August 22, 2017 Achrafieh Beirut Lebanon Middle East

A Calm and Enjoyable Dinner in Achrafieh
Non-smokers friendly
Casual Dining

RATING:88/100

Welcoming: 4/5

Food Temperature: 9/10

Ambiance / Music: 9/10

Menu Choice: 4/5

Food Taste: 28/30

Architecture / Interior: 8/10

Food presentation: 8/10

Service: 8/10

Value for money: 10/10

My heart skipped a beat the minute I passed through the door of this small restaurant. I was happy to see Michel's smile, happy to experience a full house on a Wednesday night. My friend Michel still welcomes you, serves you with a wide smile and makes sure you feel at home. Welcome home, to the home of Michel, a small bistro nestled in the heart of Achrafieh behind Byblos bank.

Not located in a busy neighborhood, Michel's place has a calm feel reflecting the real French tradition of a "Bistrot de Quartier" or a neighborhood restaurant. Michel does it all, making you feel at home. The Bistro de Michel welcomes guests from Monday to Saturday for lunch and dinner. The place seats 38 people inside and on the terrace; an area of 90 square metres. I've been here probably six times already and enjoy every single visit as though it were the first...

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Dinner starts with a basket of warm white crispy bread served with crushed olives and a bottle of olive oil. Tasty and a good first impression. The bread deserves a special mention: a thin crust filled with a light filling where the quantity of yeast is dosed adequately making it soft and melt under your teeth like butter.

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At Michel, everything is tasty but I recommend two major plates one should not miss...

  • Foie de Volaille au Porto: one of my favorite plates at Michel’s is the chicken liver and its incredible sauce. Just throw your fries in and enjoy the mix in style. The meat is so tender and light and the sauce exquisite. The chicken liver plate with its strong peppery flavor is a unique dish, which I love. Even though salty today, I finished it completely. I would recommend you try the chicken liver plate’s sauce with the meat - it is exquisite. I'd just suggest serving the fries without salt: salty fries added to the plate's sauce is an overdose.

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  • Moelleux Chocolat de Cedrik: the chocolate cake, melting like a heart in love, with vanilla ice cream on the side. Ouf, uf, wow, awesome! I have never eaten something that molten and that good. Wow. Bravo, bravo, bravo. It's worth visiting Michel just for this cake. A cake homogeneously soft like butter and with a taste like chocolate truffles. I think the photo below is enough to make you want to try it. Exceptional dark chocolate, pure chocolate madness, an unmatched flavor, a cake that will make you scream from joy. The textures are so nice, the outside is so light and thin with a molten heart of extravagant chocolate inside.

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A coup de Coeur, as I previously said, Le Bistro de Michel is where great food is served in a cozy and calm ambiance and where the owner is always present to make sure every detail is mastered to perfection.

Suitable For: Casual Dining



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