How can we be in Q2 already? April was a weird one, and the uncertainty continues into May. Some places are closed, menus reduced, staffing too. But there are still some great meals to be had, and our restaurant friends are working overtime to get us through the doors.
So here are some places I have been loving over the past couple of months and keep going back to.
Indian Flavors
Indian Flavors in Tawar Mall boasts its cuisine was “once cooked for emperors” and frankly I’m ready for the royal treatment. The menu is heavily focused on Mughlai cuisine, a rich, aromatic culinary style developed in India by the Mughal Empire, fusing Central Asian and Persian influences with local Indian spices. It’s famous for slow-cooking techniques and tandoor cooking, marinating meat in yogurt, and making rich, cashew-based sauces. It encompasses the cities now known as Kolkata and Bengaluru – both with excellent food traditions.
Shahi Murgh Musallam (QR120), a whole chicken marinated in a ginger-garlic paste, stuffed with boiled eggs, keema and seasoned with saffron, cinnamon, cloves, poppy seeds, cardamom and chilli. It’s a spectacular dish, carved at the table, the flavors layered and rich but not overwhelming.
Gosht rezala (QR55) aromatic Bengali white curry is a silky yogurt-based gravy and delicate spices. It is a staple of Kolkata cuisine, and this take is slightly tangy, but not very spicy, offering a smooth, luxurious texture.
There are also more familiar dishes – their grilled kebabs (QR199) are juicy and the charring spot on. The potato stuffed Punjabi style samosa are giant, served as an imposing duo, with all expected spices and sauces. There is also, of course, a well executed butter chicken (QR48), a little on the sweet side, a but also savory. And don’t skip the luxurious gosht ki biryani, arriving bone in, the meat soft, falling off the bone into the layered spiced rice (QR58). The architectural “Volcano” chaat, a riot of tangy flavors and yes, it looks like a (very tall) volcano.
Don’t skip the breads – I love an Indian flatbread and these do not disappoint like the stuffed soft kulcha (QR12).
Loaded Spud and Pizza Cone
A new concept hailing from South Africa, Loaded’s star of the show is, the potato. Their hand cut fries are excellent. These accompanied two dishes I tried, including the “Slap Chip” . Slap chips are a South African, comfort-food classic – thick-cut fries known for being soft, soggy, and tangy rather than crispy. They are made by cooking potatoes in low-temperature oil, or starting them in cold oil, followed by a generous dousing of white vinegar and salt, often creating a “steaming” effect in their packaging. The carby Chicken Vienna Parcel (QR35) came with a generous mix of juicy chicken sausage and spicy sauce an yeah, it’s not pretty but it didn’t last long in my house.
The chips (not slapped) also came with a rather excellent pepper steak pie (QR36), all crumbly short crust pastry, the beef slow cooked in a robust gravy. Certainly among the best pies I have had in Doha lately and will certainly have a few in the market scurrying.
South African comfort food it seems is a hearty blend of indigenous, Dutch, Malay, and Indian influences, and all these flavors are on display. The concept is actually loaded baked “spuds” and pizza cones. I eschewed the pizza variation for a gigantic Mexican baked potato, “loaded” with beef mince, guacamole and various fixings. I need to know where they source these colossal spuds. The mix of flavors is tangy, and spicy, aided and abetted by a white cheese. Other menu items include jaffles (like toasted sandwiches), various kinds of filled “spuds”, burgers, and weekly specials including bunny chow.
The Croffle Burger at The Ned Doha
The Ned Doha’s Croffle Burger is not for the faint hearted but it’s excellent. I’m going to claim some responsibility for this. The suggestion for the Croffle Burger came up when I was having a conversation with The Ned Doha team a few weeks ago. I was taken with their new sweet croissant/waffle hybrid at Millies and mused it would make a great burger (or a sandwich). A few weeks later, and here it is on the menu at the Electric Diner.
And, wow, the culinary team have outdone themselves. The “croffle” part comes from freshly made croissants “toasted” in a waffle maker. The rest is the makings of their excellent Electric Burger – a spicy sauce, two quality beef slightly smashed patties with the right amount of char, pickles, onions and of course, cheese.
At QR120 – it comes with cajun fries and coleslaw.
Business Lunch at Zengo Doha
It’s been a while between visits for me to Zengo, and I am always struck by it’s stunning room and views across the city. We visited on a clear and warn weekday, lured by their QR99 business lunch. I am a business lady but I rarely have time for a business lunch, given I’m usually scurrying around the city.
but the Zengo business lunch runs to a leisurely 4pm and offers three alluring courses. Each course has three options. This includes their execellent salmon maki roll, a papaya salad and chicken karaage for starters. I was pleased to see their excellent green curry chicken still on the menu, alongside a Mongolian beef and miso glaze salmon.
Desserts include a lush sticky toffee pudding and a matcha cheesecake. I appreciate Zengo also includes one drink (soft drink or water) with their lunch offering, making it one of the most solid in town right now.
Oodles Wok
Hear me out, Oodles Wok, this almost takeaway only spot has one o the better “spice bags” in Doha right now. OK, it doesn’t have a curry sauce, but their spicy chips with chicken is close enough.
The rest of the menu splits into “saucy” and “dry dishes”, harking back to the “Indian Chinese” tradition in the UK. And I’m not made about it, because when they say saucy, it’s saucy, and a little spicy. There are also noodles, snacks like spring rolls and more on the compact menu.
Last Batch Concept Kitchen in Mashaf Crossing
It may surprise you that I spend a lot of time in Al Wakra. It’s not far from me, I pretend to be a pilates girlie at a studio there and, then there is Mashaf Crossings. This is one of the new breed of “outdoor mall” in Qatar, a strip mall almost. Community based, cafes, gyms (and said pilates).
Newly opened at this venue is Last Batch, one of my favorite speciality coffee shops in Doha. Considered, well made brews, engaging staff and at this location, a concept kitchen with dishes to try. Yes, it’s mobbed right now, but worth leaving the Doha bubble to check out this cool place.
And there we are…my recommendations for some tasty eats in Qatar this May.
While you are here…
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Please note:
While I pay for a large portion of my experiences that I write about, I am sometimes provided meals and other experiences free of charge or at a reduced rate. However, I make it clear that I am under no obligation to give a positive review.