So we decided to try out Grillia at City Mall.Big mistake!

1. Table was not clean, we stood 15 minutes (timed) for them to clean it.
2. We waited for 10 minutes (timed too) to get the menus.
3. Another 10 minutes to get an ashtray
4. Asked for a “well done” rib eye steak, it was borderline raw. sent it back and waited.
5. Asked for salt. waited 10 minutes (yes ladies and gents, COUNT!)
6. A friend joined us, asked for the menus again. I think the guy went to some different country to get us the menu again.
7. Meat filet, colder than Alaska.
8. Ordered a fruit salad, no fruits, no salad but it still ended up on the bill.
9. 12, yes TWELVE times persons sat on tables and left just because a waiter wouldn’t drop by.
10. Waiters were playing god. nowhere to be found.

I was sitting there with tears in my eyes looking, gazing, drooling over Roadster’s perfect food that was a few meters away. NEVER EVER AGAIN!

and don’t go smart ass on me, all restaurants were full and couldn’t go somewhere else.

This is not the issue here. Anyways, according to Wikipedia :

The origin of the term vuvuzela is disputed but was first used in South Africa from the Zulu language or Nguni dialect meaning to make a vuvu sound (directly translated: vuvu-ing). Controversies over the invention arose in early 2010. South African kaizer chiefs fan Freddie “Saddam” Maake claimed the invention of the vuvuzela by fabricating an aluminium version in 1965 from a bicycle horn and has photographic evidence of himself holding the aluminium vuvuzela in the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s.

Well, ladies and gents, it doesn’t take a lot to really know where the vuvuzela came from, please check the pictures, it explains it all (Thank you Clement!)

“So next time you blow your vuvuzela, remember where it came from!”

What I don’t like about this country is the lack of of REAL lounge clubs/bars. The ones that I know are pseudo lounges, you can kick back and enjoy a few drinks between 8pm and 8:30pm and after that you will hear some kid’s recordings from a computer thump your ears all night out!(it will cost you 40$ to start making music and annoy the crap out of people)

Anyway, I was at Amethyste two weeks ago, I didn’t know what to expect to be honest. I can’t really describe the place better than this picture (Big thank you to @meinlebanon for sharing it with me! you can read about the launching on her blog)

What I like about the place is that it’s not your “modern” lounge, architecture is beautiful, it gives this warm yet relaxing summery feeling, me likey!

Now, what I don’t like about it…we were sitting on a table, a classic table that you find in ANY restaurant. That killed the “lounge” feeling. Next time I am there (yes there is a next time) I’ll make sure I hang out by the pool where it does feel like a full on lounge.

A few suggestions:

• get an new entrance, I don’t wanna go through Phoenicia’s main lobby to get to Amethyste, separate entrance would be more than welcomed (and would get more people in, I am a Wok Wok fiend and some of my friends – new comers – were afraid because it’s in “oooohhh phoenicia”. it’s not the UAE here, people are not accustomed to go through hotels and twists to get to a place).
• Get rid of the tables, it’s a lounge and I like the atmosphere there, I don’t want it as a lounge/restaurant. The way you serve food (which is served beautifully) doesn’t need tables.
• no dishdasha/thawbs in there. Ever. EVER!

Music was your regular chill-out/lounge music, easy on the ears and the nerves. I couldn’t complain, loud enough to hear it, low enough to talk with each other without having to shout. Respect!

Food, presentation is what you expect from Phoenicia. Taste wise, a long debate between a friend and me is still going on (not really) if the salmon tasted good or not. I loved the mini barbecue that they serve on the table, smart, cute, and keeps your meat warm. overall, it’s pretty good.

Drinks another long debate, I loved the cocktails, the amounts are just perfect, the alcohol doesn’t kill you and you won’t feel like you are drinking water. Perfetto! Their signature Mojito is yummy (I know “MeInLebanon” will disagree). Presentation, servings, just the right touch and amount.

Price, It’s not as expensive as one might think (ooooh Phoenicia) but again it’s not “Malek el Taouk”. It’s somewhere in between where it keeps the hormonal 16 years old out but allows us who seek to “chill” something somewhat affordable. Will it be my daily hangout? not really. A weekly hangout? most probably.

As I said before, it’s well worth checking out, friendly staff, premium alcohol that is not that expensive, chilled atmosphere with a twist.

Will leave you with a few pictures from the opening and different shots, if you happen to go there please do share your experience and opinion, they are willing to listen and improve.

Update: Amethyste apparently have a blog. I won’t comment on the design but something needs to be done ASAP. A link to the menus and prices (the way its displayed on the blog is too small, so just to the source!) Nice move from Phoenicia to show that they are not that expensive. Kudos. Just don’t overdo it.

Tomorrow, May 22nd, Pacman will be 30 years old. And this time Google is paying homage to Pacman with a doodle with a twist! Playable doodle! (and NOT in flash +1)

Over 200 levels to play with! (It’s being reported that the game will stay for 48 hours, so hurry up!)

Fact 1: Goodbye sucks.

Fact 2: I had the funniest and most challenging moments in my careers so far.

Fact 3: I am taking a break from the “digital” industry till further notice (some of you are familiar with the “notice” part)

Fact 4: I’ll miss the friends I made.

Fact 5: I am taking my UX skills offline (I am an advertising graduate after all)

Fact 6: Some of you are wondering what and when I’ll move out. It will be online, with pictures. If it ain’t in a picture it didn’t happen, right?

Fact 7: I will continue to post about UX (no matter how scarce it is) this time including some “offline” UX.

Courteously provided by http://behindthefreakblog.blogspot.com/

What is really interesting about it is that it changes according to your query (duh!) making the whole “experience” smoother and better depending on what you are searching for.

In a more simple way:

1st query: Lebanon. You get “everything” along with the ability to filter, images, videos, news, blogs and maps. which makes sense, you are searching for a country after all.

2nd query: On the other hand, when you search for something “too generic” you only get “everything”

3rd query: Ipad. Everything, plus news, images, videos, blogs and most importantly “shopping”.  Smart search folks, excellent user experience, it beats me how competition will try to outsmart Google. Clean, crisp, usable and it’s giving us what we are asking/searching for. It can’t get any better than this.

Google makes me wanna search! and the “something different” is a nice touch! Graphics look more crisp and clean! Yummy page!

Enjoy.