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I always considered Mounir as the first stop for any tourist arriving in Lebanon. Up on the hills of Broumana overlooking Beirut is a restaurant I believe every Lebanese knows about. At the entrance is where the experience starts. Flowers and stones lead to the terrace facing the waterfalls. Thousands of flowers of different colors, water flowing on some big rocks and a large pergola covering the tables. A garden with refreshing aromas, fresh breathe of air coming from the sea, colors, and shapes... and of course, good food -actually depending on the season.
The restaurant is divided into two spaces; The tables facing the view covered with white tablecloths while those on the fountain side are covered with blue table clothes. More than 22 years old, the restaurant is today managed by Mounir's son who looks into every detail personally. Staff that knows the nitty-gritty details of the job.
The signatures here are the watermelon, mountains of them welcoming you as you walk in. With a new menu, Mounir makes a come-back.
For lunch we had a selection of Mezze, the usual Lebanese dishes, where hummus, labneh, raw kebbe and salads can't but be part of your meal. I love the plates' presentation, the generosity of the hummus, filled to top with rounded borders, the full plate of fries, the colorful salads, the meat choices and add-ons like olives and pickles.
The hummus is good, moutabbal as well, the fries hand cut and fresh, hummus with Lahme loaded with pine nuts - considering a kilo sells for LBP90,000 nowadays- the moudardara is tasty. Improvements are clear: The cheese rolls are loaded, the kebbeh is outstanding, the sambousik is addictive and the goat labneh is exceptional.
Since day one, I always considered Mounir as a great escape for tourists. A place where generosity, Lebanese culture, welcoming and beautiful nature blend together.
The Good: The place is great, beautifully decorated and a pride, one can show to tourists visiting Lebanon. Receiving guests from abroad, feeling like spending Sunday with the family or maybe enjoying a beautiful view surrounded by fresh colors? Mounir is a place you might want to consider.
