Prune: Always a Pleasure

Here I am, back at Prune, back for the third time to enjoy some of my favorite dishes including their fine foie gras, as well as their famous poulet au prunes as well as their pain perdu, the dessert that makes up one of my favorite five French toasts in Lebanon…

I found myself there and wanting to try something new. We went for specialties like the Serrano or the salmon salad, we wanted to revisit the classics. It was all-great, like always, a fine lunch I appreciated on all fronts.

Prune is one of those French bistros which transport you to Paris. A simple, yet authentic, setup, large pictures covering the walls, the wine cellar and the sort of bar that’s famous for decorating every restaurant in Paris.

Lunch started with the usual breadbasket, fine crunchy bread served warm alongside the famous salted Echiré butter, while plates started landing in our table.

Let's have lunch:

• Serrano ham, buffalo mozzarella and figs: Big figs cut in four, served next to thick slices of Serrano ham and a buffalo mozzarella, all covered with balsamic vinegar. Simple yet tasty. The mozzarella was too hard, it lacked juiciness and softness, but that was not a major issue.

• Salmon salad: A bed of celery, capers, lemon, fine salmon and three pieces of toasted bread. A good balance of flavors and textures all within this simple salad.

• The king crab salad: A round plate filled with fresh white crab mixed with lemon, all lying on a layer of thin-sliced fennel placed majestically on a bed of fresh green rocket. I love how this plate, despite its simplicity, is just delicious and perfectly seasoned. I loved the different textures and different ingredients that make up this creation.

• The foie gras, what else... My favorite in town. I really loved the foie gras the first time I came here, so much so that I ordered a 1kg portion for New Year's Eve and Christmas last year. I'm not sure if Prune is still selling foie gras to take away, but think of it as an option to consider when you’re throwing a party. A pure foie gras, full of flavors, no aftertaste and no lingering smell. Served with a chutney that had a light sweetness. On a blackboard, you’ll find a round piece of foie gras majestically placed on the plate and served with some chutney and ground sea salt. This foie gras, imported directly from France, is not to be missed. A rich, fresh and tasty dish that you will enjoy so much due to its simplicity, and served with three half slices of toasted bread. Take a piece of bread, add a chunk of foie gras, some chutney, a hint of salt, and plunge into a world of wonders.

• Poulet aux Prunes (Grilled chicken breast with plum, served with pomme puree): Four slices of chicken layered one next to the other, served with prunes and slices of roasted almonds and bathed in source. Take one small piece of chicken, a piece of prune, and cover it with sauce before putting it into your mouth. The world will stop for a minute. Amazing texture, awesome chicken quality, premium sauce, extraordinary flavors and a gentle, sweet aftertaste that's a cherry on top. I invite you all to come and taste this signature creation, it’s up to the standard of Michelin starred restaurants.

• Fried calamari: fried indeed, but tender, oil-free and excellent to say the least. A generous portion we all enjoyed.

For dessert, we started with a special ice cream: "Aspahan". A creamy, rose loukoum, lychee and red fruits blend that had the color of bubble gum ice cream. It's not a sorbet, but a flavorsome ice cream that doesn't have a sweet aftertaste.

Le Pain Retrouvé... That's a WOW! "Un sans faute". Someone has found the real taste of French toast. Le Pain Retrouvé, a signature at Prune, is one of the best Pain Perdus I’ve had to date in Lebanon. Le Pain Retrouvé: Two large bricks of bread covered with caramel sauce and served with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. Slightly crunchy on the outside with the inside softer and tender filled with milk, butter and sugar that are perfectly blended together. Some almonds decorate this plate, soaking in a caramel sauce that’s not sweet and rich in flavor. Two thumbs up.

Want a great French restaurant? Want to enjoy some tasty French specialties at affordable prices? Prune is the place.