Maki

Maki is one of the few restaurants that is located in the World Trade Center. A great Japanese outlet in one of the most luxurious locations in Bahrain. Parking is very convenient as you can park in the parking building if the spaces in front of the restaurant were full. And if you're shopping at Moda Mall, It feels great to end your shopping trip with sushi. 

The decoration is simple yet artistic. There is nothing around that can distract you from admiring the colorful salads and makis on your table. I just wish that they use the screens hanging all around the place to play something other than the ad that keeps on repeating. Although i went once and a football match was on which was a great move. The selection of music can be improved too. But the atmosphere is enjoyable overall especially when the place is full. 

The food is absolutely delicious although some people don't like how mayonaise is highly used. The best salad is the Edemame Salad. It has a very unique taste and presented in a lovely way. Chef Special Salad and Crispy Salad are also a good choice. Beef rolls with green onion is a must. Kappazume, stuffed rolls of cucumbers, is also delicious and different. As for Maki: Issa 2, Yara, Tara 2 (if you like raw salmon and tuna). It is always fun to try your luck and discover a new kind of Maki there. Going through the long menu is hectic but can result in a new discovery. Another recommendation is Yaki Soba (noodles with chicken) which is a great option if you don't feel like having Maki. 

What makes Maki special is how the Makis are given some local names. As far as i know, you can pay an amount of money to propose a new kind of Maki which will be called after you. Which is quite interesting. The service is very good and i like how warm and welcoming the staff are especially on the phone. Price wise it's more expensive than other Japanese restaurants in town but worth a visit every now and then. 

Published on Daily Tribune 21- Oct- 2012

Blaze Burgers

It's astonishing how Blaze Burgers suddenly became the place to be in Bahrain. It proved wrong the idea that local businesses can't compete with franchises. Blaze Burgers became the number one burger joint in Bahrain not just because of the great quality of food but also because of the casual and fun atmosphere that you don't find easily around Bahrain. 

I love how Blaze Burgers is hidden between all the high-end restaurants in Adliya. You can park your car anywhere around the area and enjoy the walk or you can park right infront of it. Finding a car park in that area is a part of the fun adventure. 

My first experience with Blaze Burgers was the Blaze Signature which comes with cheese inside the beef. I found that too heavy. Then i tried the Gourmet Classic which i also found too big and wasn't able to finish it. The third trial was when i got addicted and became a huge fan of Blaze Burgers. It was the Old School. It's smaller in size and tastes lighter and yummier than the first two. Double Old School is the other option if you're starving. My favourite topping is West Coast. It's very light and doesn't steal the taste of the burger like the Blaze Original topping does. And you can always go for the Mini Burgers if you feel like eating light. Hand Cut Fries is a perfect complimentary to the burger although some people prefer chips. Cheddar Mozzarella Sticks are also delicious. As for drinks, the unique drinks served at Blaze Burgers make it very hard to choose. The Crazy Vimto is a great option. And if your tummy can handle a shake as a drink go for the Tiramisu shake or else have the Extreme Chocolate Malt once you're done with your burger. 

Having the burger there is a whole different experience than take away. It's very relaxing to sit on the bar chair and stare at the huge window over looking Adliya allies or just watching the TV on the other side. The place is always busy with people from different ages but mostly youngsters. Staff are friendly and you have to wait for a while to get your burger and pay a higher amount than what you usually pay in other casual burger joints. But it's worth it. If you haven't been there yet you're missing a lot. 

Published on Daily Tribune 14 Sep 2012 

Hong Kong Restaurant

Since we were young and Hong Kong Restaurant is our favourite Chinese restaurant in town. We all have great memories with families and friends throughout the 90's, 2000's and till today. Some people believe that the quality of food changed with time, but i'm still addicted to it and i still can't resist it whether it was served in a party or for take out at home or once i go dine there every other while. I thought that i'll change my mind about it once i travel to Hong Kong and try their real cuisine, and although i fell in love with the local cuisine there, Hong Kong restaurant is still one of my top Chinese restaurants not only in Bahrain but even when i compare it to other Chinese restaurants around the world.

Practical location in Um alHassam and parking is not that hard even though the area is always packed. Hong Kong is always busy with locals and people from different nationalities all around the week. I prefer making reservations to avoid the wait. The rooms upstairs are excellent for big groups. It's amazing how they managed to balance between renewing the place and maintaining it's identity that being there still feels the same. The mirrors all around the place add space to the eye and the green table covers give the place the Chinese vibe. 

