Shams al Balad, Jabal Amman, just off Rainbow Street

4 out of 5

Some times it’s good thing to simplify foods to the most basic: not overly processed, use fresh vegetables, and good quality ingredients. That is what you get at Shams al Balad. It is a great place for breakfast or brunch or an early evening snack.

We sat outdoor on a rather warm Saturday afternoon and sipped nice, refreshing fresh juice drinks made with watermelon & rose water and apricot & cantaloupe juice. These drinks really hit the spot as they tasted great and did a wonderful job of cooling us down.

Shams al Balad is the place you go to when you feel like a light meal that is made with love. There is a sense of ‘innovation’ in the combinations of dishes, especially the Taboon breads and the Kmaj Pocket Breads. You cannot go wrong with any of these. They also offer a large variety of egg dishes, fried or boiled, as well as a variety of salads. A definite must try is the pesto potato salad; the flavor combination is genius.

The ambiance is nice and relaxing, but the seats could be a bit more comfortable. It is clean for the most part. The only real complaint is that the staff needs to be more attentive and efficient. Orders can take a bit of time to arrive, so you have to come expecting the service to be slow.