La Estancia Review

October 5, 2011 By 2 Comments

I’m a carnivore. This place’s tag-line is “casa de carne” so it’s safe to assume I love it. When one thinks about steak, perhaps the first country that comes to mind is France, or maybe even Brazil for the more culinary adventurous people. However, it looks like the guys in Argentina have figured out the best way to make good use of innocent cows.

La Estancia is located in the heart of Gemmayzeh, one story above El Gardel. The aged, traditional Lebanese building has been given a delightful face-lift with a dim lights and comfortable chairs spread across several sections on the restaurant. The sectioning allows for a feeling of coziness and privacy, something greatly appreciated when you’re on a date or entertaining business associates.

The specialty is of course the steaks and grill. They do have a decent selection of salads though, for the herbivores among you, who probably will become normal again after they feast their eyes on the Lomo. Lomo is my favorite type of meat at La Estancia. Its called Lomo because of the part of the cow or bull it is made from. The meat isn’t fatty, just good old red meat. There’s the Cote de Bouef though for those of you who do like the taste of fat cells with their meat.

The Lomo comes in several varieties and forms each with a different sauce or topping. My favorite is the 200g Lomo steak (which might be a bit small, but makes up in taste what it lacks in size). The meat is cooked to perfection by the Argentinian chef, and that makes me very happy. When you cut into the dark brown exterior and expose a pinkish interior with just a tad bit of juiciness, that’s divine, and that’s what happens in La Estancia.

The prices are not your average diner ones. A decent dish will probably cost you in the excess of 35,000 LBP. Add to that an appetizer, salad and maybe a dessert, you’ll end up with a 30-40USD per person fabulous 4-course dinner, which is fair considering that’s including a glass of wine for each. When you think about it though, you are getting gourmet food that’ll bloat you, not some ready-made microwaved dish that’ll have you spending just as much, minus the flavor.

Try to head there on Wednesdays, when it’s open grill and you can refill your steak *dies happy* The staff are extremely nice and courteous, making you feel nice and important.

Verdict: Love it. If you like steaks, you’re gonna love it too
Price: 60-80 USD should be more than enough for dinner for two with wine
Atmosphere: Laid back, relaxed and perfect for dates or a night with friends or colleagues
Music: Subdued, Latin
Staff: Very nice and courteous, knowledgeable about the menu

Laestancia
Argentinian Restaurant
Located in Gouraud, Gemmayzeh, Beirut
Phone: 03236206
Smoking and Non-Smoking
No Wifi available
Open Mon―Sun 7:00pm-12:00am
Filed Under: Food

The Roof at the Four Seasons Hotel Beirut

September 26, 2011 By 1 Comment

This is a long overdue review, but it was awesome enough that I remember every single detail even after 3 whole weeks.

Back in July, I was in James Zabiela’s gig in the Beirut New Waterfront. Bored as I was trying to get in, I looked up at the brand new, and very tall Four Seasons Hotel Beirut, wondering how annoyed the guests were that we were raving under their rooms. Then, much to my surprise, I see fluttering colorful lights on the rooftop. I was crushed… There was a rooftop I did not know about in Beirut.

Not sure what it would be like (mainly how much it would cost, and what I’d need to wear =P) I did not give it much thought until September, when summer begins to die a slow death none of us want to acknowledge. Then, a couple of tweets later, I find myself and Lori invited to check out the highest rooftop in Beirut.

Anyway, let’s get to the reviewing part now. We went there on a Thursday night, and Thursday nights at The Roof are usually in collaboration with a luxury brand. Our Thursday was with Laurent Perrier’s Rose Champagne, which I like to add tastes marvelous (and that’s coming from someone who doesn’t really drink alcohol. I’m serious, I don’t).

After handing your car keys to the valet at the entrance, you make your way through the lavish lobby to the elevators. You press the topmost button and you’re there in a few seconds. What was great was the courteous hotel staff, who were exceptionally polite and accommodating. Once you arrive to the top, you’re greeted by the hostess and shown to your table, or just let in to find your own seat or spot on the bar.

Once you go through the door, on your right is the hotel’s pool, which sports large metal drums floating around with fires blazing in them. To the extreme right is a jacuzzi I’d very much love to spend an evening in. It has the best view in town.