Chicken Corn Soup, Fried Wanton and Steamed Dumplings are the top three starters. The soup is thick and tastes exactly like chicken corn should taste like. The wanton is addictive and once you start with one you won't be able to stop. It's crispy from the outside and tender from the inside. The dumplings are to die for, so soft that i feel it melting in my mouth. For main dish, Chili Beef is the highlight. I order it with less chilly to be able to enjoy the taste of the rich sauce. Chicken Cashew Nut and Prawn Balls are the best from the chicken/prawn menu. Vegetable Fried Rice is a perfect companion to the previous three dishes and if you're too hungry order Vegetable Noodles too. End your meal with a cup of Green Tea to digest.

Hong Kong restaurant is a great reminder that restaurants can be simple yet great. It's one of the places i recommend for tourists and it's always my answer when people ask me: "What is your favourite restaurant?". Staff are very friendly and the service is excellent. It's a flexible place that you can go to for lunch or dinner, for a casual meal or a celebration. It's simply perfect. 

Daily Tribune 7 Sep 2012 

Nirvana

Walking into Riltz Carlton and passing between the beautiful bakery and the cozy lobby, taking left will lead you to Nirvana, the most luxurious Indian restaurant in town. The decoration and interior are grand and gorgeous that it makes you feel that you're dining in an Indian palace. Although the size of the place is quite small, you don't feel it as the seating arrangement comes in different types which makes the place look bigger. 

It doesn't make a difference if you visit Nirvana for lunch or dinner because there are no windows that connect you to the outside world. Which is totally acceptable and suitable for such place and you can get your fix of sunlight once you're done in the bright Ritz lobby. 

Our meal consisted of the typical Indian dishes that people usually order in Indian restaurants: Ghosht Biryani, was delicious and rich with herbs. We expected the Chicken Makani to be as grand as the place, but it wasn't. It was very average. My favourite dish was Aalo Geera (potatoes), it tasted really good. The Dal Makani was quite good too but not one of the best we tried. Pakora is a fun dish to start with (deep fried potatoes, eggplants, cauliflowers dipped in batter of gram flour).  It was a grand meal. You can tell the difference between a grand meal and a cheap one once you're done. We felt light and we weren't bloated. 

The table wear, especially the glasses were gorgeous. I'm sure that the first thing that your eyes will notice on the table are those beautiful glasses that are used for water. The service was good and because of the size of the place it was very easy to reach the waiters. But the staff weren't smiling or making extra effort to be friendly. They were too serious. One thing that we didn't find pleasing too is that they called us twice the day before to double check if we'll be there which was a bit annoying. 

Nirvana is perfect for quiet family dinners. If you're a fan of the historical Indian movies like Juda Akbar, have a meal there to get a hint of that grand atmosphere.

Published on Daily Tribune 31 August 2012

Cafe Italia - Adliya

In one of the best locations in Bahrain, Cafe Italia's modern building stands out between all the restaurants in the back side of Adliya. Getting there is always easy once you access the area directly through Sh. Isa Avenue. The few parking spaces infront of it was never a problem as vallet parking service is available.  Out of three branches in Bahrain, this Adliya branch is the luxurious/high end one and it's considered one of the most prestigious Italian restaurants in town. 

What makes the place beautiful during the day is the sunlight that brightens up the dining area through huge windows that overlooks a beautiful garden. The atmosphere is also nice at night. Not too vibrant and not too quiet at the same time which makes it a perfect place for family and business outings. The dining area is spacious which allows the tables to spread comfortably around it and creates a breathable ambience. 

The food is fairly good but not extraordinary. The complimentary bread that is served when you first get seated is limited to two kinds only and the tapenade is quite disappointing. Tomato soup is rich and tasty and a good option to start with. For main dish, the Chicken Breast is perfectly cooked and grand in taste that i enjoyed every bite of it and i would definitely order it again. Being a huge fan of penne pasta with white sauce & chicken, i order it in every Italian restaurant i visit. And what i loved about Cafe Italia is that it was right there in the menu and i didn't have to request it like i usually do. But it was average. The sauce wasn't too thick and cheesy, which is good, but it lacked taste at the same time and the chicken in it was a bit hard. As for dessert, the chocolate fondue and mango sorbet are very good and enjoyable. The fruit platter that was once serves in a set menu was well selected for summer. 

Staff are friendly and the service is good. But it gets quite slow when the place is busy. One of the dishes was cold and we returned it to be heated. And they didn't collect our plates after we were done with main course for half an hour and we had to call the waiter to collect them. But fairly speaking, the service is excellent when the place is not busy. 

Time spent at Cafe Italia is always enjoyable especially when you're looking for a quiet place to spend some quality time with family and friends. Lunch time is recommended. 

Published on Daily Tribune 24 August 2012