The first thing to know about Levant Restaurant By The Sea مطعم شام is context: a high-rise, view-conscious room in Penang, Malaysia, matched with the ambitions of a middle eastern restaurant. Readers should look for the kitchen's clarity, hospitality and consistency, because that is where a restaurant of this type earns its reputation. Read it as a place for a meal with a clear identity, not just a convenient table, with the final judgment depending on execution, hospitality and consistency across the meal.