The Gordon’s Cafe: Fish & Chips… and Tiramisu

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Many new restaurants open every week in Lebanon, each trying to create a niche for themselves in this competitive market, while the old timers are continuously working on maintaining the quality their customers are accustomed to while improving their offerings. Gordon’s Cafe at Le Gray Hotel is one of those places I go to when I want to indulge in guaranteed taste and quality.

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Chic, trendy, cosmopolitan and casual, the Gordon’s Cafe, located in the Five Star Le Gray Hotel, is the perfect place for a delicious breakfast, a light lunch or a smooth afternoon tea on the sidewalk, amidst the bustling Beirut Central District. The Gordon’s Cafe has it all that will make your breakfast, lunch or dinner experience memorable.

It’s been a while since my last visit to the Gordon’s Cafe and I was craving for their tasty Fish and Chips as well as their Tiramisu dessert that’s like no other.

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The place in few words:

Occupying the corner of Le Gray hotel, the Gordon’s cafe is the perfect place to blend in with Beirut’s busy street life
A colorful space with its blue tiles and many chandeliers, perfectly lit by its high glass facades
Blue, green, red colors help relax all your senses
The restaurant is centered by a wooden table displaying some cakes and sweet treats
At the very end is the Pizza oven behind the bar
Art is what Le Gray is known for. Some fine paintings decorate the walls
Square or round, choose to sit on the table that suits you better
Outside, on the side walk, a line of quire tables welcome tourist and guests who want to live the Beirut experience

The menu:

Sharing plates
Starters
Salads
Wood Oven Baked Pizza
Mains
Sides
Burgers and Sandwiches

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Lunch started with a large bun of French bread cut in slices, served with olive oil and balsamic vinegar. A soft and tender bread from the inside protected by a crunchy nice envelop. Lunch followed, while we enjoyed the fresh air of this beautiful winter season. Service was good, waiters are smiling, and the ambiance is unique… A lunch that I perfectly enjoyed.

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I ordered the lightly spiced breaded calamari served with tartar sauce which I enjoyed and appreciated. Large pieces of calamari, well seasoned and covered with a subtle spicy and crunchy envelop while their heart is juicy and pleasantly crunchy. A plate filled with sea flavors and rich aromas, made perfect by dipping in this homemade tartar sauce. Tasty non oily calamari that made me smile. I think the picture speaks for itself… I simply loved it

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My friend Laurent on another hand, ordered the Scottish smoked salmon served with whole-wheat toasted bagel, low fat cream cheese, capers and lemon. A beautiful plate where the salmon looked fresh and non oily. He tells me that everything was perfect except for the bagel that was too toasted… “I felt I was eating a biscuit,” he explained.

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Moving on to ordering our main dishes, I couldn’t help but order their famous Fish & Chips. I wanted to live the British experience again. The famous Fish & Chips at The Gordon’s, a restaurant managed by a famous British hotelier, Gordan Gray, is a generous portion of battered fish served with golden French fries. A fish like no other. Every bite is unique for its outer crunchiness and inner richness. Juicy, moist and non-oily, the fish quality is superb while the outer envelope is enjoyed guilt free. Dip each bite in the tartar sauce and smile. The French fries, yellow, golden and cooked to perfection are to die for. What a plate! I think the picture speaks for itself.

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Laurent went for the chicken burger. The grilled piece of chicken was served on a slice of iceberg. Bizarre to say the least. Even though all the ingredients are good I would have preferred the chicken to be more moist, the bread less toasted and maybe a bit more than just a thick piece of lettuce…

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We both enjoyed lunch but nothing is complete without a good dessert, and not just any dessert but Gordan Cafe’s unique Tiramisu served in a jar. We ordered the Tiramisu as well as a cheesecake.

The Cheesecake looks bizarre… Like it’s been removed from the fridge and served immediately. It looked deformed as if the plate was inserted as is in the fridge. With its slightly crunchy bottom, non-prominent cheese flavor and rich taste, this cake is a success despite its heavy feel; not a good choice after such a rich lunch. I would have it alone with coffee next time.

The good taste was spoiled by the look of this piece of cake.

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The Tiramisu on another hand is really unique. This coffee-flavored Italian dessert, is made of cake biscuits dipped in coffee, layered with a whipped mixture of egg yolks, egg whites, sugar and mascarpone cheese, flavored with cocoa. Inside a jar is a thick layer of cake topped with cream and decorated with chocolate sauce. A cookie adds a touch of finesse and decorates the mix. This dessert is better ordered for two persons. I loved its rich smell of coffee and hint of alcohol aromas.

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The Gordon’s Cafe has been known for its premium burger, uniquely prepared Fish & Chips, extraordinary desserts and tasty pizzas – all served in a professional setup. I’ll be coming back again soon.