Located within the sophisticated and modern setting of Le Gray, Indigo on the Roof boasts a spectacular panorama of the Beirut skyline as well as an abundant selection of Mediterranean specialties. The mood is refined and elegant with visitors dressed in their best as if to complement the stunning scene. But even while the ambiance of Indigo is ultra-sophisticated, there is a warm and homely feeling to the venue.
As soon as I entered into Indigo I felt the familiar warmth of an attractive Mediterranean restaurant – recalling so many years that I spent in Italy. There was at once this sense of gentility and tradition and also that of the importance of modernity and innovation. I was led by a friendly waiter to my candle lit table overlooking the attractive night scene of the city of Beirut below. A gracious sommelier came to introduce himself to assist me with my selection of wines, which he said would change according to the dishes I selected.
I was impressed with the menu. While their were hints of typically Lebanese fare, the select boasted a range of international and innovative dishes. Fresh bread was brought to the table along with a few tasty toppings. For the starters, I selected Grilled Calamari with artichokes, potatoes and preserved lemon dressing which was wonderfully fresh and fragrant; Warm Crottin Goat Cheese with beetroot and green bean salad – delicious, the tangy and slightly more firm consistently of the goat cheese paired well with the sweet taste of the beetroot, and the Pan Seared Scallops, which were an immediate hit and consisted of orange scented creamed leeks and tomato vinaigrette. A big fan of scallops, these were heavenly delectable and magnificently flavored.
For the main course, I opted for a Pan Seared Dover Sole with minted new potatoes and pommery mustard sauce. Given that the menu stated “We are mad about potatoes!”, I thought I’d give Indigo’s version a try and selected a yummy side dish of grilled potatoes with garlic and thyme. Both choices were hearty and comforting.
Throughout each course, my lovely sommelier would come to my table to help me select another wine, and given my preference in fish for this meal, we relied heavily on white.
Dessert came in abundance: the renowned Indigo chocolate assiette for two boasting fondant, tart, mousse pralinée and ice cream. I was in heaven. A sweet dessert wine accompanied my plate and effectively helped to cleanse my palette from such a delicious yet rich meal.
Le Gray’s Indigo on the Roof scores very high on presentation, ambiance and cuisine. While not overly lavish as one might find in many Dubai restaurant, what Indigo does is retained its sense of class, refinement and tradition and this is, simply put, why people keep returning to the venue again and again.
Indigo on the Roof, Le Gray Hotel Beirut, +961 1972000.
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