"Let's go have brunch somewhere..." is something we often hear lately. Going out for "brunch" has become a trend allowing restaurants and similar eateries to introduce a new concept into their menus. Brunch, which comes between breakfast and lunch, usually starts at 11 until early hours of the afternoon, gathering families and friends around a rich buffet. Where can we go out for brunch? La Posta is a good idea.
La Posta, in Achrafieh, has fine-tuned this concept welcoming you every Saturday for brunch and lunch from 11 until 4pm around a rich Italian buffet in a pleasant atmosphere. For only $35, you can indulge in an open buffet; add an additional $15 and receive an open Italian sparkling wine. Children pay $22.
Just sit back and enjoy an wonderful ambiance hosted in the heart of Achrafieh, where a mix of different cultures and hundreds of musical sounds blend together along a wide scope of colors and shapes transporting you into a third dimension.
The place described:
- A vast terrace with different levels hosts many tables of different sizes
- A stone pavement, greenery and parasols make you feel like you're sitting on a balcony in Italy
- White parasols protect you from the harsh sun spells
- In front of a typical Lebanese house, tables are decorated with purple and yellow pots of red flowers and covered with white place mats
- To the left side is a water fountain... the sound of water is soothing
- The lounge music in the background makes you forget the city's chaos
- The chairs, with arm supports, are very relaxing and make you sit for longer
- Choose to sit on the sofas or around tables
The things I liked:
- The salad bar is eye watering with its wide choice and beautiful colors
- The interesting approach towards presentation especially the drinks bottles and corn flakes bags
- Waiters in light blue shirts and dark blue pants. Chefs are in burgundy pants, white shirts and orange aprons
- The music is just perfect
- The place has large round tables to enjoy unique discussions around a meal where all guests see one another
- You get much more than the $35 paid
Four live stations:
- Pasta: Spaghetti pomodoro, Ravioli mushroom, Carbonara tagliatelle, Spaghetti alio olio, Four cheese quiche
- Fryers Corner: Arancini (Fried rice filled with meat, tomato sauce and mozzarella), Panzarotti (A small versions of the calzone or closed pizza, but produced with a softer dough filled with tomato and mozzarella)
- Crepes: Add strawberries, pineapple, chocolate, maple syrup
- Omelettes and eggs: Add ham, bacon, turkey, mushroom, truffles, red yellow green capsicum, basil, onions, cheese, parsley
The breakfast buffet:
- Fresh milk served on ice
- Butter
- Coffee, tea
- Two baskets of croissant
- Corn flakes in paper bags
- Different jams and honey in glass pots
- Muffins, brioche and Danish pastry
- A basket of bread
- Freshly squeezed juice served in glass bottles (beetroot, exotic, orange, strawberry, carrots)
- Cakes and desserts: Bahamas, Fraisier, Tiramisu, fruit salad
The lunch buffet:
- Salad bar (Cherry tomato, beetroot, eggplant, shrimps, calamari, mushrooms, octopus, lettuce, carrots, chicken, rockets, broccoli, cauliflower, croutons)
- Cheese platter
- Cold cuts platter
- Salmon with seafood and spinach sautéed
- Involtini chicken roulade with tomato sauce
The culinary experience:
- The bread is fresh, crunchy and enjoyable
- Calamari is adequately cooked and perfectly seasoned
- I loved the shrimps softness and lemony aftertaste
- The octopus salad is very interesting
- The eggs are enjoyable and their colors mouthwatering
- I was not impressed by the Arancini and Panzarotti - too heavy and contain too much carbohydrates
- Cheese is fresh but the choice is minimal. The plate doesn't look appetising. The same goes for the cold cuts
- I would reconsider the croissant. These are acceptable if sold alone but not for a brunch. They should be smaller, softer, lighter and crunchier. The condensed dough makes the croissant too heavy, especially when there are other choices available
- The cakes, even though tasty are way too warm. I would consider serving them in glass trays on ice. Their taste changed due to temperature fluctuation. The Tiramisu, for example, left in the sun is dangerous!
The minuses:
- The restrooms are far. A bit annoying especially for the elder generation. Walk through a long corridor, take the elevator one floor down, then walk another twenty steps to reach your destination
- Too many flies and too many ants disrupt the general peaceful ambiance
- Names! Where are the name tags of plates? You wonder what kind of jams are available, or which juices are proposed or even what is the hot platter. Important to be fixed the earliest possible
I would change a few things to make the experience perfect:
- Add Labneh next to the cheese with olive oil. Olive oil, a main ingredient in the Italian cuisine is close to inexistent
- A wider choice of cheese will just make customers smile
- I would add a newspapers stand, on a Saturday morning. Many businessmen will love the idea
- Croissants are too big and the dough too condensed. They are too fulfilling for a brunch. The portions should be smaller and lighter acting as bites not meals
- People are cutting the cakes with normal knives and forks; my hands were sticky afterwards. I just added the picture as reference. Real and decent serving knives need to find their way to the cake station
- Cakes should be cold not at room temperature
Did I enjoy it? YesWould I come again? Of courseDo I recommend it? DefinitelyWould I improve things? Immediately
If you feel like going out for brunch on a Saturday or maybe have a quick business lunch in a relaxed atmosphere, La Posta is a good choice. Today was sunny and we had the chance to sit on the terrace but this brunch will continue indoors during rainy season.
