EAT STREET

Whether you are hankering for a relaxing meal indoors or indeed longing to dine alfresco, then find your way to lebanese restaurant at Souq Waqif Boutique Hotels by Tivoli’s AL TERRACE where you can unwind on their spacious veranda.

There is a preponderance towards quality over quantity. From a hummus that’s a velvety puree of freshly boiled chickpeas and tahini sauce to a strong offer of cold mezze dishes, there is a early sign that you are eating very good food. The tabouleh was tangy, the fattoush fresh, the babaganoush brilliant, the muhammara marvellous. All as they should be.

The hot mezze also gets a thumbs up. The cheese and spinach fatayer are tasty and unlike some that I’ve eaten lately, it did not taste as if it had sat around for a long time and been reheated.

Ifind this is the best time of year to spend time at the Souq with Ramadan and Eid but the Souq is truly alive throughout the whole year with a bazaar of secrets and a maze of undiscovered treasures. To know the souq expertly is an almost unfulfilled aspiration. But, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t try!

I often used to come off the corniche and approach the souq never quite knowing where it started and ended. For a long time I would never get into it too deeply. Upon one such visit I found myself being allured by the Souq Waqif Boutique Hotels and I discovered one of their amazing restaurants - a real treasure. The Souq Waqif Boutique Hotel has nine separate properties and on the steps of the Al Murqab boutique is the Lebanese themed, Al Terrace restaurant. It’s abundantly obvious why it bears that name. The steps up to the hotel’s entrance forms a terrace which diners can sit on and look out on a small but beautiful enclave of the souq that is slightly hidden away but acts as a thoroughfare for passers by. It’s excellent for people watching but it’s also delightfully tranquil too. There is sometimes some live music going on as you look out from the terrace but the outlook is never boring.

In fact you don’t even have to sit on the terrace as a cute array of tables and chairs with a pop of colour scatter cushions bedecks the cobbled ground in front of the hotel on the street so that you can really enjoy the food al fresco.

Aside from the delightful decor, the food is of a high standard.

The pièce de résistance is the mixed grill and it’s a mountain for one but great for sharing. It’s a combination of lamb kebab, lamb kofta, lamb chops, shish taouk, arayees, eggplant and onion with sumac. The chef chargrills it and lightly spices the meat with herbs. The mixed grill is physically served on the grill still simmering away and oozes in flavour. I’ve had heartier mixed grills but rarely a tastier or more succulent one. The mixed grill is not a must especially if you are alone or just want different things to others. I confess to previously trying the shish taouk on a previous visit and loving that. You can also try meat dishes like the lamb chops just on their own.

One thing that cannot go unmentioned are the prawns. I did not go thinking I would even be eating them that evening but what a revelation they are! The king prawns mashwi are decently sized king prawns that are chargrilled with garlic and lemon juice. Now, this is an absolute must!

The desserts are also excellent - I admonish you to try delve into such beautifully curated delicacies. They seem healthy and not too overpowering. The recipes are pretty simple or at least that is what the chef told us without revealing the magic recipe! The umm ali is reliable, but, my favourite was the ashta bil asal which essentially is Lebanese fresh cream with honey and pistachios.

The setting is gentle and relaxed whilst also being classy and elegant. The staff are attentive, friendly, knowledgeable, but, not in your face or pushy to upsell additional extras. There are many reasons to visit whether to spend the evening gorging on delicious food, for a light lunch or even to get coffee with friends. Their milkshakes were pretty special as I discovered. It’s hard to know where to start (or indeed stop) when you dive into the souq but this is not a bad place to start or to even take a pit stop on your meanderings around this traditional setting.

For more information please contact +974 4433 6666