CHIC Eats

Many restaurants claim to be inspired by different cuisines, however, finding a place that mixes them with mastery is a rare gem, and My Cafe is undoubtedly one of them. We visited the Riffa branch (with a slightly different menu from the Adliya location), which opened about eight months ago, to explore the extensive menu orchestrated by Chef Konstantinos Bouklis. Everything about this eatery exudes beauty and funkiness, from the carefully arranged outdoor seating area to the modern and tastefully decorated indoor dining space. As soon as you enter, a massive white giraffe greets you with a delicate crystal chandelier in its mouth – an artful piece that will put a smile on your face. We then took the elevator and went to the upstairs area. Right in front of us, a massive tree emerged and, on the left side, there was a semi-private area with a large table that looked like someone’s dining room. The wall had shelves with eye-catching art pieces and low chandeliers made with natural materials giving the ambience an intimate vibe. After exploring the space and soaking in its beautiful details, it was time to please our palates. The first item we tried was the Pizza al Tegamino, made with tomato sauce, cherry tomato confit, parmesan, basil, fried egg and beef bacon. In my opinion, pizza dough needs to have a crunch to it and hold the toppings well; this one didn’t disappoint – it was just perfect! You might find it uncommon to have a fried egg and beef bacon on top of a pizza, but this is where My Cafe stands out; everything is done to taste its best, and the recipes have an out-of-the-box approach. If you are looking for dishes that will challenge your senses and play with your taste buds, visiting My Cafe will take you there.

The menu is broad, and there is something to please literally everyone. But even simple dishes come with an out-of-the-ordinary element. The Crunchy Chicken Waffle, a staple breakfast in the United States, was a combination of pan-fried buttermilk chicken with maple butter and coriander sitting in one of the best waffles I have ever had in my life. The waffle was crispy on the outside and soft inside, with the right touch of sweetness. The Spinach Feteer had a light and flaky dough with the right ratio of spinach, cheese and olives. The Chicken Tikka Ravioli was probably the best example of fusion done right. The small pockets of fried ravioli dough were filled with well-seasoned chicken and curry sauce accompanied by mint yoghurt. The crunchy dumpling was an explosion of taste in our mouths and a gift to our taste buds.

Chef Konstantinos told us that they constantly add to and change the menu, but some dishes are untouchable, and the reason is not to upset regular customers – I love that! One of these dishes is the Date Salad made with rocket leaves, feta cheese, blanched almonds, caramelised dates and orange blossom vinaigrette. I believe it thrives for its beautiful balance of ingredients.

It’s important to highlight that everything cooked in the My Cafe kitchen is homemade, from the pasta dough to the pastrami, using the freshest ingredients in the market. Chef Konstantinos is also very proud of what his culinary team can accomplish by upholding high standards and quality while offering such a varied menu.