Semsom is another restaurant that’s located in Arabella and also one that has been open for a few months now. They aren’t a traditional Lebanese restaurant, instead they describe themselves as a traditional Lebanese restaurant with a twist. The “twist” aspect is what attracted me and was the main reason I’ve been wanting to try them out for awhile now.
Semsom is split into two floors, the lower floor is smoke free while the upper floor is a smoking zone. As a non-smoker I thought that was great but I was with a smoker on this trip so we originally sat upstairs. I say originally because after sitting there for 5 minutes we decided to move down into the smoke free zone. The top floor was a bit gloomy and claustrophobic when compared to the lower level which had large windows spanning from one side of the restaurant till the other. Flipping through the menu I was kind of disappointed since I was expecting a lot more dishes as well as lot more twists compared to other Lebanese restaurants. In the end we settled for the following:
Hummus with with Sumac & Zaatar KD1.600
Tabbouleh with Lentils KD2.000
Makanek KD2.450
Taouk Light with Fattoush KD3.800
Regular Chicken Taouk KD4.600
The hummus was served first arriving pink in color which I was expecting from the pictures. Since hummus is such a common and traditional dish I always love seeing different variations of it and this one was a pretty interesting one. It was light in flavor but combined with their hot fresh puffy bread it was perfect even though I should have been low carbing that day. The tabbouleh also worked out really well, instead of using the traditional burghul, Semsom uses lentils. A nice twist yes but while in Lebanon around two weeks ago I discovered an even better twist. Instead of using burghul, the place I had tabbouleh at had replaced burghul with quinoa and I found that to be a genius combination. So if any restaurant in Kuwait wants to copy that combo please feel free to do so and then let me know about it. The last mezza to arrive was the makanek and from all the dishes I had, the makanek had to be the best one. Not sure what their secret is but I’m guessing its all in the sauce. Finally our main course arrived. The chicken although tasted good didn’t look very appetizing and it also lacked any sort of twist that would distinguish it from the countless of taouks you could have anywhere else.
Overall a positive but unexciting experience. The service was fast and friendly and the price of the dishes was similar to other Lebanese restaurants so that’s fine. I was just expecting more fusion dishes on the menu and as it is there really wasn’t enough to win me over. If you’re interested, Semsom is located in Arabella and you can visit their website for more information [Here]
15 replies on “Semsom Lebanese Restaurant”
Mark, Vine restaurant in Bnaid Al Gar does quinoa tabbouleh and quinoa falafel. Not a fan of tabbouleh so I haven’t tried it. Check it out and see.
Thanks will do
it would be a great pleasure to have you visit Vine Restuarant
Will do
Does the place have sheesha?
No, it’s one of those typical tiny Kuwaiti restaurants. I stumbled up on it through instagram.
Semsom is split into two floors, the lower flower is smoke free. What about the upper flower, haha 😀 Cheers!
such a lame-ass
fixed
I actually like that place and the experience is like the branch in lebanon, the atmosphere and mood is not the common lebanese Restaurant fit, which is also a twist to the current tradition. U should have tried their deserts, its out of this world.
looks nice, I do not go to restaurants but 2KD and 1.something KD for a taboulah + hammus first I see that, i wonder if crown plaza is cheaper.
you mean its cheap? because a cup of tea in restaurants costs that much if not more, so for food its pretty much standard.
Wow Mark I need a copy of your workout man cuz the food you eat looks so amazing haha. if I ate like that id become huge, then again that’s my body type. Great posts though! I tried this place in Lebanon it was really good.
@Mark And your top 2 Lebanese spots in Kuwait would be?
Dear Mark, Sharrafetna in Sesmom!
Thank you for your detailed review and feedback. We are glad that you have enjoyed your first Semsom experience. Semsom was created to bring a taste of Lebanon in every bite mixing between traditional recipes and also adding some twists in the form of our signature dishes such as the Hummus with Sumac & Thyme, Hummus with Olives, the Osmaliyeh Cheese Rolls and Chicken Tenders, Tabbouleh with Lentils and Tabbouleh with Feta, Fish/Chicken Kebbeh, Osmalliyeh Cheesecake and several others. Nevertheless as ambassadors of the Lebanese taste a lot of our recipes also focus on traditional tastes, especially our meats which you have tried in the form of taouk. We do pride ourselves most on our grilled beef skewers and kastalettas which have a very special marinade that takes you back to the taste of Lebanese villages.
In the upcoming months we are also adding a few more twists to our menu which we would love for you to try. And we will be getting in touch as soon as they are launched in Semsom Arabella.
Our best and warmest regards!
The Semsom Team