June 03, 2015 Hamra & Verdun Beirut Lebanon Middle East

The Beazbee: A Flavorful, Cozy Breakfast
Non-smokers friendly

Phone Number: +961 1 748 755

Address: Gefinor Center, Clemenceau Street, Beirut, Lebanon

Website: https://www.facebook.com/thebeazbee

Price Range: 20-30 $

RATING:79/100

Welcoming: 3/5

Food Temperature: 8/10

Ambiance / Music: 7.5/10

Menu Choice: 4/5

Food Taste: 27/30

Architecture / Interior: 7/10

Food presentation: 8/10

Service: 7/10

Value for money: 7/10




CHECK OTHER REVIEWS FOR THIS PLACE:
The Beazbee: A Fine Lebanese-Style English Breakfast

The white purity, the red fabrics, the champagne bottles, the imprinted logos, the light breeze of air, the sunny spells... The English spirit. Welcome to Beazbee.

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Last time I came here was in January of 2014, to Beazbee the fine eatery of Gefinor Centre. A place oozing with charm and finesse, Beazbee is your breakfast, lunch and dinner get together spot from Monday to Friday, 6am to 10pm and on Saturdays from 9am to 6pm. 

I love the logo and enjoy the intriguing name, the Beazbee where the queen bee stands over a flower crown, is found everywhere. A certain class and simplicity makes it a great way to start your day in style. Been here, done that, and still love it like day one. Walk into a small English style coffee shop where little knickknacks are placed around - cookies, cigars, and chocolate boxes and champagne among other things. Your eyes will have a feast. A prominent glass fridge displays mouthwatering creations including bagels, cakes, sandwiches, cookies and freshly squeezed drinks.

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The place described:

  • Outside is a small space filled with outdoor furniture; tables can host four people each.
  • Inside, large grey tiles cover the floor under a white ceiling.
  • The place is nice and cozy with its white round tables, square ones as well as other seating inside the mall with a sofa and yet more seating to allow people to smoke away from the heat of the sun. 
  • The chairs are relaxing, some of which are upholstered with the place's design elements and the Beazbee logo.
  • On the right side is the display fridge; while on the left is a display of gift items.
  • One side has the terrace and the other has a seating area under the Centre's high ceiling.
  • Pink placemats, stone covered tables surrounded by relaxing chairs with display tables all imprinted with the restaurant's logo.

The breakfast menu at Beazbee has three choices and the morning tray (salmon eggs Benedict, Croque Monsieur sunny side up, English breakfast), omelets, a Lebanese tray, morning temptations, a healthy morning tray, sandwiches, bagels, viennoiseries and croissants. 

It was one of the few times where I sit in awe facing a menu, a dozen choices which I wished I could try. I stood, speechless, asking myself if it would be better to try the sweet choices, the eggs or the sandwiches, or maybe the healthy part, or let's say the viennoiseries? I think I'll be coming back sooner than I thought.

Coffee was served. Nespresso coffee with individually packed sugar bags or brown sugar on the side, but they don't have any sweetener. Flavorful coffee served in English-style cups and saucers. 

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Breakfast was served:

  • Sunny side up Croque Monsieur served on a square plate. Square bread with ham and cheese in the middle topped with more yellow cheese and decorated with a sunny side up egg. Thin slices of bread, slightly toasted, and filled with melted Emmental and good quality ham as well as an egg. I loved the juiciness of this sandwich that offers a light faded sweetness with rich ingredients. Next to that are sautéed mushrooms and cherry tomatoes, perfectly mixed with salt and pepper that tickles your taste buds. Fresh greens and potato wedges, each ingredient is mastered to perfection. The potato wedges look different and taste great. Bravo!
  • Eggs Benedict are served on a round plate. Two English muffins, each topped with a poached egg, smoked salmon and Hollandaise sauce. A crunchy muffin, tender egg, perfect smoked salmon and the sauce, a real Hollandaise sauce and its boosted lemon flavor that few know how to master in this country. With that was a fresh green salad and small asparagus shoots. Two thumbs up.
  • Chocolate Banana Crepe: A square shaped plate with two crepes, each filled with banana slices and melted dark chocolate, topped with sliced roast almonds. It looks nice but I'd change a lot in its taste. To start with, the menu doesn't say that the chocolate is that dark and that intense. I'm a dark chocolate fan, but that was way too much for a crepe, it's sticky and too bitter, leading to a long lasting, unpleasant after note - at least mix it with jam or fresh cream to soften it. The crepe is fine, a bit chewy, but ok. On top, extremely crunchy almonds spoil the experience. A crepe is tender, bananas are smooth, chocolate is molten and some unpleasantly crunchy bits add an unneeded texture to the mix. All of the ingredients are great, the know how is here, but I believe that putting everything together isn't a success. I'll skip it next time.

I like this place. Second visit, second enjoyment.




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