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Food is perfect. Everything else is dramatically wrong.
Angelina, the famous Angelina of Paris, my favorite Mont-Blanc cake and classy French cafe landed in Beirut a couple of years ago serving delicious food. Unfortunately, things have changed turning class into a cheap Lebanese cafe handled by an untrained staff working for the sake of filling hours. The waiters are dramatic; wrong people for the wrong job. Uncleaned hair on the white cloth, dirty clothes, WhatsApp with their friends, another watching a series on YouTube, and a clear lack of finesse. A lack of culture, a lack of training, a lack of everything that makes Angelina what Angelina Paris is.
The best thing at Angelina is when you walk into the beautiful display of cakes; unfortunately not in Beirut anymore. A poor display and empty shelves; there is something wrong! Is Angelina closing anytime soon or is it only a lack of attention to the brand?
I remember coming here in 2016 and leaving amazed; today things changed! Two years later, the brand is left to rust. Anyway, without judging too early, let’s have breakfast in Beirut.
Breakfast starts with a plate of fresh French baguette with two “Beurre D’Isigny” butter. With that, glasses of water, not washed with clear marks of lipstick. It’s not that I’m only seeing the negative, it’s simply shocking! A new manager is needed.
Food is excellent!
- Croque Monsieur is memorable; three layers of excellent bread, moist and creamy, loaded with cheese and turkey. Yellow cheese, cream and one fine slice of turkey. A layer of grilled cheese on top gives this sandwich a crunch.
- Flaky croissant loaded with delicious scrambled eggs and a slice of delicate smoked salmon. Simple and yummy, classy and upscale. I loved the balance, the textures, and the taste.
- What a club! I’ve rarely enjoyed a club sandwich that much! The bread is excellent. The chicken is tender and juicy. The eggs are soft. The vegetables are crisp — Bravo for this amazing sandwich that will make it to my top 10 this year.
- Best for last. The pain perdu brioché is baked to perfection. Caramel sauce, juicy and milky, served warm and ready to amaze you. I loved it!
Please smile! Can the waiter wear gloves when handling cakes from the fridge? Is it possible not to shout together as if you were on the street? Why count your money every thirty minutes? And the mistakes go on and on...
With a restaurant serving food as good as Angelina, it’s sad to experience service as bad as the one we encountered today. If action is not taken, the place won’t last for long.
