Think chic decor, a standardized menu, and subpar cocktails
Ambience
From Moroccan lanterns to roomy couches, the decor at Bayroute has been consistent throughout all their branches. What began as a decadent Lebanese affair in Cuffe Parade with creamy hummus and rich desserts has turned into yet another commercial restaurant chain.
As you step inside from the warm block of the north avenue, you walk into a room filled with light and energy that has an instantly calming effect on you. The seats by the window offer an airy view lined with full trees and blooming flowers. The wall behind the bar, designed in glass, adds to the decadence of the establishment.
The Food
To start with, we ordered a margarita, blueberry and sage cooler, and the elder cucumber gin collins. We made sure to wait a while before ordering the food to ensure seamless service. For the food, you guessed it, we got the house special hummus bayroute, Labneh Za'atar, falafel and the Fattoush salad to begin. We mainly stuck to the classics with the addition of halloumi cigars for their creativity factor.
The food arrived promptly, with a basket of pita. The dips looked creamy; the falafels were crisp; the salad wilted. Probably due to the weather. The leaves were dark and bland with a handful of other vegetables. While it took the food about ten minutes to arrive, the drinks were nowhere to be seen.
Mind you, it had been 20 minutes since we placed the drinks order.
The Drinks
With a tapas-style layout, lunch wrapped up pretty quickly since the pita bread arrived cold, stale and hard. The cigars were deep-fried to the extent that they left our fingers oily and the halloumi cheese hardened inside. Aside from the salad that should definitely be skipped, the classics have remained consistent.
The drinks arrived once lunch was over. The gin-cucumber was 90% ice and 10% cocktail; the blueberry sage drink tasted like flavoured water, and the margarita was lemonade with too much simple syrup (in other words, it was just sugary nimbu paani). Margherita's are probably one of the easiest drinks to make: tequila, water, lemon, and a dash of sugar if needed. All shaken over ice. You need to blend the flavours with the right consistency. When the drink was sent back, the manager brought a fresh cocktail only for it to be: water, no tequila, and no sugar.
The Verdict
Lebanese and Mediterranean food is easy and healthy anytime, anyplace. With the olive oil-based hummus options, walnut muhammara, and salads; it is my go-to cuisine for a night out. It balances the proteins, healthy fats and carbohydrates in a way where most other cuisines fall short.
Until last year, Bayroute stood at the top of my list for a night out. Now, the quality and service fall flat on their face to the extent it makes a patron annoyed to ever frequent the place again. With the number of cafes and restaurants offering middle eastern dishes, there are multiple places I would go instead.
The shift from one upscale, boutique and classic restaurant to the commercialized and multiple chain model business; has led to shuffling of the staff and a definitive drop in quality.
My Rating: 3/5
In the end...
All in all, an easy and accessible place to grab a quick bite of Levant classics. Do not go with expectations. They have carved a space for themselves in the commercial quick bite segment all over the city.
Have you been recently? What are your thoughts?
Wishing you health and happiness
Shruti
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