First, i wanna wish all our Muslim readers a happy Ramadan.
Second, i always had the impression Muslims liked to go out and have Iftars in restaurants and all during Ramadan, but then i started realizing they’d rather have their Iftars home with their families and all. I am not sure for what reason they prefer home-made Iftars, but i will take a wild guess and say Iftars in restaurants really suck!
I’ve been invited in the past few years to many Iftars and some in really good restaurants and the food is just less tastier than the usual and very average and dry. For example, i’ve had an Iftar in Phoenicia two years back, food was average and i barely had any time to finish it before the waiter took away my plate. Another Iftar i had was in La Plage in Ain el Mraisse. Food was average and the combination of dishes was prone to turning someone sick for a week. Hommos and Fattoush and Soup and then Kebbe bi Labniyye as a main dish.
Sweets are also not that good, starting with Kellej and that weird baklawa lookalike that they do in Ramadan (I forgot its name).
Honestly, if i were fasting for 8 hours, i would expect a much much better food quality than the one i’ve seen being offered in Lebanese restaurants.
Yes that’s one of the reasons we like to have iftar at home. Another one is that at home you feel more comfortable to sit and take a long time eating. Also some people like to eat a little, and then pray Maghrib and then come back and finish their iftar, which doesn’t work well in a restaurant.
Yes, iftar menu at any restaurant in Lebanon just sucks big time! That’s one of the reason that makes us prefer to have our iftar at home.
In addition, the family gathering at home is what really makes an iftar much more enjoyable than having it at any fancy restaurant.
8 hrs? it’s more 15+ hrs
The reason most people prefer Futoor at home is because of the family gatherings. The families get together which is what makes it pleasant.
For example, I always prefer Christmas eve at home rather than at a restaurant even if in both cases the family will be together.
N.
They do sleep you know.
Najib
simple Question: do u prefer to spend Christmas eve at home with family and friends or in a restaurant?
For Muslim Ramadan is like Christmas eve.
another issue lot of people spend the night praying in Christmas. right? But also you see some do wrong things so Ramadan is not about sleeping all day and not if you get angry you say i am fasting. Do not Fast if you are going to make all around you feel pity or make it a big deal to god. Ramadan time is like a 30 day of cleaning your soul and it is not allowed also to have any kind of drink before 40 days of Ramadan.
and as a Professional Restaurateur, i can assure you that lot of restaurant offer you during New year and Ramadan what they want to get rid of it.
The Baklawa look alike is called: Sh3aybiyet 😉
another issue is Ramadan is not about going to cafe and place that will have belly dancers and singers, Holy Month doesnt go with Belly dancer.
Kheir Seifeddine,
Christmas eve is one night. Ramadan is a whole month + the Fitr. You can’t compare both.
During Easter, there are many times where we go out and have lunch in places (Fish or something) and sometimes we stay home and eat.
As far as quality of food is concerned, no one goes out for dinner in Christmas or very few people, but Iftars are everywhere.
As for the sweets, yep its sh3aybiyet thanks!
Kheir Seifeddine,
May i ask in which restaurant u work? or do u have ur own business or something?
I went to my first Iftar the other night at Leila’s in ABC..and the food was excellent! Perhaps you should try a more traditional restaurant rather than going to places like Phoenicia and La Plage..I remember my friends saying that they prefer Iftar at home because the food is often better, they get to take their time, and the experience is much more intimate. I hope to go to a few more Iftars before Ramadan is over!
Najib,
Thanks for the responce. Try to think out of the box, consider Christmas will stay for 30 days let’s say 😉 yeh i know Iftar everywhere but not like home. you know the feeling, the family and all the small extras that you will not get in a restaurant.
I am currently outside Lebanon. i use to work in Johnny Rockets as Regional Marketing Manager and my contract ended, so i am thinking to return back to rest and see what’s new in Lebanon, maybe i will find myself a job or i will return to one of GCC countries.