We at Time Out have our ears to the ground to bring you the latest that the city has to offer (we’re also suckers for the odd nostalgic tale). So when we heard about Villa Beirut, the newest kid on the Marina Mall block, we knew we had to head on over.
The Lebanese joint dates back to the early 1900s when Dalia, a young Lebanese girl, channelled her passion for cooking and opened the restaurant in her native city. And while sadly, she couldn’t realise her dream to expand her little eatery, her grandchildren have made sure her legacy lives on with its newest spot in Abu Dhabi (#bestgrandkidsever).
The tradition and family-feel atmosphere shines through in the décor and food served at Villa Beirut. Cobalt blue windows break up the cheery yellow walls, old-fashioned chandeliers and flower pots hang from the ceiling, while the mix-and-match crockery leads you to believe you’re at an old aunt’s place.
As for the food, the beetroot hummus, a coarser (and healthier) version of the beloved cold mezze dish is very tasty and does not have an overbearing beet taste. We dig into it with hot, soft rounds of bread. The second starter, the hand-moulded kibbeh, come served on a bed of shredded greens, without any accompanying dip, which we miss. But that only means we can dive back into the red hummus. The spinning top-shaped croquettes are light, crisp and flavourful.
Our main of grilled chicken comes with a mountain of chips and a few (disappointing) pieces of grilled vegetables. The two pieces of chicken are uneven in shape and therefore unevenly cooked. Some parts are tough and chewy, others are succulent. The dish is a bit of a let-down, but the restaurant is clearly doing something right; the steady stream of local diners is evidence of that.
2x lemon with mint Dhs40
1 hummus chmander Dhs22
1x kebbeh Dhs25
1x 1/2 grilled chicken Dhs39
Total (excluding service) Dhs126
The bottom line A cosy spot for Lebanese with the family.
