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With a new Executive Chef at Indigo, comes a new series of bites served for breakfast. I headed towards Le Gray Hotel, Beirut to enjoy a good breakfast. With an overview of Downtown area I enjoyed a freshly pressed pomegranate juice and an American coffee for starters… while enjoying the early Beirut summer breeze.
Reach the hotel and take the elevator up to the sixth floor where Indigo welcomes you with a fresh touch of refinement provided by its simple decoration and colorful flowers. Sunny rays of light enter the restaurant through the high window facade surrounding the place, adding just the right amount of soothing natural morning light. The open plan of the restaurant with its multi dimensional quality creates an overwhelming feeling of one being in touch with the urban environment surrounding the hotel.
The Grand Mosque of Mohammad Al Amin is captured in picture-like precision from one angle and from another a captivating view of other modern high-rise buildings in the neighboring area. I enjoy the architectural details this place shows: High glass windows give an open view on the Beirut Central District and the seaport. A flowerpot is set on every table; yellow, orange and purple. Wooden tables fill the outside space covered with grey placemats. White table napkins, relaxing beige upholstery chairs decorated with a touch of color. A general purple finish is relaxing to the eyes. Round and square tables are pleasant for groups to enjoy face-to-face conversations. An open kitchen where chefs prepare the morning pieces of art with love is what makes this restaurant even more special.
Some details are worth mentioning:
- I loved the service of Tea: A silver strainer and China white porcelain.
- The staff is always on the lookout to keep guests happy and satisfied.
- My plate was changed more than four times without even having to ask.
- The hot plates look beautiful and appetizing.
- Leaving my coffee more than ten minutes unattended, I am asked if I would like to have a new hot one.
New for breakfast:
- The fresh juice bar, a selection of fruits just waiting to be pressed for your ultimate enjoyment.
- The buffet, updated seasonally.
- The gluten free items prepared a la minute.
The buffet selection:
- Kellogg's corn flakes boxes (5 choices of them)
- Granola mix
- A selection of yogurt displayed on a bed of ice
- Seasonal fruits cut in slices (kiwi, watermelon, pineapple and melon)
- Muesli, Lebanese cheese, labneh on ice
- Smoked salmon with capers and onions
- Black and green olives
- Vegetables displayed in bowls
- Pickles
- Dried fruits and dried apricots
- International cheeses platter and nine choices of Lebanese cheese and Labneh
- Dried Cold cuts plate
- Ham and turkey
- Croissant (chocolate, zaatar and cheese), muffins, donuts, Danish pastry
- Manakish
- Chocolate and milk cake
- Four kinds of square bread with their hot toaster
- Nuts Halawa and chocolate Halawa
- Lebanese bread and French baguette
When I came back from the buffet, the table was prepared to host us: Table napkins, three different kinds of jams and echiré demi-sel butter. Gluten free items, the fresh juice bar and the “à la carte” menu.
Let's eat:
Breakfast started with the gluten free items served on a board. Three kinds of bread, zaatar croissant and chocolate croissant alongside two chocolate muffins. They're good and tasty. I enjoyed the texture of the bread and the intense chocolate taste in the muffins.
The Eggs Royal arrived afterwards. Two poached eggs lay on a crunchy English muffin each, and served with hash-brown, bacon and mushrooms on the side. A poached egg cooked to perfection with a slice of smoked salmon, a tangy sauce Hollandaise and a sprinkle of paprika. I loved the crunchiness of the muffin, the quality of salmon and the intensity of the Hollandaise.
The steak and eggs dish is about two chunks of meat, two sunny side-up eggs and onion rings. A simple yet interesting plate: Full bodied steak with a firm texture, two non-oily eggs and two toasts.
Do not miss the sausages! The order comes with sausages, mini sausages that looks like makanek and they are very good and juicy.
Now for dessert:
- The blueberry muffin is served with maple syrup on the side. Blueberry chips cooked in a fluffy muffin with air bubbles inside. I loved the moisture within and the light crisp of the sides.
- The French toast is what a French toast should be like. I liked the thickness of the bread, the milk it’s soaked in and the maple syrup with the cinnamon that comes with it. Honestly, a French toast is not my favorite choice of bites for breakfast.
After receiving all of the above, I walked towards the buffet and found a reasonable choice of food… a variety of bites that would satisfy any breakfast craving. I must admit that breakfast at Indigo has improved with better flavors at the bar and ‘a la carte’ and not to mention the success of the juice bar.
I enjoyed this a tasty and calm morning.
