Beirut Restaurant Tips by call_me_rhia

Istambuli: simple and good meals

Definitely a low-key eaterie , but a good one... simple good lebanese food. The place is full of local families having a meal out - which is a good sign of quality.

Favorite Dish: Shish kebab and shish tavouk... both delicious - but the shish kebab deserves an extra star. And to finish they bring you a huge basket full of fruits!

Address: Beirut, Hamra

Comparison: about average

Directions: roughtly opposite the meridien hotel

Phone: 01-354398

Price: US$11-20

Rating: 3

Theme: Middle Eastern

Walimah restaurant: "homely" meals

I could rave for hours about the Walimah: it's owned by two Lebanese women who cook delightful home meals - and change their menu every day - so you'll have to see the blackboard at the entrance to make your choice. However of my other three travel mates, only one liked it as much as I did. One found it indifferent and one simply disliked it. I don't know what to say.

Favorite Dish: The usual delicious mezzes and salads... the aubergine mezze was really good! We all had kibbed - and I thought it excellent. Apparently, however, it doesn't suit everyone's taste: 2 people found it too dry and had trouble eating it (I wolved it)

Address: Beirut, Hamra

Comparison: about average

Directions: Around the corner from the Mayflower hotel

Phone: 01-343128

Price: US$11-20

Rating: 4

Theme: Middle Eastern

Le pecheur: Delicious (and overpriced) seafood

The restaurant is really nice and built right beside the seafront. Great water views and nice atmosphere. They also employ a man (in costume) whose only duty is to look after your nargileh.

Favorite Dish: Seafood: I had the seafood kebab and it was delicious (and incredibly tiny) and cheap-ish. My friends had the mixed seafood (see photo) plate, and it was very spectacular to see but quite cold to eat, and sooooooo overpriced. The green apple tobacco for the water pipe was heavenly!

Address: Beirut, Ain El Mreisseh

Comparison: more expensive than average

Directions: facing le Vendôme, along the corniche

Phone: 961 1 374752

Price: US$41 and up

Rating: 3

Theme: Seafood