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This review was one of the few times where I grabbed my phone and waited... I have reviewed Roadster so many times... I was thinking what should I write, where should I start?
Nevertheless, it's nice to visit the classics and check on their updates, especially Roadster the master of durability, service professionalism and innovative items.
Down in City Centre Beirut is a popular diner called Roadster which occupies the center of the terrace. An American diner with its large signs, colorful walls, high ceiling and leather sofas. I love this spirit, the diner approach; this is a diner we learned about in movies.
The same menu made me wonder a bit. What shall I order? Definitely the super sampler, a selection from the light menu and maybe a meat dish, something I never tried at Roadster.
They're fast, a few minutes later we were served.
Music was playing in the background on a beautiful sunny day, sunny pools entering from the glass facades, a fully loaded restaurant with a hungry clientele, plates started landing on the table.
I enjoyed my lunch:
- The super sampler: A local hit, a revolution that hit the market more than 15 years ago. A sample of different unique starters made famous by Roadster. The mozzarella sticks have a rectangular shape, a molten heart and super crispy envelope. The melting cheese has the appropriate saltiness, and oil-free touch and honey mustard sauce which rocks. Many have tried; none have succeeded in copying it. The chicken strips are to die for. Extremely juicy and explosively crunchy, battered chicken strips waiting to be dipped into Roadster's thousand island sauce. Fries are left with their skin, the buffalo wings are spicy and well cooked... I like that.
- Casual Steak: Good quality, served as requested, medium with a red heart. Grilled on the outside with a shine, tender and juicy, a good meat up to the standards of a full on steak restaurant. Next is a salad and a selection of penne - but why the garlic in the pasta? I was clear on that matter and did not choose to add chicken because of that! A little attention next time, please.
- The goat's cheese sandwich: Smells good, three half sandwiches spread win goat's cheese and filled with chunks of dried fig on a bed of rocket leaves. Toasted on the borders and lightly chewy on the inside, the sandwich is an equilibrated mix of ingredients. Tender cheese, a sweetness added by the figs and the green leaves. Next to that is a fresh salad loaded with cherry tomatoes.
Now for fun, enjoyment, passion and excitement:
The fork easily pierced this triangular shaped thing, no pressing needed, it just laid itself on top and I left it to gravity to take it’s course. A long five centimeters travelled in seconds while it reached the hard bottom, a tiny effort and voila, a piece was detached. A smooth tender and creamy thick layer of ice cream embracing chunks of chewy cake set on a bed of biscuit, all of it decorated with lines of caramel and chocolate sauce. This is one of Lebanon's most famous desserts, this is Roadster's marble mud pie. A cold creamy ice cream, a crunch, strong sugar, caramel and sweetness... Man! What a combination... The creator deserves an award.
Service: Service at Roadster is good but believe me it was way better couple years back. Staff being overwhelmed, they tend to become clumsy and rude.
I didn't know what to expect but I didn't think I'd leave that happy. Roadster still is a recommended place, whatever some may say.
