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With thousands of restaurants out there and my extensive explorations of the newest food destinations and trendy concepts, I always feel like coming back to the roots, to the basics, to a restaurant combining a handful of selections to make you happy... Fouad is one of them.
At Fouad's, every plate has a story, and every recipe has passion behind it. Fouad himself welcomes you home, all decorated with old Lebanese harvesting items. The minute you pass over the doorstep, you are welcomed with a smile and a proverb depending on the mood and the season. A feeling of relaxation goes through your body as you are immediately assured that a journey of sheer enjoyment has begun!
You can't but fall in love, the food is exceptional, the welcoming is unique, and the vibes will leave you speechless. It starts with Fouad singing the menu, memorized as it is for the last decade or so. I've recorded it before, and each time it is the same. Afterward, the waiters recite and sing while every plate is delivered to the table. Amazing!
Fouad for me is one of those places you should try before you die, Antoura or Hrajel, Fouad has always put a smile on my face. It's all about the poetic ways of reciting the menu, about the special food that's authentic and special without being complicated, the premium homemade arak and the best Mouhallabiya dessert I believe Lebanon has ever witnessed.
"Mech ghalat abadan" is what made Fouad famous. Everything is more than delicious. The dishes are light and simple, with clear and pronounced flavor. The staff are so welcoming and so happy to be part of the Fouad family. Sakr, the head waiter, is phenomenal and funny: I appreciate his professionalism. This place is truly your home away from home. Fouad Khalil has made heaven; your smile comes naturally here. Helped by staff that believes in their patron's vision, making them act, smile and welcome you all with the same genuine pleasure. No schooling and no training needed, they are more professional than most of the pretentious waiters in Beirut.
Fouad approaches us for the order... I ask him to serve us at his convenience. He chooses everything, a selection of all plates a Lebanese Mezze table should have - deliciousness, perfection if I may say so. Fouad makes the best hummus, exceptional moutabbal, unique Fattouch and much more. The fattoush is so good! Just imagine a mountain of vegetables cut into small pieces filling the bowl and topped with crunchy toasted bread, pomegranate molasses and a lot of sumac in an addictive mix. The sweet taste it offers is what makes it different.
Don't miss out on the hummus, balila, moutabbal and the other dozen appetizers plates decorating the table. A picture says a thousand words and the gallery below is filled with endless appetizing images. I love it here and enjoy it so much. I love the staff, the cleanliness, the poetic tunes you hear while the order is taken and just before the plates are served, and the food quality is just so good!
Two things not to miss: Meat rass Asfour with fried almonds and the borghol and banadoura. So yummy! The juicy meat freshly crunches and melts under your teeth like butter. OMG! So tender, so flavorful, so good, so unbelievably good!
This is Fouad, it's where I enjoy my time, it's where I always come again and again to indulge in their delicious food, it is where dessert served has a whole new meaning, and it is where Fouad welcomes you with a wide smile... It's one of Lebanon's best restaurants.
