Sultan is a Lebanese restaurant in Moscow serving Middle Eastern specialities as well as Sushi. Sushi and Sachimi in a belly dancing restaurant?
I have a thing against eating Lebanese food outside Lebanon because I know that the quality of food and service can never be equal to the one back home. This time I was invited and this theory which I believe in was unfortunately proven this time. The place is divided into three areas; left, right and center where each section feels like a unique space of its own, with low sofas and octagonal shaped tables - Sultan's low seating style. The food presentation was not up to the minimal standard I was expecting, even the cutlery was covered with cheap white napkins. Water was used to stick the napkin combining fork and knife together. The table cloth is unappealing! The service handled by locals is far from being professional or up to any acceptable standards. The only decent staff is the Arguile team taken care off by Egyptians, the masters of Chicha.
On the menu:
Hummus, Mtabbal, Mix Salad, Labneh, Russian Salad, Salmon and White Fish, Olives, Lebanese bread, Arayess Kafta, Kebbe, Mixed Grills and others.
The minus not to say the very bad:
- Desserts were served while food was still at the table. We ate fruits next to the garlic and chicken dishes and odors. - The restaurant proposes Sushi with the Lebanese specialities, which is something I didn't understand at all. - All menus are only in Russian catering only to the locals, but tourists can't be involved in the menu at all unless they speak the local language.
I found the English version online. - Waiters know nothing about professionalism or Lebanese traditions.
What Sultan is famous for is their Belly dancers. Around 10 non-Lebanese gorgeous dancers make their show every thirty minutes, moving their ass around for the enjoyment and excitement of male guests. I was expecting much more and shouldn't have. As I said, avoiding Lebanese restaurants abroad keeps my negative critics away from owners who are trying to make a living from foreigners. I never understood why opening an Italian restaurant outside Italy is always successful and sometimes better than the local ones but rarely for Lebanese ones!
Russians, please visit Sultan, you'll love it. A great Middle Eastern experience with reasonable food. Lebanese go try Russian food the experience might be more pleasant.