The tables around the pool are perfect for that long heart-felt or businessy talk. The sound of the water, the light from the fire and the subdued volume in that area make it a perfect spot to settle in after you’ve had your dinner or drinks.

Speaking of drinks, we had the amazing Laurent Perrier Rose Champagne that night, so I can’t say much about the cocktails. However, the prices are unexpectedly low compared to what you’d imagine for a top-notch venue like The Roof. For 19,000 LBP you can have one of several non-champagne cocktail, which I think is pretty reasonable assuming you’re not there to binge-drink.

As for the food, it’s Asian fusion. We had chicken and shrimp dumplings to kick things off. They were pretty good dumplings, but I’d definitely recommend the shrimp ones, a lot more flavor and texture in them. The real treasure though, was the savory meat. I am not a big fan of many flavors, but the sirloin steak bits were probably the best carnivorous treat I’ve had in quite a while. All you had to do is place a mouthful on your tongue, and close your mouth. The spices, sauces and garnishes will make all of your taste buds’ receptors fire at the same time, leaving an overwhelming taste and after-taste and the meat is cooked to be so tender that you barely even have to chew it.

The music is loungy, so don’t expect to dance the night away and end up jumping into the pool. Then again, The Roof isn’t a club, it’s more like a pre-clubbing spot, or an I’m-too-lazy-to-dance-but-wanna-have-a-nice-drink-and-dinner-somewhere-fancy kind of place.

Wearing shorts and a tank-top might not be the smartest idea. I’d go with a nice pair of jeans or pants and a polo or shirt. As to whom you should go there with, I’d recommend you take that special someone there for a date. Booking a table though isn’t a bad idea either. The insane view, comfortable sofas and subdued atmosphere permits an easy-going night out with your friends or colleagues, perhaps even the boss or client you want to impress…

Verdict: We tend to assume places like this are out of our reach, and probably our salaries’s reach, but The Roof is surprisingly accessible every now and then, and a must-go-to place for a date. Hurry though, you’re running out of summer night.

Price: 80 USD should be more than enough for dinner for two with drinks

Atmosphere: Laid back, relaxed and perfect for both the drinkers, and the diners, or preferably both!

Music: Chill-Out, Lounge music

Staff: Friendly, but make sure you become friends with the manager and hostesses too. They’ll help you pick and choose.

Location: Four Seasons Hotel Rooftop

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Filed Under: Clubs, Food Tagged With: ,

Fuddruckers Lebanon Review

September 5, 2011 By 8 Comments

I know this review is overdue, but if it weren’t for the constant stream of questions about why I haven’t published it yet, I would have waited a couple of weeks before posting this. But, I’ve been to Fuddrucker’s Lebanon four times already and guess a review is very much in order.

It seems Fuddruckers have figured out exactly how I like my burgers: fat, juicy and meaty. A burger is supposed to taste like a burger, not kafta, not steak, and definitely not cat meat (not that I’ve tasted cat meat, willingly or knowingly at least, but still). The burger at Fudds reminded me of my visits to the US as a child, where burgers were always divine.

I order my meat medium, so it’s a beautiful smokey brown on the outside and a sexy pink on the inside. I’d recommend the 2/3 pounder, so you feel the meat amongst the endless array of toppings.

As for toppings, yes, you guessed it, it was swiss cheese and sauteed mushrooms and beef bacon. Here is the first failure in Fudds, no pork bacon. I appreciate their concern for religious sensitivities, but at the end of the day, it’s all about choice, more specifically, your own personal choice about what to put in your mouth and how a supernatural entity will determine if you go to hell or heaven based on a burger topping.

The good toppings, like sauteed mushrooms, cheeses, relishes, etc. come ready with your beef patty, but everything else is readily available in the salad-bar-like counters where you can find the green stuff and sauces. It’s here that Fudds stands out from the rest. You can create your own burger, or add to whatever burger type you chose. So, you can add as much jalapenos, pickles, tomatoes, mayo, barbecue sauce, etc. as you want.

