Centrale Beirut — Restaurant in Saifi

The experience at such an acclaimed culinary establishment was somewhat disappointing. I visited the restaurant on a weekend evening with a group of food enthusiasts. While the food selection, quality, and extensive wine list were undeniably excellent—truly top-class—the service did not meet the standards expected of a venue branding itself as a fine dining destination. Obviously for me service is part of the dining experience

For discerning diners and prospective patrons seeking a genuine fine dining experience, here are some observations:

Although the wine list was extensive, it did not fully correspond to the available offerings. For example, a wine ordered and which was listed as a 2014 vintage was unavailable, and a different vintage of the same wine was served instead. The server opened the wine bottle and began pouring without offering the customary tasting sip. The white wine was under chilled. Wine glasses were often left unattended by the staff for long stretches during the dinner. The pours had to be solicited. Service required repeated prompting rather than being naturally attentive. Despite the staff’s best effort to provide good service, the restaurant appeared understaffed, and the team seemed inadequately trained for the fine dining standard the restaurant aspires to uphold. A management shortcoming in my humble opinion.

On the culinary side, the dishes were flavorful and well-prepared, showcasing a thoughtful balance of ingredients and seasonings. The desserts, in particular, were delightful—offering a satisfying conclusion to the meal with their rich textures and pleasing sweetness. Overall, the kitchen demonstrated a strong command of flavors that will appeal to those who appreciate carefully crafted cuisine.

And for budget conscious diners, by European/American standard, the food’s quality to price...

We went for a dinner yesterday. The menu seems well diversified for a fine dining experience. We tried the beef carpaccio and the octopus salad and they were both plated to perfection. The flavors were on point with a burst of balance between texture and flavor. Then we tried the Linguini mussels and the Australian Beef Filet. The pasta was well cooked and the mussels had a fresh flavor. I would add a bit of acidity and definitely an additional crunchy item for a texture surprise. For the filet, it was well cooked and tasted delicious and the side bearnaise sauce was good but the side veggies were sad and I did not appreciate the breaded fried side cheese sticks! For a fine dining experience, I would elevate the side of the filet with a purée, a gastric , something crunchy and acid etc ... We finished with a Centrale style cheesecake that was tasty. Their wine selection is wide and we paired a Côte du Rhône white wine with the appetizers and an Argentinian Malbec that paired perfectly with the entrée. Overall, a nice experience, the ambiance seems ok but for our selected entrées, I would expect more elevation...

We have been in Centrale several times in the past years because we considered it, in terms of quality, one of the best options in Beirut. Yesterday we came back after more than one year, and we left the place with a clear 'never again". The food still maintains a good quality, but the service was disappointing (a bit of interaction with the waiter is always welcome), prices skyrocketed (but we know this was the trend in Beirut), and the final straw... we were informed that a 1,5% will be applied when paying by credit card. So the point is not the value of the extra amount (in our case would have been around 3 usd) but the principle. In a country in which we use credit cards almost everywhere without additional charges, even for small amounts, it seems shameful and shabby to me that an expensive and high-level restaurant asks for it. End of the story we decided...