Ferdinand — Restaurant in Ras Beirut

Best Pub Food! Awesome Cocktails Ferdinand is one place I've wanted to go to for quite a while now especially after hearing such great reviews about it from friends and online. I knew it was in Hamra but depended on Google Maps to get there... turns out I'd walked past it so many times when I worked at LAU but since it doesn't have a sign with it's name I had overlooked it. We went there early in hope of finding a table but it was already busy at 7 (which says a lot about its desirability). We sat at the bar in hope of getting a table once one became available but ended up staying there enjoying the "entertainment" provided by the drinks being mixed in front of us.

The setting of the pub is nice and welcoming with cosy decor and lovely knick knacks. They have different couches, tables and the bar area. The bar stools were comfortable enough for us to stay on during our 2 hours visit.

Walid the manager himself ended up serving us. We ordered the highly acclaimed Ferdinand Burger and the Just Another Burger (I'm a fan of everything truffles). The presentation of the burgers was very appealing with different fries for each. The combination of flavors in the Ferdinand Burger was just marvelous! The mayo dressing, the blueberry jam sauce, the bacon, the meat, the tasty fresh bun... all combined to a great richness of flavor & texture. It's truly worth all the rave reviews it's been getting! The second burger was very simply in its (only 4) ingredients yet also rich & tasty. I especially enjoyed the potato chip curls it came with dipped in truffle mayo sauce Walid generously served upon our request for a dip (he also got us a mustard dip and a tarragon mayo dip)

For drinks we went with Walid's recommendations. He asked about what we like in a drink then accordingly recommended I have the Thai Treat followed by the Peppercorn Cup and finally as aperitif a "Greek coffee". The former two gin-based fruity drinks were great. Walid's recommendation of Belgian & British beers for my friend were also truly "Spot On".

I saw Walid prepare a wide variety of drinks some his own creations and found pretty much everyone very pleased with their orders.

I highly recommend this place! The only issues I had with it was the indoor smoking and the lack on lock on the...

I don’t understand the high ratings for this place. It gets crowded quickly and getting a table is nigh on impossible. If you sit at the bar or the high tables, people constantly bump into you. However, the vibe is good, the cocktail menu extensive and the staff reasonably friendly.

We went there to eat and I was very disappointed. I ordered the steak sandwich which is (supposedly) a toasted baguette topped with steak, raclette cheese, chimichurri and arugula. I asked for it without arugula, but the server tried to tell me arugula is an ingredient of chimichurri, which is bs. I told him I wanted it with the cheese, steak and chimchurri but no raw green leaves. What I got was a very dry toasted baguette topped with equally dry streak bits, a few pomegranate seeds and, of course, arugula. The cheese was missing and if there was chimichurri, I couldn’t see it or taste it. It was horrible and dry. I pointed out to the server that it was really dry, tasteless and missing the cheese - he seemed shocked at first that I did not like it, but then proceeded to do nothing more.

Despite it being just around the corner from where I live, I am unlikely to be back for a...

I have been to Ferdinand twice now. It seems to be a normative gathering place for Westerns and a good host of locals. The first time, I was extremely impressed by the food. I had a Lemon & herb chicken. The second time, I was once again impressed by the food! (Had a classic burger this second time round). If you’d like an excellent meal, I have nowhere else in Hamra to suggest. As for the service, it’s quite good (as anywhere in Lebanon, you have to catch their attention, but order delivery time is quick). The waiters are relatively cheery. As for the atmosphere, it’s quite laid back and comfortable to be in. I’ve yet to encounter the place with a full crowd (perhaps this is related to the prices or timing I went there). But I’ve found the experience to be joyous and absolutely worth it — definitely a great place to bring a friend or even a date. You might not want to spend the entire night here, as at the end of the day it is more on the restaurant side than bar, but it serves its astute purpose. I’d suggest starting your night here before moving on to...