THE GATHERING 📍KFARDEBIAN
The Gathering is one of the first places I visited when I first moved to Lebanon 3 years ago, it is truly one of my favorite restaurants and wineries in the area. Although they changed its name from Massaya to The Gathering, it still has the same concept and you can still enjoy a little tour and even wine tasting.
During summer, the terrace is a perfect place to enjoy the fresh air under the shade of trees and pergolas while enjoying a splendid view of the vineyards, the Roman temple, the valley, Beirut, and the Mediterranean Sea.
During winter, the impressive restaurant is a warm nest of relaxation, authenticity, and simplicity, with a fireplace at eye level and furniture made of wooden barrel staves... and very comfortable sofas.
Their menu is influenced by many visits around the world, and top chefs regularly help them transform local ingredients into new and interesting dishes. So, we tried a couple of plates from the menu. We started off by ordering the Beetroot salad with feta cheese, it was alright, if you are a beetroot lover. The sumac chicken rolls, are a must try! So perfect, so tender and extremely juicy. We also ordered the beef chunks which I personally didn’t like, especially the way the meat was marinated. I definitely would not order this dish again. On the other hand, the beef tenderloin was very juicy and delicious. Both the poivre sauce and the roasted potatoes were great. But they only have this one steak option and no other steak. I interviewed some people there and they told me that their roasted chicken and grilled salmon were also very good.
By the time we decided to order dessert, there wasn't a single dessert left for the day, and it wasn't even dinner time yet. The Service was alright, although they were not that professional with our booking.
One negative aspect of the place is that it gets very busy at lunchtime, and as of this week, it will only be open on Saturdays and Sundays. But my favorite time to visit The Gathering is late lunch around 4pm, when people start to leave.
Overall, I always love coming back to this place, the vibes are really cozy and you don’t feel like leaving at all. It is pet friendly! I highly recommend going there for a date since their setup has very romantic vibes, you can also enjoy lunch with friends and family! For an average of 50$ per person.
🌟Rating:
👥Service 7/10
🍽Food 8/10
✨Atmosphere 8,5/10
💦Cleanliness 7/10
💸Affordable 7/10
💕Overall: 7,8/10