Tawlet

An expensive place for the beautiful people. We arrived with no reservation, and we could see that there were some free places. Hoewever, the manager told us there was no place. Since it was pelting down, we waited in front of the door the rain to stop. Suddenly, the manager told us there were some people paying the bill and that we were lucky to have a place. We didn't see anyone coming out, and he gave us a place which was already free, but close to a watter leak, really unconfortable for lunch. The atmosphere wasn't homy at all, the place is very beautiful and chic, well decorated, fresh and young, but the people weren't very nice. The owner was wandering around greeting his friends and controlling each movement, some customers were invisible comparing to others, even though we paid the same bill. The waiters didn't look very happy and friendly, and the rest of the customers were more Parislike bohemians than Lebanese friendly people. As far as the food, I don't get the point of such a fuss!! The salad was fresh, the kibbeh naye good, but not stunning. The rest of the food was overcooked due to the time it had spent on the buffet. Today, there were different options to try, salads, tabboule, kibbe, moolookhiye, fried cauliflower, foul, lentils, rice with chicken, meat with mushrooms, hommos, labhne, lahm baji... The desserts were plenty as well, but a bit dry. In my opinion, Beirut offers better options to taste Lebanese food and to mingle with real Lebanese people who are friendly and willing to talk. I found the place expensive, cold and overrated.