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How great it is to visit on an early morning during weekdays. A place enchanted with vibes of positivity, calm and serenity nestled in the heart of Beirut. Facing the Clemenceau medical center l, Dar Bistro and Books is an international restaurant and coffee shop welcoming you to exchange ideas, mingle and chat with creative people. Colors take you on a journey through happiness.
In a building painted in yellow, walk through a hub for artists. The terrace is made of colored wooden chairs and tables, set in a green garden surrounding the restaurant. Cozy and dimmed, the bar is a perfect place to let go and enjoy Beirut from a different perspective.
I was here in 2014, and I remember the vibes and the music of Fayrouz playing in the background. I had lunch back then and promised myself to visit again for more. It’s breakfast time, and I’m having it in Beirut while feeling the Village vibes. I loved the table paper placemat where you can read stories of Lebanon, the restaurant’s mission, products from bread basket you can find in the house for takeaway, photography training happening at the Dar, and some Instagram photography tips.
On the breakfast menu: bagels, eggs, awarma, omelets, and pancakes.
Yummy food, simple flavors of the village, uncomplicated and non-pretentious. Tender bagels, open-faced and topped with slices of cheese and two sunny-side-up eggs on crunchy bacon. I loved the bagel quality, the eggs taste, the bacon texture, and cheese flavor. As simple as they are, the way you expect them to be.
Bayd-b-Awarma had the taste of the village cooked in a clay pot. Scrambled eggs mixed with minced awarma meat served with a side of markouk Lebanese bread. I also had the Greek scrambled eggs omelet with feta cheese, cherry tomatoes and thyme mixed all together. The plate comes with a side of orange quarters which I squeezed on top creating a fruity mix I enjoyed eating with markouk bread.
Fluffy pancakes, as good as they would be, big sized and generously looking, I added maple syrup and enjoyed them.
The minuses and improvement:
- Please focus on making the plates look more appealing. Plates are so dull, so boring.
- Eggs and Awarma could have been decorated with a mint leaf. Scrambled eggs could have been juicier and shinier.
- Pancakes are ridiculous! Powdered sugar? Raspberry? A side of Nutella? Make them look good!
Time passed while Fayrouz continued singing in the background. I wished time would stop... Beirut’s chaotic hustle and bustle are far from Dar; get transported out of the city while staying in it and it helps calm down your nerves.