So, the burgers are divine, but the service hasn’t pleased everyone. Personally, my first experience was delightful because I went on August 27th at 5:00 PM. Back then, not everyone knew it had openned, and 5:00 PM is too late for lunch and too early for dinner, making our linner enjoyable and fast.

However, the other 3 times were disappointing. The waiting times were far too long, the manager was not at all accommodating and there wasn’t enough honesty with the customer. For example, people were made to wait on the stairs (by people I mean my friends and I) even though four tables for six people were vacant. Turns out the hold-up was because of a malfunction in the kitchen, which no one bothered to tell us. Personally, I’d prefer sitting and waiting on a table, not in a hallway, and if they can’t serve me, I can leave and come back another time.

The waiters, waitresses and hostesses are all awesome and very courteous. I’m impressed they manage to find their way through the intricate menu. It seems that the confusion and mix-ups are coming from higher-up. But then again, it was a busy weekend followed by the Eid, and those are tough times for a new business.

The decor and ambience is very American-dinerish. It’d be nicer if the lights were a bit brighter, but the chairs and sofas are comfortable and if you avoid sitting under the AC vents, you’re all set to enjoy your burger. Time will tell how Fudds will do. I’ll be visiting it again a couple of weeks from now, and that’s often enough, because the prices are a bit too much for an every-other-day meal there, albeit well-earned.

Verdict: Divine burgers, mediocre management

Price: 20 USD should be more than enough for the largest burger patty they have along with two nice toppings and a drink

Atmosphere: Busy, loud at peak hours, laidback and calm other times

Staff: Friendly, but a lot of room for improvement in the management section

Location: Dbayeh, facing ABC Dbayeh

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Filed Under: Food Tagged With:

Classic Burger Joint’s 3rd Branch Opens in DownTown Beirut

August 10, 2011 By 2 Comments

If you haven’t read my review of the first CBJ in Sodeco and the second in Jal El Dib please do before reading the rest. That’s because the burgers are of course the same, perhaps even better than the first two at the moment since they’re still winning customers’ hearts for the new place.

The location might’ve been questionable, considering Sodeco is less than 5 minutes away. Another reason is no parking nearby, forcing you to park in one of the surrounding paid parking lots. However, Beirut’s Central District is mostly pedestrian, so it fits right in.

The first obvious thing that is different about this new branch is an outdoors area. Its size is slightly smaller than Sodeco’s and definitely smaller than Jal el Dib’s. The outdoors section makes up for the lost space though and as you can see easily fits 4 tables.

Another cute addition is the peanut bags. CBJ often has cues waiting for a seat, in the Down Town branch, you’re given a bag of peanuts to enjoy as the time passes. Wine bottles are also a new feature, with rose and vin blanc bottle stocked under the stairs leading up to the restrooms.

All in all, this new branch is lovely and I’ve been there twice already. The location is convenient, especially if you work in the Down Town area. It’s also a perfect new option if you’re hitting Beirut Souks or the surrounding streets for some shopping. This CBJ came as a surprise though, especially since they’re planning to open in Zaytunay Bay later this year. Then again, the small size of the branches makes the more numerous, the better!

Verdict: Loved it, right in the heart of the city, perfect casual place for a good burger on your lunch break or shopping-spree break (or pre-clubbing meal!)

Price: Very fair compared to some new competitors, but the overpriced soft drink tiny bottles is turning me into an alcoholic =P

Atmosphere: Busy but not overcrowded (I guess not everybody knows about it yet!), non-smoking inside, smoking outside (which is sort of a disadvantage in this branch)

Staff: Very courteous and friendly and Teta’s currently stationed there

Food: I loved the Swiss-Mushroom burger, as usual everywhere =P

Filed Under: Food Tagged With:

Le Manitou by Clan SJS: Affordable Food, Wholesome Atmosphere and To Top It All Off a Noble Cause

July 28, 2011 By 2 Comments

Many of you might know I am a proud member of the Saint Joseph School Cornet Chehwan Scouts Group. The 450-strong 45-year-old group is one of Lebanon’s most prominent and most active volunteer organizations. Each year, Clan and Caravelles SJS organize a charitable project that touches hundreds of lives from across Lebanon. This year’s project is the 5th edition of the Colonie summer camp for severely underprivileged children.

