CHECK OTHER REVIEWS FOR THIS PLACE:
Some of the country's famous French restaurants are located in the heart of downtown Beirut where people come to see and be seen. A place where you can do just that and more is called L'Avenue du Parc. I have been before but its been a while since I have come to enjoy some fine French specialities.
It was a Thursday and the place was full for lunch, both indoors and outdoors in the terrace. It's a place where a lot of business people come to conduct business meetings. It's a French brasserie, good vibes, a professional staff and an interesting choice of servings. We sat on a round table for lunch.
Lunch started with a basket of fresh and crunchy bread covered in white cloth, served with homemade olive tapenade and Echiré butter. We were served by Nader, an attentive waiter who made sure our experience is memorable. He had a smile on his face the whole time.
On the menu:
- Soups
- Salads
- Quinoa salads
- Staters
- Pasta
- Fab and seafood
- Meat and poultry
- Garnishes
- Accompaniments
- Sauces
Lunch:
- I had the artichoke salad that's beautifully served in a round plate. Five artichokes set in line under a mountain of fresh greens and two asparagus. Every artichoke is carefully decorated with dried tomatoes. It's a fresh salad seasoned with lemon and vinegar, a fresh and enjoyable way to start a meal.
- And now for the main deal, an amazing dish of risotto, lightly crunchy rice cooked al dente mixed in creamy sauce and topped with thinly sliced black truffles. Dig in and enjoy this majestic mix of rice, cream, mushrooms and molten Parmesan flavored with lemon zest. A bit of freshly grated Parmesan and a sprinkle of pepper added to the plate make of it an even more magical creation. Two thumbs up chef.
- After enjoying lunch, I had to have dessert. I tried their version of the banana split. This is a dessert I always used to order during my childhood. L'Avenue takes it to another level serving it with caramelized bananas and three kinds of ice creams. Chocolate, vanilla and strawberry ice cream scoops, a ripe banana cut in half and topped with a thick layer of caramelized sugar. The whole deal is laid on a bed of crunchy toasted biscuits and decorated with chocolate balls.
An enjoyable lunch in an interesting and professional restaurant. L'Avenue du Parc is still one of Beirut's favorite restaurants.
