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Nestled neatly amidst the bustling Exhibition Avenue shops in Hoora lies a new addition to the kingdom’s eating out scene.
Since the beginning of May, Al Bahar Restaurant and Coffee Shop has been enticing diners from across the island with its delectable blend of Gulf cuisine.
Split into two levels, the restaurant gives visitors the choice of enjoying a casual coffee shop ambiance on the ground floor while the upper level plays host to lunchtime fare and the weekend buffet.
Diners are truly spoilt for choice with the array of Gulf favourites, served up with a hefty helping of Egyptian enthusiasm.
Egyptian owner Fawzy Abdalkader, 53, from Hoora, said: “Although the avenue is full of variety it didn’t offer Egyptian cuisine and seafood and I saw a gap in the market.
“The weekend is our busiest time and I think people keep coming back because of the friendly atmosphere and, of course, the delicious food.”
The restaurant’s name means ‘the sea’ in Arabic and was named for Mr Abdalkader’s love for fresh seafood.
“The name is connected with fish so it signifies what type of food is served, we also serve authentic Egyptian fare but our fish is exceptionally fresh and that’s what I believe makes Al Bahar so special,” he added.
There are different items included in the buffet each weekend and Fridays are unsurprisingly designated to fresh seafood. But, whatever is on the menu, the quality remains consistent. There is an a la cart menu all week long.
After receiving a warm welcome upon arrival I was led upstairs to the large, comfortably informal buffet area. There is enough space to accommodate up to 60 guests at a time and, after sampling the food, I think they will probably need to expand.
Having lived in the Middle East for several years I know my way around Gulf cuisine, even if I occasionally have trouble pronouncing the names of some of the dishes.
The food on offer at Al Bahar does not disappoint and is a great introduction to the flavours of the region for newcomers eager to try some authentic cuisine, as well as a place for old hats like me to enjoy some of their all-time favourites.
Since the restaurant is very much Mr Abdalkader’s baby, there is a staple of Egyptian rice and kebabs on the menu. Other dishes include rice wrapped in vine leaves, chicken biryani, a superb lentil soup and Tahina.
I dove straight in to the Macaroni Béchamel. It is typically made with penne pasta, a layer of cooked spiced meat with onions, and Béchamel or Mornay sauce. It was cooked to perfection.
Next up was the chicken biryani, a colourful classic with a lovely after-taste.
However, my favourite item in the lunchtime buffet was the Bazella, with meat tagine. For the uninitiated, this culinary delight is remarkably similar to Betty’s Hot Pot (a favourite in the Rovers Return on English TV’s Coronation Street). It’s a slow-cooked stew braised at low temperatures, resulting in tender meat with aromatic vegetables and sauce.
It was rich and full of flavour, each mouthful more delicious than the last. What really made the dish come alive was the lamb which was so tender it practically melted in the mouth.
I’ve never met anyone who doesn’t like to round off a good meal with something sweet so when it came to dessert, I was intrigued to see a pastry-looking item topped with cream.
After talking with Mr Abdalkader I found out that these tasty treats are called Warbat, essentially baked phyllo pastry filled with cooked cream ‘Ashtah’ and drizzled with sugar syrup. The taste was to die for and the crumbly texture ... terrific.
The weekend buffet runs 1pm-4pm from Thursday to Saturday and the only thing tastier than the food is the price. Costing just BD2.800 I’d sail back again any day of the week … especially as it’s opposite the GulfWeekly office!
