Al Beiruti Cafe DIFC — Restaurant in Dubai

My family and I visited Al Beiruti Cafe DIFC for breakfast on Sunday Jul 6th 2025 at around 9.15am. As soon as we entered the place, a strong unpleasant pungent odor stench hit us in the face. Then we found the place still not ready to properly welcome and serve clients as staff were still tidying up and cleaning the place from the preceding night shift. The staff were busy sweeping the floor, wiping surfaces, setting up tables, noisily handling cutlery, plates, etc.). Besides, the staff on duty that morning were noisy and conversing loudly with each other as if they had the place only for themselves. Last but not least, despite the fact the place was not busy at the time (probably there were two or three other guest tables) the preparation and of our order was unacceptably slow as it took the kitchen a long time to prepare and deliver the order. Obviously, this whole experience made us feel most annoyed, displeased and uncomfortable, least to say. Upon paying the bill and as we were ready to leave, we were asked to provide a feedback using a tablet computer which we did in a most honest and polite manner. Then the manager on duty showed up casually inquiring about our experience and we reiterated the same feedback. Even though he appeared to have acknowledged those shortcomings he did not seem much bothered with the feedback and did not offer any complimentary token of appreciation, as is the customary practice of "posh" businesses (Al Beiruti Cafe DIFC refers to itself on its website as a "posh" place). The next day, I missed a call from their Customer Care Department ("CCD"). But when I attempted to return back the call, the CCD lady surprisingly hung up on me. I ended up sending her a WhatsApp message but she never bothered to respond. The Al Beiruti Cafe website states under "Our Story" that it is the place where ".... crafting memories that linger long after you leave....". Sadly, the long lingering memories we crafted after our visit that day were of utter annoyance, discomfort and...

We recently visited thos new Lebanese restaurant with high hopes for a quiet, relaxing dinner, but the experience was a bit mixed. Upon arrival, the welcome was warm, though the staff seemed somewhat disorganized despite our reservation. We were seated in the non-smoking section, close to the kitchen—great for avoiding smoke but not so much for avoiding noise. Between the loud conversations from other tables and the constant clatter from the kitchen, it was hard to enjoy any peace.

The menu, while extensive, was only accessible through a QR code on our phones. This setup made it a bit overwhelming, as it was easy to lose track of what we had seen. To add to that, there was a subtle pressure to place our order quickly, which detracted from the relaxed experience we had hoped for.

The service was efficient, but not always considerate of pacing. Drinks were brought out while we were still ordering, and we missed out on enjoying one of their signature smoky drinks because of the rush. Despite specifically asking for the food to be served slowly, it all arrived at once, leaving us with much more than we could handle. While the server didn’t advise us on portion sizes, they were very friendly.

On the bright side, the food itself was delicious. The restaurant was accommodating when it came to packing up what we couldn't finish, which I appreciated since I dislike food waste. However, it was disappointing that the ambiance didn’t match the Lebanese cuisine—Western music was playing throughout the meal, which felt out of place.

Overall, while the food and service had their positives, the overwhelming noise and rushed experience made it hard to fully enjoy what could have been a...

I had planned a visit with my partner three weeks ago and even received a confirmation call earlier this morning for our reservation. We arrived at 8 PM, but unfortunately, there was no warm welcome several staff members were gathered at the reception, talking among themselves, without acknowledging us. After waiting for a moment, I approached them to inform them of our booking. My name was taken, and we were seated at a table right next to the entrance.

This visit was meant to celebrate our 10th anniversary, and as lovers of Lebanese cuisine, we were excited about the evening. However, no one came to our table to take our order. Despite trying to make eye contact with staff, we were repeatedly overlooked. After about 10 minutes, a gentleman finally approached and asked if we had a reservation something that should have been clear given we were already seated after providing our name.

We gave our names again, and as he walked away, we decided to leave still without being attended to. The restaurant was not full, and there were many staff members present, yet none came to our table or noticed our departure.

I am extremely disappointed with the service, especially on such a special occasion. It was disheartening to see most of the staff casually chatting in groups, neglecting the guests. One employee was even carrying a tray in one hand and using a phone in the other, which further reflected a lack of professionalism. This experience fell far below...