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THE sweet sounds of an Arabic singer, the intoxicating aroma of fresh saj bread and warm, welcoming smiles greet customers as they enter the Beyroute bistro and deli. My first impression ... I am home.
Being of Jordanian, Palestinian and Lebanese descent, I am confident enough to suggest that I know my regional food and, in my opinion, Beyroute offers the most authentic Lebanese cuisine on the island. That should not be too surprising as it is run and owned by a Bahrain-based Lebanese family.
Beyroute, located in Budaiya’s Palm Square, was the brainchild of the late Adnan Youssef who worked in Bahrain for 35 years and sadly passed away nine months ago. Mourned by his wife Mariam, son Youssef, 32, and three daughters Rula, 34, Hiba, 30, and Farah, 21, they vowed to fulfil his restaurant dream as a tribute to their beloved father. It opened its doors on February 16.
There is even a black and white picture of Mr Youssef hanging on the wall of the bistro along with other portraits of old downtown Beirut.
The entire venue depicts the feeling of walking down the streets of Beirut from the colourful mosaic patterns on the floor to the arched designs on the walls. The interior is simple yet eye- catching and offers a warm and inviting ambience.
The outside seating area is a lovely place to relax by the tranquil water fountain, drink a cup of ghawa (coffee) and even play a round of backgammon, a board game which is even available from the bistro.
Farah said: “My father has always been in the food and beverage business so it was only right for his children to follow in his footsteps. It was always our dream to have a bistro.
“The design of Beyroute is very personal. We handpicked everything from the mosaics to the pictures and even the way we designed the deli section is very Lebanese.
“We have Lebanese chefs serving-up traditional home-made food and our products on sale in the deli are also from Lebanon. We want to offer the people of Bahrain the true taste of our country.”
The bistro is being managed by close family-friend Michel Kajjouni, an experienced restaurateur. Aside from welcoming guests, you can find Michel in the kitchen with the team creating delicious treats such as the famous fruity Lebanese cocktail and creamy rice pudding.
He said: “We try to be different from other Lebanese restaurants and we do that through our menu. You will see a variety of appetisers, hot and cold, locals and expats may never heard of before as it is authentic Lebanese food, but don’t worry because we will be there to help guide you along the way.”
It is a journey into a world of flavours and spices that is truly Lebanon. Since I was there for a late lunch, my table was quickly filled with cold and hot mezzeh’s along with grills and a shawarma platter. Most people believe in love at first sight, to me it was love at first whiff.
The tapas of platters before me were absolutely scrumptious. What truly stood out, in my opinion, was the silky smooth hommos.
The baba ghanouj, a Levantine dish of eggplant mashed and mixed with virgin olive oil and various seasonings, was to die for, as was the spinach sambousek that screamed Lebanon.
I also had Muhammara, a hot pepper dish, which I thought was truly unique. The grilled meat and chicken were tender and juicy while the shawarma took me back to my days in Jordan. The fried meat kebbeh and pumpkin kebbeh were divine.
I suddenly felt sentimental and started to miss my relatives back home with every bite.
I loved the bistro so much that I came back for dinner with a Bahraini friend. She continued to tell me how much she loved the food and how fresh each dish tasted.
I can’t say when my next visit will be, but it will definitely be soon because not only did I get a taste of home … but I have also made some new friends.
