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What triggered my curiosity about this place is their logo, colors and kind of freshness you feel while looking at their advertisements. I was invited to the opening which I couldn't attend but though was a playground for kids -the face is a bit creepy- until I visited today. Meito may look a bit childish with its green colors and smily faces but it's not, it's a coffee concept like Starbucks or Dunkin.
Located on Beirut's waterfront facing the sea where the Hard Rock Cafe was previously located, Meito is a new comer to the local market offering a selection of coffees, frozen yogurt, breakfast and bubble tea.
Inside this large space is a green spirit. Green benches, a green logo and a certain class felt by the wood used and white walls. Outside is a green wall of greenery with the famous smiley face. Reach the shop and approach the counter to be served. It's self service in here between 7am and 12pm while breakfast is served until the place turns into a coffee shop.
Before we even started eating, I stopped to enjoy the place's decor, writings, black boards and map of the world. We sat outside and awaited to be served.
Breakfast choices at Meito:
- Eggs florentine
- Eggs Benedict
- Morning starter
- Traditional French
- Continental
- Fresh fruit salad
- Greek yogurt
- Buttermilk pancakes
- Grandmas pancakes
Breakfast was served:
- Eggs florentine: I ordered those florentine eggs because they only have turkey to add on eggs Benedict; I wanted ham or salmon... Why isn't ham proposed? Two poached eggs with spinach and hollandaise sauce. Two portions topped with spinach and a poached egg each. The eggs are a bit over cooked but good enough for that kind of breakfast laying on a fluffy bun. Enjoyed the spinach. As for the hollandaise sauce, it's heavy for a morning start. It missed some lightness and has a very strong lemony flavor. I've surely had better but those are acceptable.
- Buttermilk pancakes: Served with mixed berries and maple syrup. A beautiful plate, an eye candy creation but pancakes that are hard and chewy. It's a nice looking and generous plate, beautifully decorated, filled with fruits but the pancakes should better be fluffy and airy. The upper one was very hard and chewy while the lower ones are thin, chewy on the inside and hard on the borders. I've surely had better.
- Grandma waffles:"fluffy waffles served with mixed berries, maple syrup and fresh cream." Beautiful to look at but not enjoyable to eat. They are hard as a rock and surely not fluffy. Waffles should be airy, fluffy and maybe a little crunch on the borders. A lot has to be improved on those. Enjoyed the chocolate served on the side and maple syrup.
- Frozen yogurt followed: Meito does have some really nice frozen yogurt. Fresh and light with no strong acidity. This is indeed very good and recommended.
Meito has something and misses something else. The staff is welcoming, the plates are beautifully decorated, chocolate is served on the side not covering the food like all others do, the music inside is excellent, the choices are good... But the place misses some finesse and knowhow on the food part. Pancakes are dry and hard, waffles crunchy not airy, hollandaise sauce too lemony and heavy.
I'll come back here for be freshly brewed coffee and the yogurt; very good yogurt indeed.
