Babel Bahr - Tripoli

Of all the things I was excited to eat in Lebanon, fresh seafood was high on my list. Following a visit to Jbeil, my family and I decided to try out Babel Bahr, excited both by its excellent reputation and setting right by the water. When we arrived at Babel, the restaurant was relatively empty, although I chalk this down mostly to our time of arrival, as 6pm is not quite lunch or dinner. The space itself is impressive, with the entrance in one building and connected to the dining room by an underground, stone covered tunnel. Despite the slight breeze and winter weather we opted to sit outside, tempted by the sound of waves and the glimmer of lights across the bay (although it wasn’t too lit up given Lebanon’s current situation). For the mezze portion of the meal we opted for the classics, and were then brought to a tantalizing selection of fresh seafood. We selected only Lebanese fish, a larger one for grilling purposes and a variety of smaller fish to be fried. The mezze arrived promptly and we dug into an excellent spread of salads and dips. Both the fattoush and taboule were excellent, with fresh tasty vegetables and a generous addition of herbs. I was particularly a fan of the fattoush, with its hint of pomegranate molasses throughout. The only letdown was a platter of calamari good enough but not particularly great, especially for a seafood restaurant of Babel’s reputation. Unfortunately, the letdown we experienced with the calamari continued with the subsequent fish dishes. Neither the fried nor grilled fish were bad by any means, but they were equally unexceptional. A grilled seabream may have been overcooked, less flaky than expected, and on the drier side. The fried fish was better, but the oil had an aftertaste that may be reflective of overuse. Perhaps it was accentuated following the mezze, but my expectations for the fish were considerably higher. At this point in the meal, it felt like the breeze had gotten stronger, so we decided to shift inside for dessert. The restaurant really is impressive, and I imagine visiting in the day, with a view of the sea would add to the experience. We were brought a tray of fruits and two different kinds of Lebanese desserts. I would say the dessert was the most disappointing part of the meal, and considerably less impressive than the mezze we started with. Overall, Babel’s setting and mezze were fantastic but we were let down by the fish and the desserts course. Whilst I wouldn’t rule out a subsequent visit, my expectations given the restaurant’s reputation were undoubtedly higher.

Amazing experience, best seafood in the town. Prices here are worth the place. First of all perfect welcome, then perfect service and perfect food regarding the quantity and the quality.

A high end sea food restaurant. Beautiful decor and location (Sunset by the sea). Very tasty food. Excellent service.

The Restaurant is so beautifully decorated and so clean. The view is breathtaking! The food is so fresh and delicious with a wide variety and the price is very reasonable. The staff is very welcoming and the service is excellent

The only 5 star i would give that the fish was fresh and the service was very good. Everything else was less than standard, fish wasn't cooked properly. Over cooked. Grilled fish served cold.. Super over priced for Lebanon I went to restaurants in Batroon that was much much much tastier and one third of the price.