The colonie brings together over 100 children from all across the country. The children welcomed to the 15-day summer camp often experience indoor plumbing and other luxuries you and me take for granted, for the first time with the clan and caravelles members. This heart-wrenching experience though, has several major goals and benefits. At the top of that list is making sure the kids have as much fun as humanly possible. Two, ensure they’re exposed to as much wholesome activities and programs as possible. And three, transform the volunteers working with the children, ultimately putting life in perspective

Scouts though, is of course a non-profit volunteer organization. And a massive project like the Colonie needs plenty of financial and logistical support. One amazing way of fundraising is through the Manitou restaurant. The scouts-run restaurant has been serving food for decades now and many of its volunteers are now food and beverage magnates. Most prominent of which is of course Chef Anthony Maalouf, CEO of the Casper and Gambini’s empire. Roadster Diner, Deek Duke and Shtrumpf also comprise ex-Manitou staff in their executive positions.

The Manitou is run by the Clan and Caravelles, who take turns doing shifts daily from 5:30 PM till Midnight all throughout the summer. The meals available include a selection of burgers, sandwiches and pizzas. The prices are also very affordable, with the signature Manitou Burger (beef patty, ham, cheese) costing only 5000LBP. Apart from the insanely cheap prices, the atmosphere is far from what most of us are used to. Smoking, arguilehs, and alcohol are forbidden. Cursing and ill-mannered behavior is heavily frowned-upon. That, together with the fun-loving, volunteering spirit creates a wholesome, family atmosphere that you wouldn’t expect to find in a restaurant.

Here, I would like to take the chance to thank the Cornet Chehwan municipality for generously offering the Manitou’s current venue, which relocated back from Rabieh’s Botanical Garden, to its original venue at the center of Cornet Chehwan. The new venue offers a wider menu, larger capacity and loads of amenities and of course a BABYFOOT table (Fussball).

Le Manitou also organizes theme nights, such as Karaoke Night and Family Night, keeping things interesting and fun whilst you don’t go broke, but help fund the 2011 Colonie. So, I invite you all to come visit the Manitou and challenge us to a Babyfoot match! Follow Le Manitou on Facebook to stay up to date with special events and new additions to the menu. And if you would like to know more about the 2011 Colonie, make sure you like our page and find out how you can help.

Vedict: A wholesome, unadulterated restaurant for a good cause

Price: 10000-12000 LBP should be more than enough for dinner for two with coke

Atmosphere: Upbeat, livened up by theme nights and the fussball table

Music: On theme nights

Staff: Scouts! They do it out of love =)

Location: Cornet Chehwan, 7 minutes from Antelias highway.

Filed Under: Food, NGO/Charity

Tawlet Souk el Tayeb: Traditional, Healthy Food in a Folksy Atmosphere at the Heart of Beirut

July 9, 2011 By Leave a Comment

This is a restaurant I’ve been dying to review for months now! I’m certain all you guys have heard something about a place called “Tawle” or “Tawlet” (which means table in Arabic). Unfortunately, too few of my friends have actually been there and that’s why I have several plans that involve it this summer.

Source of photos in this post: Gardlen.com

Souk el Tayeb is a weekly market which opens in Beirut’s Central District every Saturday. The aim of the Souk is to promote healthy, organic and local produce and other Lebanese gastronomic delicacies hidden in Lebanon’s mountains and rural areas. Fruits, veggies, kibbeh, taboouleh, honey, jams, vinegar and traditionally pickled foods are only a few of the items you will find in this weekly gathering for environment- and health-conscious Lebanese shoppers.

The people behind this initiative decided the next logical step would be to open up a restaurant that uses these preservative- and chemical-free vegetables, fruits and meats as its ingredients. The cuisine is purely Lebanese and practically home-made, with tetas and tantes at the stoves and chopping boards. BUT, they’re not the only ones that decide what’s on the menu and cook it! You can call Tawlet up, tell them you’d like your favorite type of Lebanese cuisine (which is of course Zgharta-Ehden), arrange for a date, and go down with a group of friends or family and help in the cooking yourselves! How awesome is that? In the last Twestival, that’s exactly what many of my tweeps did, and it was truly a night to remember.

