Beirut Report X

Living in Penrose Dorm here, I'm all of 30 paces from the "'Hardee's' Gate". Outside that gate, stretched for a half mile along one side of Bliss Street, there are literally dozens of places to eat. I polled a bunch of people from my group and AUB in general as to what the best (define that as you will) AUB area eating is. Combining the poll results with my own tastes, I give you ..... the TOP FIVE!

# 5 -- Chicken Corner. This place is to chicken what Forrest Gump's friend was to shrimp - they really have quality meats, as well as the necessities: large sandwiches and low prices. One of my faves, but being a block off Bliss handicaps them severely.

# 4 -- Al-Kahua. "The Cafe" is the closest good sit-down eating, but their captive audience and short list of entrees means that attendance from Arabic program students has tailed off sharply. Still, they've got the best milieu on Bliss St and Little Daoud can sing a mean karaoke on Thursday night.

# 3 -- Bliss House. I've only eaten there once, but with its location near the Main Gate, its reputation for cleanliness, and its big fries servings, Bliss House really is the most popular, if not the best, dining on Bliss.

# 2 -- Flying Pizza. The area's best-kept secret, this place would be packed if more people knew about it, or if their prices were a tad lower. It has a quiet, pleasant environment, and serves up good pizza and excellent burgers. Mystique is added by the fact that they bring your food from somewhere down the street (apparently their kitchen is actually two doors down), and the full wet bar gives the place a mature attitude.

#1 -- Le Sage. If WBZ 1030 is news "Every Day", Le Sage is food every day! I rarely miss a day at this extremely convenient streetside joint. Sages are good-sized fried wraps, with everything from the Lebanese staple Man'oush Zatyr (thyme) to Salami & White Cheese (the Official Food of the Low Intermediate Class) to Chocolate & Banana.

Honorable Mention:
Smugglers' Inn -- No food is served here, but this pub is definitely the only place around here that I'd go to have a beer and exchange quiet conversation. It's snug environment and good prices used to bring in the crowds, but apparently it's a bit out of style right now.
Taj Malouk -- "The Kings' Crown" has reportedly the best Syrian ice cream on Bliss Street. That's saying something, since all the fast food joints turn into ice cream stands as crowds of families as well as students invade Bliss Street after sunset. Taj also has the best Arabic sweets and the best service - as well as a reputation for giving pretty blondes free sweets (actually, if you're cute you can get free stuff all over the place here, especially if you go in with no guys).

OK, it's off to colloquial class now.