Ahwak By Abed El Wahab: A Huge Disappointment

After reading a positive review about Ahwak By Abed El Wahab, I decided that I really have to visit this place to enjoy some good Lebanese food (After all, Abed El Wahab is one of the top Lebanese restaurants).

I met some friends at Beirut City Centre, sat in the terrace of �Ahwak� and we were given the menus. We ordered:

• Two BONELESS baby chicken platters with grilled potatoes
• �Ahwak� Kabab platter
• Taouk Platter

(My friend was on a diet so he asked to replace the potatoes with some grilled veggies) I really don�t know whether to start with the awful service we got or the terrible food we had! We waited for about 45 mins, and no food was served� We asked the waiter about the reason; he said that it will be ready in 5 mins tops! Yet again, we waited for more than 30 mins and asked the waiter again about our food! The waiter didn�t know what to say, but he was stalling as much as he can. Finally, the food arrived to the table, and I really wished it didn�t:

• Dull, colourless and unappealing plates
• The Taouk was undercooked and inedible (I wish I remembered to photograph it)
• By definition, �boneless� means �without bones�, but unfortunately Ahwak doesn�t share the same definition. The baby chicken still had the hip bones.
• The baby chicken was tasteless, no seasoning or marinating whatsoever.
• My friend didn�t get his grilled veggies but he was too hungry to wait more!
• The kabab was a complete disaster: we figured by its name that it�s a signature dish; yet the kabab was as thin as plastic straws, with some bitter unappealing eggplant that was burnt and chewy as hell.
• The platters came with some dead mixed greens on the side that made the platters look even worse. (At least add some lemon oil sauce and make it a side salad, it doesn�t cost that much guys)
• We ordered some bread that came an hour after, while we were paying the bill.

Maybe I was rude with my review, but I expected much more from this restaurant. The food was a BIG NO, not to forget the waiters who were acting like they were forced to work and serve!