It’s definitely not the best out there, but Sanyour Cafe in Sarba has a good fish and chips for 12,000L.L only.
I also liked their Osmaliyyeh Chicken (chicken strips covered with Osmaliyyeh pastry) which comes with sweet chili sauce I think, and the Pizza Tawouk with garlic sauce all over!
Sanyour has branches in Kaslik, Antelias, Sarba, and Dhour El Choueir. And needless to say, you’ll have to be able to tolerate the arguileh smokers all around you if you decided to go there.
Earlier in March Nokia Lebanon lent me an N8 device to try out and write a review about it. I’ve been using the phone for over a month now and I have to tell you this, it’s GOOD.
Camera:
First things first, the N8 rocks a 12 megapixel camera with Carl Zeiss lens and auto-focus, and that’s what I loved the most about this phone. The images it produces are just so detailed and natural, and you’ll probably have so much fun with the panorama tool that Nokia offers for free via the OVI store. You can check the N8 flickr group to check by yourself how good can its camera be.
Display:
The N8′s 3.5″ display might not be the best in the market, but you can easily watch a movie on it if you’re on a flight or something, that’s how good the colors look on it, let alone using applications or previewing the camera photos.
Keyboard & touchscreen:
The last touch screen phone I’ve used from Nokia was the N97 which had a quite disappointing resistive screen, so I personally noticed a big improvement with the current capacitive screen on the N8, but unfortunately you still cannot rely on it if you’re the type of person who texts a lot. So I wish the N8 had room for a hardware keyboard like the E7.
Multitasking:
The N8′s operating system, symbian ^3, was built to handle as much simultaneously open applications as possible. You can safely browse the internet while you’re listening to music, having your e-mail open, and maybe a Facebook or Twitter client as well in the background.
Satellite navigation:
While other phones offer a built-in GPS chip and leaves you on your own to search for a navigation solution, with the N8 and other Nokia phones you’ll get OVI Maps pre-installed with free navigation. I’ve been using OVI maps ever since I purchased the E72 last year, but experiencing it on the N8′s 3.5″ display was a treat!
What I also liked:
The HDMI-out capabilities and the ability to connect to a USB flash drive through the dongle that ships with the phone.
N8 vs iPhone 4:
Everyone who saw the N8 with me had the same question, how does it compare to the iPhone 4? I actually don’t think there’s a definite winner, it all depends on what you’re expecting to get from your device. If it’s all about games and entertainment, then you should go for an iPhone, but for everything else I’m pretty sure the N8 is up to the challenge.
Overall:
Would I keep it if I had the chance to? Yes, particularly for its superb camera and display, although I’ll be missing the hardware keyboard on my E72!
I recently went to Roadster Hamra and thought of trying one of the items from the new low cal menu, and so I decided to choose the Fit n’ Burger, which comes with rocket leaves, grilled onions, grilled tomatoes, grilled fresh mushrooms and light sauce served in multi-cereal brown bun.
The burger was surprisingly GOOD! The bun tasted fresh and the patty was juicy enough. It of course doesn’t beat my favorite, the Swiss Mashroom, but it still is a definite choice for those who are on a diet and want to have a guilt-free burger.
By the way, for some reason I always notice that the service at Roadster Hamra seems to be superior than other branches… kudos for the extra attention they show!
Bonheur du pain is located in Verdun’s main street right next to Leila. Their breakfast menu is basically very close to what Paul offers but at a less price.
The cheese omelet I had was very good, but if there’s one thing I could improve it would have been their croissant, which are really not bad, but you usually expect pastries to taste no less than excellent at places like Bonheur du Pain.
My overall experience there was good even though their staff were acting clumsy… which is probably because my visit was shortly after their opening…
I went to Brgr Co. some time around September last summer after all the promising photos and messages I saw on their Facebook page at that time, but unfortunately I got disappointed with my overall experience.
