"A restaurant on the search for an identity".
When you walk into the restaurants, you see details that say or imply that Ahwet el Set is a Lebanese restaurant. But as you sit down you become lost and overwhelmed with details that don't match one another.
The the name of the place, dangling chandeliers, long tables, leather sofas, upholstery chairs reflect a high end Lebanese restaurant. Then you spot black and white photos of legendary Marlyn Monroe and Lebanese Fairuz... ok... then you see TV screens broadcasting a football game while Fayrouz tunes are playing in the background, then comes the menu - a full Lebanese variety but with it comes a Sushi and Sashimi menu. What the hell? Am I in the same place? Am I at a sushi restaurant, a diner serving food on paper place mats while watching a food ball game? A shisha hang out?
In simple words: Nothing goes with anything - no harmony, no identity and to top it all: Inexperienced waiters.
There's a difference between creating a place that caters to different needs and a place that doesn't have an identity. It's all in the details.
What I didn't like:
- The long and uncomfortable tables where guests cannot have discussions together.
- The unprofessional, slow and unwelcoming staff with a low and annoying voice.
- The paper place mats.
- Three Japanese menus inserted inside the original menu showing how desperate they are to sell their Sushi.
The food:
- Labneh is too salty.
- Halloum should be served without the bread layer.
- I really like the Arayess Kafta.
- Grilled cheese fingers are good.
- Hummus with Lahme is delicious.
Ahwet El Set has a potential of becoming a nice Lebanese restaurant if the only focus on what category of food. The way the place is designed - they should stick to being a Lebanese restaurant and that's it!
The needed change:
- Experienced and professional waiters.
- If they insist on having a TV on, at least broadcast something that fits well with the place and remove all sports shows etc as it does not fit at all with the place.
- Stop serving Japanese cuisine the soonest.
- Use less long tables and integrate some round ones.
- Use all the lights to make the restaurant more welcoming during daytime.
