Ahmad Aouni Hallab - Pastry — Restaurant in Ras Beirut

I walked into Ahmad Aouni Hallab Pastry eariler this evening around 7pm with the intention of buying Mamoul, this was my first time coming to this store. I approached the cashier, a woman wearing a hijab, greeted her politely, and asked if they had Mamoul. She looked at me and began speaking, but it was clear she wasn’t addressing me. Instead, she was talking about clothes she had bought, seemingly unaware of the fact that I had asked a question. She had earbuds under her hijab and was on a phone call with a friend, completely ignoring me without even a signal that she was occupied. The level of unprofessionalism was staggering—this woman couldn’t have been more disengaged if she tried. To make matters worse, when I looked around for someone else to assist me, the staff behind the glass barrier were also on their phones, completely uninterested in attending to a customer. Clearly, chatting with friends on the phone is more important than customer service. Frustrated, I walked out without being able to order. Sadly, this kind of dismissive attitude seems to be a pattern with Halab stores, as I had a similarly unpleasant experience at the one in Tripoli. This was hands down the worst service I’ve encountered, and I will not...

This is easily the best place on the Raouche for treats both sweet and savory. This location has been a mainstay of every visit to Lebanon my family takes. The food is consistently exceptional, without the heaviness of things purveyed by most other sweet shops: you leave satisfied but not stuffed, comfortable but not bursting at the seams. The staff is also second to none: each and every individual brims with satisfaction and passion, their golden glows matched only by the warm radiance of the sweets in their counter displays. I have never once been disappointed coming here, and I plan on returning every time I find myself in Beirut.

Things may change, as all things are fated to do, as the forward march of time is irreversible and unyielding, cold and pressing ever onward, but it is my sincere wish that if this city by the sea should change as the years go on, its rocky Mediterranean shores worn by salt and time, I would hope that Ahmad Aouni Hallab should remain, so generations could continue to enjoy the best Beirut could ever...

Seating and ordering experience was horrible. Took forever to get a plate of halawet eljeben. Ice cream was crammed into a small cup. Made it impossible to scoop it out without making a big mess. Only one waiter. Took forever to get service or even being acknowledged to get seated. Asked for extra chairs and waiter gave me the chairs to carry by myself to the table. Definitely not comming back for a visit. Sweets were okay. Not the greatest to make you forget the horrible experience. The waiter's attitude cost...