When I arrived there, I was surprised the place had only two tables occupied while Classic Burger Joint who’s just around the corner had a pile of people waiting for their turn to go inside.
Anyway, my first disappointment was the difference I noticed between the prices on their Facebook page at that time and their actual menus in the restaurant. Both menus felt overpriced anyway (14,500L.L for the 4oz burger, and 25,500L.L for the 8oz).
I started by ordering some onion rings which tasted average and looked weird.
The major disappointment was with the 4oz burger I orderd. The patty and topping were OK, nothing super as I was promised, and the bun was very dull! I guess the least one should expect from a burger place is to offer fresh buns right? Well, check how fresh mine was.
I know a lot of people who agree with me about Brgr Co. being an average place, but I also heard a lot of people claiming it is among the best burger joints in Beirut, at least that’s what Khaled thinks, “Brgr co one of the best burgers I’ve tried in town!”. And I really trust Khaled’s taste buds since I’ve met him once, and I know what he does. So people seem to be divided about the place!
I guess the only explanation for this is that their service could just probably be inconsistent… what do you think?
A cold weather and a good company is all you need to enjoy a pierrade at Le Montagnou Faraya! The restaurant has a really beautiful scenery in daytime, and feels really cozy at night.
I had a mushroom soup as a starter with a small share of a grilled chicken fillet course, and they both tasted good.
Then came the yummi pierrade with this large pot of cholesterol melted cheese. I had to deal with some guilt afterward but it was ok! 
… but I got a bit disappointed towards the end with the chocolate fondue, as the chocolate didn’t really taste the way it should be.
Anyway, having a friendly staff, a nice atmosphere, and good food, the place is totally recommended!
I was invited to a tasting at Eau de Vie Phoenicia last night which has been renovated and re-opened in November with a new design and exquisite menu.
I’ve never been to the place before, but I’ve been told it used to target old people prior to the renovation, and they’re now trying to attract younger people. Although I’m not really sure how many “young” people will be able to afford the prices on the menu, but I believe the overall experience of the place is worth it!
The staff was so friendly and took us on a small tour around the place to show us their new wine, whiskey, and cigar storage rooms, the new lounges and how small private areas can now be booked for groups of 50 people without really disturbing other guests, and of course their fantastic view of the Mediterranean and the mountains.
And then came the food… which was no less than awesome! We first got served some smoked salmon and a variety of salads, followed by our choice among 4 mouth watering main dishes, and finally a variety of really really REALLY GOOD desserts.
I totally recommend the place and I really hope they maintain their taste and quality of food, unlike other places in Beirut.
Oh and now that Valentine’s day is getting near, I suggest you book a table for two by the window at Eau de Vie if you’re on the look for a nice fancy place for you and your loved one, and I guarantee it’ll be your winning card 
Finding a good cup of coffee is an easy job in Beirut, but finding a good cup of tea where most places serve you a hot cup of water along with a Lipton tea bag is a totally different story!
A friend of mine introduced me a while ago to a place in Achrafieh called “Gou”, a Restaurant/Patisserie/Salon de Thé, or so says the sign at the entrance. Anyway the place has several menus for food an beverages, and totally separate one for tea only containing at least 30 different selections! Each with a brief description about the ingredients and it benefits, along with the recommended infusion time.
On my first time there I order “thé du Hammam”, a Turkish blend I guess, and on my second time I had a Russian selection called “Anastasia”. The former was my favorite, although the latter was not bad at all.
Any tea you select is priced at 8,000 L.L (almost double the price than any other place), but you’ll actually get served a hot pot of water, along with the tea to infuse, that will make you at least three good cups of tea guaranteed to make an hour of your afternoon. I know it worked for me!
If you’d like to try it, Gou is located at Tabaris, Saint Nicolas street, right behind IBL bank.
Everyone seems to be on the quest for the best burger in Lebanon nowadays! Especially with the rise of several new burger places, like Classic Burger Joint, Brgr Co., and few others.
