2/5 Salah R. 2 years ago on Google
After
a
nearly
whole
year
hiatus,
Iris
opens
its
doors,
hoping
to
revive
the
energetic
night
vibes
and
chill
sunsets
it's
famous
for.
Sadly,
Iris'
return
underwhelmes
and
looses
some
of
its
charm
in
the
process.
I
called
ahead
and
reserved
a
dinner
table
for
two.
I
explicitly
asked
for
a
table
sitting
and
not
bar
seats.
The
phone
operator
definitely
assuaded
my
concerns,
assuring
me
that
I'll
be
getting
a
table
sitting
as
long
as
I
order
dinner
and
drinks.
Come
the
evening,
they
sat
us
at
the
bar
(to
clarify,
I
was
aiming
for
the
small
high
table
seats,
not
the
big
central
ones).
When
I
addressed
the
issue
with
the
manager
at
the
check-in
desk,
he
proclaims,
and
I
quote:
"Iris
is
no
place
for
couples'
dinings.
And
tables
are
reserved
for
groups
of
4
people
minimum".
His
delivery
of
the
line
was
pretentious
and
needlessly
arrogant.
Anyway,
I'm
the
bigger
man,
so
I
take
the
seats
at
the
bar,
which
aren't
too
bad.
The
bartender
was
very
kind
and
welcoming.
On
to
the
menu.
There
isn't
much
in
terms
of
variety,
prices
are
some
of
the
highest
in
Beirut,
and
the
portions
are
comically
small.
Credit
where
it's
due,
what
was
served
was
good
tasting.
Still,
the
portions
wouldn't
satiate
a
famished
patron.
The
music
was
nice,
and
the
volume
level
was
just
right
and
balanced.
The
scenery
was
beautiful
as
it's
always
been.
All
in
all,
a
somewhat
positive
experience
that's
definitely
a
step
back
from
the
standards
Iris
itself
had
set
in
the
past.
My
advice
is
to
take
the
manager's
advice
to
heart.
Dine
elsewhere,
and
come
enjoy
the
scenery
and
vibes
over
a
couple
of
good
drinks
at
the
bar.
Even
if
you're
well
off,
other
places
have
better
value
at
more
reasonable
prices.
