst BR's best, and moist flavorful kebabs off all kinds.

Albasha does some things better than other places(Citiplace best location), Arzi's does a better dolmas(combo stuffed veggie) platter...Roman's meat grape leaves(Govt St with Roman's son in back best location)..

Bill Qasem's Zoroona, unlike Serop's influence and work lineage to some like Arzi's, Roman's,etc..places with slight distinctions in many dishes, is a refreshing newbie to BR..they do some bold differing takes on many dishes.

Zorba's has always been BR's best Greek, I'm so glad to have the Economides back to BR after near 20 yr absence, been going to them since Sherwood & Staring locations three decades ago.