Try Fine Lebanese Cuisine at Me Jana

Mejana Restaurant opened in fall 2007 when owner Khalil Azar — a native of Lebanon — merged his passion for food and his Lebanese background to make his fine dining dreams come true, bringing traditional family kitchen recipes to Arlington’s Courthouse neighborhood. The name comes from a beloved old Lebanese folk ballad sung to welcome friends and family to share in happy times, and that spirit of generous hospitality runs through every visit. The kitchen’s sourcing standards are exceptional: every morning the team shops for locally grown vegetables and ensures the freshest seafood and meats are delivered daily — using organic chicken, grass-fed beef and lamb, and premium Faroe salmon, with cooking done exclusively in extra virgin olive oil and avocado oil, and absolutely no MSG. For anyone tracking clean eating, Mejana is one of the most genuinely health-forward restaurants in Arlington while simultaneously being one of the most indulgent-feeling.

The mezze spread is the essential starting point — cold plates of hummus with lemon zest, mhamara (roasted red pepper and walnut dip), tabbouleh, baba ghanoush, and fattoush arrive alongside hot mezze of fried kibeh (spiced lamb in a cracked wheat shell), spinach pies, and beef shawarma. Main plates feature shish taouk, kafta skewers, lamb chops, whole branzino, and a chef’s mixed grill that covers the full range. The knafeh — warm, perfectly sweet, with the ideal balance of crispy pastry and creamy cheese filling — is described by regulars as easily one of the best in the region and an unmissable dessert. Live music on select evenings adds warmth to an already beautiful room. Located at 2300 Wilson Boulevard, Suite 140, open daily 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Reservations at mejanarestaurant.com.