It was an early Monday, a calm holiday, with sunny spells caressing our lands, a fresh breath of air traveling between us, we were walking calmly along the wooden floors of Zaitunay Bay.
At the bay, one place stands out, one place you can't but notice, a restaurant that's breathtakingly beautiful. I honestly went planning to have breakfast, but insisted on stopping by for a detailed review of the beautiful decor and maybe to try their crepes and waffles since we stopped by.
You are transported out of your daily routine beyond the borders of Lebanon, into an American setup seen in the movies.
Coast is a restaurant open to the waterfront. A large square space with high ceiling beautifully decorated with a hundred stylish items with an American feel. Stylish floor tiles, leather sofas, metallic structures, glass chandeliers, the choice of materials is endless.
White marble and metal tables fill in the space surrounded by different styles of chairs. Blue leather sofas, black leather or rugged camel, and individual seating. Blue and white square tiles cover the walls while rugged wood strips make walking more relaxing.
To the right side is the bar, a very long bar decorated with bottles and lit by suspended lanterns, the ones found in American diners.
Around the space are large mirrors decorated with writings, funky written writings displaying the menu and choices of food other than the displayed menu of drinks over the bar. Next to the entrance are pictures of different cuts of beef painted on white tiles.
The word "COAST", in big neon light, occupies the area over the salad bar. With that, all the doors are made of metal and glass with an open kitchen seen behind the glass facades and more glass. The left sided wall is covered with wooden window louvers.
I loved it, really loved it. The space is unique and relaxing, inspired by its neighbors Cozmo at the Bay and Cozmo ABC Achrafieh.
Let's have a quick overview of their breakfast:
- The American coffee is good. A freshly brewed coffee, that isn't bitter and is served hot, is enjoyable while having breakfast.
- Mango smoothie, served in a cocktail cup and decorated with a slice of mango and green colored sugar on top, is fresh and tasty. A firm texture of squeezed mango offering a concentrated yellow color and a taste that's fresh and not sweet.
- The chocolate crepe: An oval plate on which comes a rectangular crepe, a crepe folded the usual conventional way that we know around Lebanon. A crepe toasted on the bottom and decorated with crushed hazelnuts. The crepe, in my opinion, is way too sweet. The chocolate used is too sweet and a bit gooey for my palate. As for the crepe, it's over toasted on the bottom but the quality is good. Served with whipped cream on the side, the plate is beautiful looking and good on the eyes. I'd surely change the chocolate used, or simply go back to Nutella which fits perfectly well in such cases.
- The strawberry waffle: A round plate with a waffle on top. A waffle with an unusual shape, that looks fresh and appetizing. Thin with crispy borders, the waffle is topped with strawberries and is served with strawberry sauce on the side. The waffle has a good consistency, with beautiful colors, but unfortunately has an oily aftertaste. Add the sauce and this disappears, but a strong sweetness erupts. Less oil, less sugar in the sauce and we are close to having something good.
Nice music, amazing decor, a good choice of items and a welcoming team -at least with me- all that will make me want to visit here again. Even though the food is not exceptional, it has something to it that makes it a place to consider for lunch.