A buffet-like arrangement of all the dishes lines up one room of the restaurant, and you go up and fill-up your plate with whatever your heart desires! These are one of the few things we forget are so awesome in our cuisine: it’s not just one portion, but a huge one for everyone to share. The fattening and harmful foods are usually desserts and of curse sugary, carbonated beverages. At Tawlet, you only get fine Lebanese wine, jallab or other freshly-squeezed juices and beverages. There is no coke either! And the water is free and in the traditional “bree2″ which is a large rounded glass bottle with a tight neck and a smaller nozzle on the side you can pour water through straight into your dry mouths.

The tables and chairs are wooden, the same kind you might find at your grandparents’ place handcrafted by some carpenter before cheap plastic chairs and Chinese workers took their place.  The walls are covered with disheveled electric cables that supply the fans and light bulbs with electricity, reminiscent of the haphazard arrangement of electric cables in old towns in Lebanon.

So, if you ever crave your Teta’s home-cooking but don’t want her to tire herself, or if you’re too busy to make the commute back to your hometowns, or if your friends are too lazy to drive all the way up there, just go to Tawlet Souk el Tayyeb in Mark Mikhail! It’s a stone’s throw away from Gemmayzeh and Ashrafieh and the perfect place for that all-nature, cozy and healthy lunch or dinner.

Photos by Salim Batlouni for Gardlen.com

Tawlet Souk el Tayeb
Lebanese Restaurant
Located in Naher, Mar Mikhael, Beirut
Phone: 01448129
Non-Smoking Area
Wifi Available
Open Mon―Fri 1:00pm-4:00pm, Sat 12:00pm-4:00pm
Filed Under: Food, Leb Tagged With: , ,

Iris Lounge Review

June 1, 2011 By 5 Comments


To be honest, I was skeptical about a pre-clubbing lounge. For one, it’s taking the spot of former super-club White. Also, with the prices we’re expected to pay in clubs in Lebanon, paying a similar fee “pre” to the actual clubbing didn’t seem like the smartest thing to do.

However, after trying out Iris, I’ve changed my mind completely. I also believe that the term “pre-clubbing” lounge is not completely accurate. The term insinuates that the venue cannot stand alone, that just going there won’t really complete your night. Iris does superbly in making your night, from dinner to drinks, friends and dates and beautiful lounge music.

The first thing I loved was the complete revamping. The guys completely uprooted everything White-related and started over from scratch. The color-scheme is much less hospital-like, with warm, earthy colors replacing the sterile white. The center-piece of the venue is a grand olive tree, surrounded by tables from all sides. The elevated space encircling the main arena remained, with dining tables on the Southern side and more comfortable lounge couches on the Northern side. In the middle-area, stretches a bar on one side, and dinner tables fill the rest of the space.

The venue is surrounded with plenty of plants and flowers, but one thing that struck me, is the lack of iris flowers… The DJ booth now replaces the old bar location, and adjacent to it is a bar-like counter for smaller groups with no reservations.

The music is sublime, with easy-going lounge and minimal music at just the right volume to make your leg restless, but at the same time be able to have a civilized conversation. Wednesdays and Sundays host bands, for all you vehemently anti-electronic folks.

I can’t really tell you about the cocktails, for I’m not much of a drinker and I only had a glass of rose, but the food is scrumptious. Yara ordered dessert, sweet temptation, which consisted of three shot glasses of different desserts. I had the grilled calamari and zucchini green salad. The calamari dressing was perfect and the zucchini were grilled just right.

The staff were courteous and polite, with bouncers minus the attitude and kind hostesses. I can’t say as much about the waiters, who seem like they’re all first-timers. I guess in time, they’ll improve, but perhaps more seasoned waiters were a better option for the posh lounge.

We come to the part you’re all wondering about: is the pre-clubbing fee a back-breaker? The answer is no, not really. Don’t worry elitist snobs, it’s not exactly cheap, but it is pretty affordable. Dinner for two with wine should cost somewhere between 60 and 80 USD. If you’re there to just have a drink, a glass of wine is for $6 and cocktails are mostly in the $8-12 range.

