Al Yater is one of the latest Lebanese seafood restaurants to be added to the long list of restaurants the Keserwan region has to offer. But this one is special.
It all starts with the decoration of this three-story restaurant located on the water of Tabarja bay, a couple of meters away from Le Galet restaurant. You enter through a ship's rounded door into the welcoming winter area, where long square tables are set up near the window overlooking the dancing waves, with an elevator that can take you closer to the water... The terrace, on the first floor, is where we chose to enjoy tonight's meal which was specially prepared by the owners, making sure our night is one that we will look back some time.
I suggest you choose their formula where more than 8 hot dishes, 8 cold dishes and fish are served with an open bar. All of this at a reasonable price of $45/person - all inclusive.
The decor:
- Wooden design chairs
- Wooden tables with the same spirit
- Leather plate mats with the restaurant's printed logo
- Nice wine glasses
- A white retractable pergola
- Two knives and two forks nicely designed and placed next to square funky plates
Offered to start:
Three different choices of pistachio nuts presented with cut carrots and a generous platter of local vegetables.
The simple menu sections printed on fine colored paper
Hot mezzeh, specialty dishes, cold mezzeh, fish and seafood.
The set menu included:
Tabbouleh, pickles, rocca salad, tajen, hummus, moutabbal, fried bread, toasted bread, spicy fish (samkeh harra), raw tuna fish, fattouch, fried calamari, kebbe, crab rolls and spring rolls, octopus in its ink, shrimp Provençal, fresh crab salad and more
Special desserts offered:
- Jams: Aubergine, figs, pumkins, bitter orange, dates, kumquat, walnut
- Fresh fruits presented in their artistacly decorated basket: Pineapple, apples, kiwi, nectarine, melon, peers, grapes and more.
The pluses:
- We were offered a new plate (Shrimps aigre doux). An Asian style preparation that is very tasty.
- Everything is really delicious
- Their hummus has no garlic in it
- I liked the background music
- The staff is nice and work professionally
- Be prepared to enjoy one of the most varied fresh fruits and dessert choice
On their website you can read:
"The village of Tabarja takes its name from the Greek TAPARXIA (district headquarters) and is located on the coast of Kesrwan region, 25 km north of the capital Beirut. "ALYATER" restaurant lies on one side of the cave in which, in the year 46 AD, the Apostle Paul spent the night before beginning his long journey as a missionary throughout the world. The story tells that at dawn the next day, he shouted the sailor of the boat the order to weighed "ELYATER" (the "anchor" in Arabic), thus beginning his crossing towards Europe. The long journey of the bay of Tabarja through history is rich with the many traces left by different civilizations on its coast: from Phoenicians to Ottomans, Greeks, Romans, Byzantines and Crusaders. And the last witness referenced is the church of St. George, whose foundations date back over 550 years. Since then, several tourist institutions were built along the bay, the latest being "ALYATER", raised with elegance and in respect of the historic site on which it stands. We invite you to share with us a piece of a unique journey to our sources, tasting a traditional yet inventive seafood cuisine, while enjoying the exceptional location of our beautiful bay."
The minuses:
- It is unacceptable to play the Birthday song high and loud in such restaurants
- Broken credit card machine! The unacceptable excuse to pay in cash! What should we have done if we were not carrying $300?
- Everything is delicious except their fried fish. A little bit too chewy and not as crispy as they should be.
An affordable calm and cozy restaurant that I would urge you to try before it becomes too popular and places become limited.
Suitable For:
Fine Dining
