It starts with an amazing first impression: Fresh positive vibes, a high facade, lots of lights, happy people, great mood, a busy kitchen and here we were ready to walk in. It's called Shams el Balad and it's one of Amman's most popular restaurants serving organic meat-free and alcohol-free food in a smoke-free environment.
Spread on two levels with a terrace is a restaurant serving amazing food! I was honestly amazed by the food and mood of this restaurant, in Amman, eating in a smoke free environment! That's unbelievable! Manakish or "tabouneh" like they call them here is about a thick fluffy and airy dough which they top with cheese, Zaatar, eggplant, tomato sauce or eggs among others.
Choose, order, pay and be served. It's enjoyable to see the kitchen in action and the walls decorated with artwork, while the terrace feels like the garden of a house in the village. We had tabouneh, labneh balls which I loved, jam, green olives, eggs and potato cubes as well as omelet.
I enjoyed the grilled halloumi, the crunchy green olives, the Jordanian Zaatar -its intense color and taste- and the smooth tea... Everything on the table was superb.
I liked how butter is served in an artisanal way, how fresh the bread is, the superb barazek... I was amazed.
Meeting with the chef and manager, I appreciated the concept that was created from a dream of establishing a restaurant showcasing local Jordanian values and heritage.
Definitely recommended, spent a memorable morning and will surely be coming back.
