CHIC Eats

The Levantine menu is the brainchild of the well-travelled and uber-creative Chef Ousama Al Akhras, originally from Jordan. The starters are presented not long after the introductions and I thought that they might have doubled our order. However, there was no mistake, and I was most certainly not seeing double. A kaleidoscope of hummus fills the table, boasting endless different, newly imagined taste combinations ranging from sautéed garlic shrimp, sour cherry, broccolini, braised lamb, smoked garlic right through to the tomatopaprika flavour. It is safe to say that this is the best hummus I have ever tried.

They say that the true test of a good Arabic restaurant shines through when the ‘Innabiyeh’ arrives. My Arabic guests dive into the stuffed vine leaves and both are extremely impressed.

The mains arrive along with a few hot meze dishes and I am eager to try the chicken livers, as they are not that common on most menus in Qatar. They are cooked to perfection and the sauce is deliciously comforting. If you think you’ve seen every iteration of an Arabic barbecue imaginable in Qatar by now, think again. From the barbecue selection, one is spoilt with many different varieties of meat combinations originating from all the diverse regions. I am totally blown away by the Syrian halabi kofteh, which is a grilled lamb kofteh cooked in a rich and flavoursome cherry stew. Another pleasant surprise is the Qatari kibbeh, a pescatarian version of the more common kibbeh comprised of red snapper, prawns, calamari and saffron aioli.

There is time for a breather before dessert and while we enjoy the beautiful cool weather on the terrace, we sip on molecular mixologyinspired mocktails. Each one uniquely different and special with much thought and detail in every rendition.

For dessert, we move into the stylish lounge/bar area. Two generous servings selected by our proud chef arrive. The Qatari luqaimat and a chocolate-date pudding which is elegantly presented and billowing with dry ice smoke as the hot chocolate sauce is poured over the cake. A lovely touch of theatrics, which makes this dining experience so special. And best of all, everything tastes just as good as it looks.

As the evening draws to a close, I reflect on the truly memorable experience Levantine has not only impressed us with all the mouthwatering food, but also with the attention to every detail, which makes it well worth a mention and to bank as a fond memory for us all.

Levantine is recommended to anyone who loves food, adventure and is after something a little different and unique. I will most definitely be returning to experience the lovely offerings of Levantine again and of course, to show off to more friends and visitors in the future!

For reservations and more information, please call 5593 8084. @levantinerestaurantqa