Lebanese food in Strasbourg: Levanthym

Levanthym, a newly opened café on quai des Pêcheurs in Strasbourg, is a little gem of a lunch spot. This unique Lebanese snack bar uses za’atar as their central ingredient – a house-made blend of wild thyme, roasted sesame, sumac, olive oil, and sea salt.

The menu is comprised of 6 kinds of vegetarian manakish or man’ousheh (a Levantine pastry made of thin, crispy dough topped with za’atar), 13 kinds of meze (including hummus, labneh, stuffed vine leaves, kibbeh, and fatayer), and 3 desserts (a kind of flan called mahalabia with rose and orange blossom, or house-made cookies).

On weekdays, you can buy a set menu, consisting of one man’ousheh, one meze and a soft drink, with or without dessert.

In a small shop corner, guests will find za’atar, sumac (a kind of spice with a tart flavor), and floral waters with rose, orange blossom, and rosemary – among others.

Having opened for the first time in gloomy November weather, Levanthym offers a voyage into Levantine cuisine. A great spot for a light lunch!

Our favorite was the “Mix” man’ousheh. Rolled pastries cooked to order. The fine, crispy bread is slightly charred, then topped half with za’atar, half with labneh (strained yogurt, with a fresh, creamy taste. The extra tomatoes, cucumber and lamb’s lettuce add the perfect touch of freshness. The flavors all blend harmoniously. The deep flavor of the za’atar stays with us for a long time, extending our culinary getaway.

We particularly enjoyed

• The subtle blend of flavors in the house-made za’atar
• The fact that the café is family-run
• The colorful turquoise tiles, that give the space a visual identity

Levanthym
📍7 quai des Pêcheurs, Strasbourg