Located on Achrafieh’s central roundabout, Sassine square, "Gate1" is a quick Lebanese diner proposing a selection of sandwiches, platters, and burgers. The place is small, hosts an open kitchen and seating bar. Order and wait to be served.
Blue and red are the colors; red and blue high tables, a blue colored bar with decorative frames covering the walls. It feels American with a Lebanese touch.
On the menu: breakfast, the main dishes specialties, sandwiches, burgers, salads, exclusive clubs, and desserts.
I ordered a sandwich and a burger among others:
- The Gate1 burger: full tasty beef burger, tomato, onion, cheddar cheese, pickles, lettuce and Gaye sauce. Loved it, a no-fat burger, a very tender bun, a delicious sauce, a crunch, caramelized onions, and cheese. A burger that feels homey yet professionally done.
- Roast beef sandwich: roast beef slices, lettuce, pickles, corn, tomato, gruyère cheese and herb mustard.
- Hand-cut French fries: honestly, one of the best fries I’ve ever had. The spices added to it are excellent before even talking about the French fries. A crunchy envelope and a very tender heart, adequately salted, unpeeled and perfectly fried. Loved them!
- Battered fish filet produced in-house, a crunchy envelop and a premium-quality fish fillet that’s not watery and not oily.
- Shawarma: juicy and tender beef wrapped in Markouk bread. It’s different than the traditional Shawarma street food restaurants propose, more of a homey sandwich made of a juicy marinated meat.
- Try the cheese club specials which reminded me of my childhood. A square bread toasted in a particular machine my grandpa had when we were kids. A juicy sandwich with multiple layers of cheese and Sun-dried tomatoes. An interesting sandwich.
A hidden place I’ll surely visit again especially for the burger and fries; one of the smoother burgers I’ve tasted and freshest fries are found in the most unlikely of places.
