Whatever you’ve thought about middle eastern foods the recently opened Sinbad restaurant in Flemington, NJ is sure to satisfy the most picky of eaters.
As is custom with most middle eastern restaurants you are served warm home made pita bread with an assortment of small olives glistening with a savory coat of herb infused olive oil. Tasty and aromatic it isn’t technically an amuse bouche-nevertheless it’s close enough and a nice treat to begin your meal.
Sinbad offers traditional middle eastern fare like couscous, salads, kabobs, lentil soup, hummus and flatbreads. From the five flatbreads on the menu I chose wild fig with figs, gorgonzola, caramelized onions and pomegranate syrup. The bread had a lite crunch to the crust when you bit into it and the ingredients worked well together and I’m looking forward to trying others.
Next came a beef and lamb gyro entree or as it’s listed on the menu “Mediterranean Shawarma” served with rice and Tzatziki sauce. It was flavorful and seasoned to perfection. There isn’t a bar so you can bring whatever you want. I paired the Shawarma with The Bourgeoisie a medium red wine from Washington State.
My next entree was the Sinbad chicken: pan sautéed chicken breast topped with spinach, plum tomatoes and feta cheese. The dish was delicious. Something wonderful happens when food is prepared without being rushed. I paired this with a Courtney Benham Chardonnay from Santa Rosa, California. Though the Bourgeoise would have worked just as well.
Sinbad has been open for about 6 months and it is on pace in order to establish itself in arena of thriving restaurants. They must seat and serve as many guests as possible- everyday. Truth is it can get busy, very quickly as more people discover the place.
Salmon, tilapia and shrimp dishes are on the menu as are many different salads. There are vegetarian entrees such as cauliflower cake, falafel and stuffed red bell peppers made with squash, onions, carrots, peas breadcrumbs and tomato sauce to name a few.
A pleasant assortment of desserts are available to satisfy your sweet tooth: tiramisu, baklava and vanilla ice cream w/ preserved strawberries.
I skipped dessert opting instead for a Turkish coffee.
Every item on the menu is home made per Mustafa the manager. Sinbad’s cuisine is a combination of Turkish and Middle Eastern cultures, “i.e.” Lebanese, Israeli and Syrian.
Kid’s meals are only $5.00. And with the exception of Friday and Saturday they eat free. Expect to see specials on the weekends. Your server will provide details.
Sinbad is located at 484 US Highway 202 Flemington, NJ next door to the Travel Inn Suites Motel. Open: Monday-Thursday 11:00-9:00 Friday and Saturday 11:00-10:00. Sunday 11:00-8:00. Telephone: (908) 237-3788. Reservations are recommended for weekends, holidays or for large groups.
Expect to pay $12-25 per person for dinner. Service is adequate to good depending on how busy the kitchen is. During peak dining periods with no reservation your wait time can be brutal. Forty five minutes to an hour- so take note. If you’ve decided to go at the last minute do call ahead to find out if it is worth the trip. For now so long and good appetite!
Laser Lou and Mo aka The Food Guys.