All in all, the lounge experience at Iris is a superb one. Chill people and atmosphere with laid back music and surroundings, are perfect for that weekday night business or casual dinner, or maybe even lunch with the family.

Verdict: A pleasant addition to the Lebanese nightlife and dining scene

Price: 80 USD should be more than enough for dinner for two with wine

Atmosphere: Laid back, relaxed and perfect for both the drinkers, and the diners, or preferably both!

Music: Chill-Out, Lounge music

Staff: Friendly, but a lot of room for improvement in the waiter section

Location: Annahar Building rooftop

Filed Under: Clubs, Food, Leb

The Weekly Leaks: Crepaway ABC Ashrafieh to be Replaced with Roadster Diner

May 17, 2011 By 16 Comments

The guys behind ABC are renowned for their endless mission to renew, rejuvenate and reshuffle their business. I mean, just look at ABC Dbayeh, it is virtually unrecognizable every 6 months. That’s something awesome, and ABC is the mall chain of choice for me…

However, recently, while at the L3 level of ABC Ashrafieh (the newer mall, with less plasticity than it’s Dbayeh shape-shifter counterpart), I had the fortune of being part of a conversation of the impending transformation of the area adjacent to the Grand Cinemas theaters. A manager of one of the lots in that area (who I will not name of course) assured me that most restaurants and shop’s lease contracts were coming up later this year, including the Yamin Center arcade/play area and Crepaway.

The ABC branch of Crepaway is arguably one of their most successful, bustling with shoppers all-year round, with long waiting-lists on most afternoons and evenings. But Crepaway has been there since 2003-2004, when ABC Ashrafieh welcomed shoppers for the first time. That is why, the manager noted that the ABC administration is looking to reshuffle that L3 area, bringing in new names and according to them, probably better business.

Who is rumored to be replacing the Crepaway slot? Yup, you guessed it (or read it in the title) Roadster Diner. It appears that the formalities and paperwork are still in the works, or else I wouldn’t have to leak this, it’d be on billboards everywhere! But, it is a safe bet that when ABC and Crepaway do not renew their contracts, Roadster will be the prime candidate to step-in.

This will be interesting to see, with the Roadster-off-shoot Bob’s Diner being only meters away. It is not clear exactly which places will be closing, but among the probably suspects is ZwZ, Columbus Coffee and maybe even Bob’s Diner.

Crepaway is expanding fast though, with branches in Saida, Habtoor Hotel and Sodeco already open, bringing its Lebanon tally to 13 branches spread out across Lebanon. They include areas outside Beirut as high as the slopes on Faraya Mzaar, to Batroun in the North and Saida in the South. That’s impressive compared to Roadster’s 9 branches, located mostly in Beirut and its suburbs. But then again, Crepaway has been open for 27 years, whilst Roadster is still a 13-year-old.

This probably isn’t a real race, for just as Roadster has its legions of faithful diners, so does Crepaway. Both are superb restaurants, with cool themes, great atmosphere and an easy-going philosophy. It will be interesting to see what happens on ABC Ashrafieh’s L3 when the whole level is reinvented with new businesses and restaurants.

The expected opening of Roadster ABC Ashrafieh is sometime in the last quarter of 2011 (September-December 2011).

What do you guys think?

Filed Under: Food, Leaks, Leb Tagged With: , , ,

Burger Booze Review

May 13, 2011 By 4 Comments

Well, how would you expect me to stay away from a place with a name like that?! And as if that wasn’t enough, the slogan was shamelessly dissing CBJ: “Ain’t Nothing Classic About It.” So, Mika, Sarine and I decided to go early on Friday for some good old burgers and booze.

The place is tiny, accommodating for no more than 10-12 people on bar stools. Yes, bar stools! The place is both a pub and a burger joint, making an interesting mix. However, going with a group of friends is probably not the best idea, and I hope you’re not the type of person that takes their date to a place called burger booze, so, it’s more of a pre-clubbing snack place, or munchies-quencher after-party destination, or maybe even a happy-hour place for a bite.

