Flip through the latest issue of Gulf Weekly.
ONE of Bahrain’s most popular restaurants may have recently undergone an extensive makeover, changed its menu around and retuned its musical offerings on a Thursday evening … but thank heavens for Familiar Friday, fabulous fare, friendly faces and Frankie & Friends.
Upstairs Downstairs Restaurant has undergone a two-month refurbishment to give it a more modern and brighter interior throughout and it really does look fabulous with a gleaming new Zebra Lounge shining on its upper level.
But downstairs remains my favourite haunt with tables placed amidst a picturesque old English street scene with lampposts and arches reminiscent of a walk through the historic and scenic centre of Chester in northern England.
I have unjustly been taking this amazing mainstay of the Adliya dining out scene too much for granted, it’s quite simply, a treasure.
I’m told Thursday night brings in a younger crowd nowadays attracted by Two Blue featuring the soulful vocals of Bahraini Ahmed Al Qassim and Adel Fairooz, on guitar.
The lively Friday brunch crowd, packed with birthday party revellers, are now entertained by Frankie and Friends, the former weekend stalwarts, starring sultry jazz vocalist Christine Gordon, who were also entertaining folk during the evening of this review.
Meeting up with smiling host George Cherian, the restaurant’s general manager, now back in the hotseat, added to the familiar Friday feel of being amongst family and friends in fabulous surroundings.
Could the food possibly match up to the ambience? It did from the very first shared starter the good lady wife Kathryn and I devoured, namely the crab cakes (BD4.200++), delivering that necessary zing to the back of the throat thanks to the Cajun spices.
The smoked Hammour Pâté signature dish (BD4.200++) is now at number one on my list of favourite starters offering a surprising crunch when spread on toast with a serious sprinkle of accompanying pomegranate. Apparently, George once had a serious falling out and parting of the ways with an executive chef over this dish. Thank heavens he won that gourmet battle.
I went for the roast leg of lamb (BD 9.500++) as my main dish, delicious slices of meat in marvellous gravy, and Kathryn’s medium-rare rib-eye steak (BD10.200++) was grilled to perfection.
The festive set menu will be launched in December and we were offered a tasty addition to the fare in the form of Chocolate Rumbles for dessert. It was so new; the price has yet to be decided.
A must for chocoholics, this three-balled, rich sweet with a Caribbean twist comes with a sensational strawberry sauce. It’s enough to make you start singing Christmas carols on the way home.
Upstairs Downstairs is open from 7am to midnight, offering breakfast from 7am to 11am, lunch from 11am to 3pm and dinner from 6pm to midnight. Call the restaurant on 17713093 for reservations and more information.
