- ARAB NEWS
- 25 Jul 2025
Since 1975
BEIRUT: “For a restaurant to last 28 years in Lebanon — it’s heroic,” chef Mario Haddad told Arab News recently as he reflected on the industry in a city and country facing several challenges.
Haddad believes he is among those redefining the fine dining scene, as Beirut undergoes a nascent economic revival.
His restaurant, Le Sushi Bar, stands like a sleek, elegant trophy in the heart of downtown.
With the arrival of decorated Japanese chef-in-residence Sayaka Sawaguchi this summer, he believes the restaurant is helping to place Lebanon’s fine dining back on the global stage.
“We decided to have a chef-in-residence because we wanted to celebrate Lebanon coming back to life,” Haddad declared.
For Sawaguchi, integrating into Lebanon — a country shaped by resilience and a distinct warmth — came naturally.
She spent weeks before the residence — between July 9 and 19 — traveling across the country, immersing herself in the intricacies of the country.
“Lebanon taught me the beautiful balance of spices, herbs, and olive oil — just like how Lebanese people live their life every day,” Sawaguchi said.
Despite coming from vastly different worlds, Haddad and Sawaguchi found common ground in their passion for food.
“She fits in like a glove … It’s not easy not having your tools, your kitchen, your ingredients — but her attitude was spot on,” Haddad said.
“The art of feeding each other is definitely our shared passion,” Sawaguchi added.
Haddad has an eye for detail, which appears to be a key element of his restaurant’s success.
Watching him in his element — surveying each dish as it reaches the table, greeting every guest like family, and taking joy in their delight — it becomes clear why Le Sushi Bar has endured through the storm.
“I opened the sushi bar not because I thought it was going to be trendy, but because I just wanted to do something different,” Haddad said.
