You should not miss dinner when you visit a vibrant city like Beirut. You can begin with the wonderful appetizers. Try the Hommos which consists of a chick pea puree along with lemon juice, sauce and olive oil. Then you can also try the Baba Ghannouj which is an egg plant with olive oil, sesame sauce and lemon.

Another appetizer worth a try is stuffed cabbage or vine leaves. The vine leaves are grape leaves with a stuffing that consists of lemon, onions, parsley and mint cooked in olive oil. Yogurt dip mixed with fine chopped onions and crushed wheat, garnished with mint, walnuts and a splash of olive oil.

Apart from these cold appetizers you can also try the warm ones such as Hommos Bel Toul and thre Kibbeh. Kibbeh is a favorite appetizer consisting of beef mixed with wheat. The mixture is then wrapped around a mixture of meat, pine kernels and onions.

If you are health conscious then you should definitely order salads such as the Lebanese salad. This salad has ingredients such as cucumbers, diced tomatoes, parsley, onions, garlic, lettuce and radish. Then we have the Fattoush is a toasted Lebanese dish mixed with onions, garlic, olive oil, vinegar, cucumbers and lettuce.

And then we have the main course. You can definitely go for Ouzi which includes chunks of lamb served with minced meat, mushrooms and yogurt sauce. And then we have the Shish Kabab which consists of cubes of Colorado lamb along with grilled onions, mushrooms and tomatoes. If you are a fish lover then you can try the fish brochettes which include fresh fish in a paste of olive oil, garlic, mushrooms, onions and tomatoes. Salmon is also a delicious fish to try. The fish is usually marinated in sautéed mushroom and served with rice.

In case you are visiting Lebanon then you should definitely try out the restaurants there. Lebanese dishes are known internationally for their fine taste and healthy options. In case of lunch you can try the following dishes.

You can begin with the different types of Mazzas as appetizers. These include falafel served with tahini sauce. You can even order the hummus which is a sesame pasta with lemon juice and garlic. The hummus can be spread on a bread and eaten. Another good option for Mazzas is Baba Ghanuj which is a dip of egg plant, garlic and lemon juice. The veggie grape leaves is another good option. This dish consists of cooked rice along with parsley, tomatoes and mint wrapped grape leaves. Or how about trying the Calamari which is cooked and served on spinach, sautéed tomato and feta cheese.

You can then go for the soup and salads. You can try the popular baby spinach almond salad which has generous portions of goat cheese in it. Then we have the Greek salad consisting of vitamin rich veggies such as lettuce, cucumbers, green olives, tomatoes and red onions.

And then, in case you want to have a light meal then you can try the various sandwiches. Try the falafel pita which consists of cooked beans rolled in pita bread. In case you like non veg sandwiches then you can go for the chicken shawana pita. Here the chicken strips are laid down in a garlic, tomato sauce and rolled in bread.

Last but not the least is the whole wheat pita. Here you can try the falafel pita as a veg option and the Greek Gyro pita as a non veg option. A Med Burger is also a good option as it comes with goat cheese, roasted tomatoes and caramelized onions.

The following restaurant etiquettes should be ideally followed whether you are having your lunch or dinner in a Lebanese restaurant or any other restaurant across the world. Restaurant etiquette begins even before you go to the restaurant. For example, it is best to reserve a table, especially if the restaurant is quite popular. And you should ideally reach at least 10 minutes in advance. In case you have a change of plan then you should call up the restaurant and tell them about the change or cancellation.

You should dress appropriately when you are going to the restaurant in Beirut. See to it that you are following the dress code of the restaurant. When you get the table don’t make a noise when shifting the chairs to sit. And if you have children, you should see to it that they behave nicely. I you want to place an order then you should say excuse me and then call the waiter. Do not talk very loudly amongst yourselves in the restaurant.

When the food arrives you should use the napkin and place it on your lap. Do not talk while you are eating. And you should also take in small bites and chew your food well. Do not make any type of noise form your mouth while eating or drinking food. If there are several spoons and forks on the table then you should start using them from the outside and then come to the last little spoon in the inside for your dessert.

In case you want to go to the washroom then you should excuse yourself. And in case you have to chip in the bill with your friends then it is best that one of you pays the total amount and then take the contribution from each member outside the restaurant.

When you are in Lebanon then you must definitely try the local cuisine. Lebanese cuisine makes use of vegetables, fruits, sea food, fish and animal fats. The Lebanese people want more of poultry than red meat and you can try the same in one of the Lebanese restaurants. Lamb is preferred in restaurants along the coastal regions while restaurants in the mountainous regions of Lebanon thrive on goat meat. You can order dishes that are baked, grilled or sautéed in olive oil.

Majority of the restaurants in Lebanon make use of olive oil has it is light and healthy. Hence you can order the different Lebanese dishes as most of them are fat free. Butter or cream is rarely used in the dishes. However do go for dishes that have herbs and spices as it makes the food very tasteful.

And while you have your food you should definitely order for a drink. Mezze are the preferred array of dishes that consists of smaller dishes of various flavors and textures. Mezze could be as simple as some pickled vegetables with bread or it could consist of an entire meal including sea food, skewered meat and several cook foods and salads. And don’t forget the Lebanese sweets at the end of your meal. The Baklava is the most popular dessert in Lebanon and you should definitely try it once when you visit the country.

Lebanese cuisine also concentrates on hot and cold salads and some of the salads that you can try are Tabouleh, Baba Ghanoush and Moutabal Kebbeh. And then there are the stews which are cooked in many forms and using several ingredients. If you like alcoholic drinks then don’t forget to try Arak. This is an anise flavored liqueur and it is called the national drink of Lebanon.

There are excellent eating options in Beirut and other parts of Lebanon. You can try the local Lebanese food or savor your taste buds for international cuisine such as Italian. There is no dearth of high end restaurants in Beirut serving the best of local and international cuisines. You can try one or all of the top 5 restaurants in Beirut.

Le Pecheur – If you want to experience a fine dining experience with live music then Pecheur is the place to be. The musician makes you have fun while you have your dinner. You can clap in rhythm to the musician’s music. The restaurant serves the best of sea food. Fish as well as squid and octopus fishes are extremely popular. The wine prices are a little bit on the higher side.

Sydney’s – This is yet another posh restaurant serving international cuisine. This restaurant has a breath taking view of the Beirut skyline. The elegant décor along with the delicious cuisine makes your day. You can choose between pasta, hamburgers and the popular Lebanese meat. The kids love the sweet dishes available at Sydney’s.

Le Sushi Bar – As the name suggests, you can go to this restaurant if you are looking for the best sushi in town. The restaurant has elegant décor and the fish served is very fresh. This place should be your lone stop for sushi when you visit Beirut.

IL Forno Romano – This is the best option in town if you are looking for Italian food. It is in the same building as the Bayview hotel. It is close to Hard Rock Café. The interiors are small but the Italian dishes served by the chefs make you feel like you are eating in Italy.

Restaurant Le Chef – This is one of the oldest places in Beirut serving the best of local cuisine. You will find many tourists from regions such as USA and Europe trying out the Lebanese dishes.