Until last week, my favorite burgers were the ones I usually have at Roadster Diner and Classic Burger Joint. But that totally changed as soon as I got introduced to Smokey O’z! And I bet you’ve seen their ads on Facebook a lot lately.
I decided to give it a try after I saw the extensive talks about the “Big Bad Wolf” burger on their Facebook page. The place is located at Sassine Square Achrafiyeh, and to my surprise it turned out to be so small! It only has a bar with 6 seats where you get to see the chefs preparing your burgers and sandwiches, no tables, and it mainly relies on take out and delivery orders.
Anyway enough talking, let me show you what I had!
They first start with charbroiling a drooling half pound patty…
Ketchup, mustard, and swiss cheese…
Crispy onion straws, aged cheddar cheese, and the juicy patty, waiting for tomatoes and iceberg lettuce to complete it.
… making up the Big Bad Wolf! Accompanied by just good enough french fries.
It was a treat! I had the burger for dinner after skipping lunch that day, so I leave you to imagine how delightful it was! The overall taste was really good, juicy patty, soft fresh bun, good cheese and fresh tomatoes.
Oh and it is easily eatable regardless of how oversized it looks! I mean you will not suffer from the patty (or any other ingredient) suddenly slipping out of the bun. A definite winner for me, and totally recommended. The burger is priced at 15,000L.L, and you get fries and a soft drink for an additional 4,000L.L.
Finally, the two chefs behind satisfying my hunger that night!
So.. are you drooling already?
Having TSC Dora (located inside City Mall) very close to my workplace, I got used to passing by it on my way back home to buy my groceries and take advantage of the crazy offers they do every now and then.
Few weeks ago I wanted to buy some entrecote steak, so I went there and just asked one of the butchers for what I wanted. He proceeded with picking one of the vacuum packages, opening it, and cutting the meat on one of the table, but just as he started working with the meat he grabbed a large portion of it, smelled its odor and directly threw away the whole package. I immediately concluded that the meat must have been rotten from the expression on his face, still I made sure to ask him as he approached the refrigerator to pick another package and he confirmed the meat was bad.
The meat refrigerator at TSC Dora
I disregarded what happened and said to myself it might happen anywhere… but I got really surprised when the same thing happened when he picked the second package and threw it away, and AGAIN with a third package! As he picked the fourth one, he opened it right in front of me, smelled it and said “This one is OK”, but I insisted to check its odor by myself, and turned out it was really ok. I was a bit hesitant about continuing to buy the meat, but then just told him to proceed and give me 2 Kilos. Note that the packages were all refrigerated and had the very same color.
Few days ago, I went to get some rib cutlets, and that’s when I got shocked. As usual after getting my order, the butcher proceeded to pick one of the packages and went to his table. He opened the bag, and this time directly smelled the meat and threw it away!!! He approached the refrigerator and picked another package without giving me any explanation, so I just called him and told him to disregard my order. I wasn’t ready to risk my health again!
The first time it happened I just assumed it might be a bad coincidence, but turned out it’s a recurring thing at TSC! And by observing how the butchers were behaving, it seemed like they’re very used to encountering rotten meat while working.
And I’m not the only one who’s complaining about it, I did a quick search on Google for reviews on the meat at TSC, and found that the same thing happened to Samer almost 2 years ago. The funniest thing about his experience was when the customer service personnel told him he’s ready to cook the meat and eat it as a proof that it doesn’t cause any harm!
Needless to say this is so wrong on all levels, and I hope the people in charge at TSC can read this post or Samer’s to implement the necessary controls on their meat before making it to the shelves for people to buy.
My experience probably poses the issue of food safety in Lebanon in general and not at TSC only. I happened to be one of their regular customers, but the same thing might be happening at Spinney’s, Le Charcutier Aoun, Abi Khalil, COOP… or any other place! Which is scary indeed…
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