Flip through the latest issue of Gulf Weekly.
SOMETHING special is sizzling at one of the kingdom’s favourite coffee houses with a mouth- watering new extensive dining menu, some added burger specialties … and the good news for loyal customers is that the breakfast favourites remain available and tasty as always.
New York Coffee (NYC), with outlets in Adliya, Hamala, Riffa and Manama, is currently at the early stages of an extensive redevelopment and expansion programme of investment and the exciting times are matched by the enthusiasm of the team at the sharp end of the business.
The management team is currently analysing customer trends and taking onboard feedback to lock-in on customer favourites that will shape the future of the brand, revealed group marketing manager Usman Ali.
It’s not often that my able deputy Gopal Nambiar and I get the chance to escape the office together but we abandoned ship and headed off from our offices in Hoora for a trek across the island for lunch on Sunday.
The last time I had set foot at The Walk complex I was taking my youngest daughter Imogen to witness celebrity queen Kim Kardashian open a Riffa milkshake outlet amid a throng of excitable fans and heavy security and the cobbled pavements were noticeably quieter this time round.
However, NYC was buzzing with groups of ladies enjoying coffee and cakes and a sprinkling of couples taking a break from work. The venue was only just recovering from a rush of morning workers who had stopped off for one of the famous all-day breakfasts (for the uninitiated, the NYC Club Omelette featuring roast beef, marinated grilled chicken, melted cheese, mix peppers, served with potatoes and sundried tomatoes, plus bread, jam & butter and fruit salad on the side at BD2.800 is a stunning way to start the day).
The other big draws are its American-style pancakes, waffles and crepes … but we were here to sample some of the treats on the main menu which features an array of sandwiches and wraps, burgers, pizzas and pastas, meals and grills, all, it must be noted, at incredibly competitive prices.
The Starters and Nibbles, Soup of the Day and Salads selection is impressive too so we shared the Grilled Mixed Seafood Nicoise Salad (BD4.500) and a platter of four Mini-Burgers (I know, naughty but nice at BD4) so that we could check whether we really were going to ‘enjoy the best burgers in town’. It’s no idle boast; the beef and chicken offerings were meaty masterpieces.
The seafood was prepared satisfactorily too, the grilled salmon was succulent and squid, tuna and prawns perfectly placed alongside the crisp lettuce, beans and roasted red peppers.
For the main course Gopal plucked for another seafood catch and chose the Tangy Spicy Gilled Fish served with rice and vegetables (BD6) and I went for barista Filza Younas’ recommendation of Sizzling Fajita chicken and beef combo (BD6.800) served with Spanish rice and warm tortilla bread, plus sides of guacamole, sour cream and other dips which proved to be dizzyingly delightful.
The man pulling out all the prizes in the kitchen was Chef Nuwan Samarakoon who learned the tricks of the trade in five star hotels back home in Sri Lanka before moving to the Sheraton Bahrain Hotel and on to helping with the launch of NYC’s stylish new operation when it opened its doors two years ago at The Walk.
“I think we have created something healthy, hearty and tasty here and that’s why people keep coming back for more. It’s great to see familiar faces from the first time we opened our doors here regularly returning and also welcoming new customers each day,” said Chef Nuwan.
New York, New York, Gerard Kenny’s classic song which has been delivered by the world’s greatest balladeers over the years, boasts the line ‘So Good They Named It Twice’ – a play on the fact the name of the city and state are both New York.
New York Coffee is now a cafe on the island you can visit twice in a day – for breakfast and lunch! And, as this outlet alongside its Adliya sister, near the main traffic intersection opposite the CID office, and my old haunt at Hamala, near the British School of Bahrain, are now open 24-hours-a-day, you could make it dinner and a midnight snack as well!
I know I shouldn’t, but I spotted Apple Crumble on the menu which means tomorrow there’s no escaping a 5km early morning run … but, honestly, it was worth it and I didn’t hear Gopal complaining after spotting him swiftly tucking into a slice of Pistachio Cake (both priced BD2.200 and worth every dinar and fils).
The value proposition for New York Coffee in Bahrain is that it has its own roasting plant on the island and customers can enjoy a fresh cup of coffee directly from locally-roasted beans.
So popular in the region, NYC currently supplies many hotels, companies, cafes and restaurants in the region. New York Coffee is owned by Mohammed Imran Agha and is part of MIA Holdings, which contains numerous F&B retail brands across the region, among other companies.
Mohammed, I salute you and the team, with a double Espresso. Thank you.
