LEBANESE WITH A VIEW: GRAND BEIRUT AL QANA

Grand Beirut Al Qana is worth checking out for its waterside location, Insta-worthy interior and well-priced, authentic Lebanese menu. From the minute I walked into the restaurant I was wowed, hundreds of pink flowers hung from the ceiling and the spacious area with large glass windows showcased stunning views of the water and mosque. The open kitchen added to the lively atmosphere, allowing us to watch the chefs at work. What’s not to love?

If you're with BB+, you get 20% off your bill, making this a really good value place to dine out.

KICKSTARTS

The starters are perfect and simple, made with quality ingredients and well-balanced flavours. The tender stuffed vine leaves (warak arish) (AED39) are rich in flavour with a good tartness from the lemon. We really enjoy the creamy hummus (AED36) and the moutabal jnoubeh (AED45) topped with smoky fried eggplant cubes, a lovely pomegranate molasses and a sprinkling of walnuts.

Warm freshly baked bread is also served with the starters and topped up regularly - there’s nothing more delicious than this!

THE MAIN EVENT

The mixed grill (machawi) (AED124) is a stand-out, big enough to share, with a couple of sides. All four meats: lamb chops, shish taouk, lamb loin and kofta are seasoned and cooked very well. We particularly enjoy the lamb chops, not huge, but succulent and tasty!

Something new for us is the kebbeh ajamy (AED56), a deep-fried beef patty with a crispy toast-like coating, soft center and comforting flavours. Unlike anything we've tasted before, the crispy toast-like texture is fabulous, served with more of their amazingly smoky grilled eggplant, topped with cherry and pomegranate molasses and a walnut sauce.

Sidenote: you have to get the batata bil felfol, potatoes to die for!

SWEET ENDINGS

Finish with millefeuille (AED53) and kunafa (AED57). We love the millefeuille, the crispy puff pastry, layered with a beautifully light, sweet cream and pistachios and topped with candyfloss is super pretty and a fun way to end the meal.

MOCKTAILS

Don’t overlook the mocktails (AED36)! Both the sour twist and the magic lemonade are beautifully presented. My favorite, the magic lemonade - who can resist a name like that? - is sherbet-sweet, so it’s perfect for those with a tooth as sweet as mine!

The restaurant is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner and parking in Al Qana is a breeze. There's a large free car park across from Grand Beirut and its second floor location means you get a great view of the mosque and canal.

If you love good quality food at an affordable price, lovely views and exceptional service, add Grand Beirut to your list, you won’t be disappointed.

Timings: 9AM - 12AM (Monday - Friday) 9AM - 12:30AM (Saturday & Sunday)

20% off with BB+

Bookings: 050 442 9211

Location: Al Qana

LEBANESE WITH A VIEW: GRAND BEIRUT AL QANA

Kara Clifford

6/3/2024