Though I recently found out you can get it at a bourgie EV restaurant, I regularly frequent a joint in Brooklyn that will make kibbe naya (Lebanese lamb tartare, essentially.) You have to call ahead and you have to know the guy. It was the same way when I lived in Sydney. A few joints had it but it was technically against health code.
When I get it at my BK joint the owner will sit down at the table and eat it with us. And he generally makes so much that it's essentially all you can eat.
I've not been to Lebanon, but what you're describing sounds an awful lot like çiğ köfte: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Çiğ_köfte . You should give it a try if you can find it!
A friend of mine from Lebanon invited me and a some friends for a huge feast. Among the many dishes was Kibbeh. Both Kibbeh nayyeh (raw), and Kibbeh b'Sinniyeh (baked), I really enjoyed it as well as the many other dishes. I highly recommend it.
When I get it at my BK joint the owner will sit down at the table and eat it with us. And he generally makes so much that it's essentially all you can eat.