The burger itself is not necessarily divine, but the patty is a healthy 200g-dose of juicy goodness. The fries are also yummy. I had, of course, the Swiss’n'Mushroom as usual, and Mika had something hot and Sarine had a Chicken Pesto burger (I know, weird!). The bun, for me, was the turn-off. The patty as I already mentioned, was amazing and the sauce, cheese and mushrooms were also delicious. Mika’s burger was not hot enough though, but Sarine did enjoy her Chicken burger as much as I enjoyed my S&M (pun intended).

All in all, it was a pleasant experience, but it did not really live up to the CBJ dissing it boasts…

Verdict: Not really a burger joint, not really a pub, but something cute in between

Price: Beers are of 5,000 LBP a piece, Burgers between $7 and $12

Atmosphere: Laidback, catering for both the drinkers, and the eaters

Staff: Friendly, but apparently new to the hospitality management industry

Location: Monot Street

Filed Under: Food, Leb Tagged With: ,

Pierre & Friends Review

May 2, 2011 By 7 Comments

When I was younger, this was a place we regularly went to for a nice swim on the way to Ehden. The beach, though rocky, was splendid, with crystal-clear waters and beautiful marine rock formations making it a favorite spot for beach-goers. The sea is still as awesome, but several things have changed over the last few years, namely the explosive fame of this somewhat exotic location.

What was nice about Pierre and Friends was the homy, cozy feeling, where minimum charges, reservations and other annoying details did not exist. Today unfortunately, the place sometimes is too full of itself, with absurd minimum charges as high as $35 and $50. Fortunately, the distance from Beirut makes it unable to sustain this trend, and on most days, it’s still the laid-back, down-to-earth P&F we all love and enjoy.

Friends of mine will know that on weekdays in summer, I often pick someone up, drive all the way up to Batroun, and have an ice-cold beer along with a genuine conversation. Yes, conversation… Something we don’t do much of anymore… One thing I love about P&F is that the unobtrusive staff and serene sound of waves literally centimeters from the bar, which set the perfect scene for getting to know someone better, picking someone’s brain and of course catching up with an old friend.

I don’t go to P&F in the day much anymore, it’s usually late at night for drinks. But this Spring, I’ve already went for a dip twice, and the water is as nice as ever with a chilled bottle rose in a bucket on the water-polished rocks. So, it has not lost its daylight luster, like it has some of its nocturnal glory.

P&F isn’t just a pub or bar though, nor a beach, it is a sailing club, and water sports aficionados can be seen regularly kite-surfing, wind-surfing, plain old surfing and of course sailing and yachting. It also has a pretty decent seafood menu, which keeps it going all year-round.

All in all, Pierre & Friends is one of my favorite destinations and venues to chill out and relax on lazy summer days and nights. Its tendency sometimes to become too mainstream (in the annoying sense) breaks my heart sometimes, but the majority of the time, I’m a very happy P&Fer.

Verdict: Love it. Perfect for a daytime dip or nighttime sip.

Price: Beers are of 6,000 LBP a piece, so not the cheapest, but sensible nevertheless

Atmosphere: Chilled-out, laid-back on most days. You can change that though, by plugging in your iPod into the sound system =P

Staff: Unobtrusive, not uptight about letting you play your own tracks

Food: Not a fish person, but the fruit de mer selection is delicious

The beautiful photos are courtesy of Gardlen.com


Pierre & Friends
Bar Restaurant
Located in Seaside, Madfoun, Batroun
Phone: 03352930
Smoking Area
No Wifi available
Open Mon―Sun 10:00am-5:00am
Filed Under: Clubs, Food, Leb Tagged With: , ,

Gino’s Blog and Gardlen Team Up For Better, Richer Reviews

April 23, 2011 By Leave a Comment

How awesome is this widget? A map, address, phone number, smoking or not, wifi or not and opening hours, all grouped neatly under my reviews.

You might notice I never include numbers or such details myself, quite frankly because I’m lazy when it comes to that. My friend Salim though, has created a brilliant listings site for clubs, restaurants and beaches: Gardlen.com

Not all my reviews will have them, only the ones featured on Gardlen.com.

Here are the first batch for you to enjoy!

Sky Bar Review

Eau de Vie Review

Treesome

Couqley

Living Colors

Brgr Co

Filed Under: Clubs, Food Tagged With: ,
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