Where We Are Going Today: ‘Aleppo’ a Syrian restaurant in Riyadh

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Updated 24 September 2023
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Where We Are Going Today: ‘Aleppo’ a Syrian restaurant in Riyadh

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  • Customers will enjoy a variety of flavors on Aleppo’s menu including shishbarak, yabriq, and farika, which are all popular Syrian dishes

Aleppo is a Syrian restaurant located on Prince Mamdouh Bin Abdulaziz Street in Riyadh. This eatery provides a selection of authentic Syrian dishes but with an interesting twist on some of the original recipes.

Aleppo’s historic interiors, ambiance, musical playlist, and paintings by notable Syrian artists hanging on the walls all transport guests to the city of Aleppo, with its historic buildings and ancient passageways. The restaurant has created the perfect recipe for a great time with family and friends, while also satiating the appetite with delectable food.

Customers will enjoy a variety of flavors on Aleppo’s menu including shishbarak, yabriq, and farika, which are all popular Syrian dishes. If you are a fan of kebabs, you will find a variety to choose from, including kabab halabi, popular among regulars, and kabab tahinah, which is mixed with tahina sauce and other spices. Other appetizers on the menu are hummus, tabouleh, and kubbah.

One of their best items is dolma with meat, a specialty in Aleppo. It is cooked with meat unlike the usual way of making dolma where many cook it with olive oil.

The place is a bit small and finding a parking space can be challenging especially early in the evening and during peak hours. Thus, it is recommended to avoid going to the restaurant during those times to save yourself some time, and visit during lunch hours or for a late dinner.

The restaurant opens every day from 12 p.m. until 1 a.m., except on Thursdays and Fridays where they extend the time for one more hour.

 


Where We Are Going Today: Flamingo Room by Tashas restaurant

Where We Are Going Today: Flamingo Room by Tashas restaurant
Updated 07 December 2023
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Where We Are Going Today: Flamingo Room by Tashas restaurant

Where We Are Going Today: Flamingo Room by Tashas restaurant
  • Favorite mocktails include sorbetto al limone, a clean twist on the classic Italian drink sgroppino, and paloma verde, a refreshing and unique interpretation of the timeless Mexican paloma with a citrusy tang and a traditional salt rim

Flamingo Room by Tashas is a fine dining experience at the heart of the Kingdom’s old capital, Diriyah. It offers time-honored recipes with an emphasis on seafood and homemade pasta, and includes the venue’s special mushroom open lasagna, and lobster linguine.

The venue opened in Bujairi Terrace in August and follows in the wake of the success of Flamingo Room by Tashas in Dubai.

The restaurant elevates iconic dishes and invigorates them with a contemporary twist, offering a variety of options to suit all tastes.

Favorites are beef carpaccio, prawn arancini, caesar salad, and bouillabaisse with red snapper, king crab, and lobster, with bread and a special saffron sauce on the side.

Recommended is Mozambique-style calamari which boasts contemporary flair and peri-peri sauce, a signature dish that is perfect for sharing.

The interior of the restaurant is 1970s glam and South African chic with a bright pink and teal color palette, zebra accents, velvet chairs, and hand-embroidered cushions.

For drinks, the Flamingo Room has an exquisite mocktail menu, with a variety of creative and unique recipes.

Favorite mocktails include sorbetto al limone, a clean twist on the classic Italian drink sgroppino, and paloma verde, a refreshing and unique interpretation of the timeless Mexican paloma with a citrusy tang and a traditional salt rim.

For dessert, it is recommended that one ends their dining experience with baked Alaska, which is a dark chocolate ganache with choco-sponge, vanilla semifreddo, caramel, chocolate crisp, and meringue.

The dessert menu offers a range of other options too, including panna cotta, cream puffs, and lemon meringue tart.

The restaurant is on the expensive side, a goat’s cheese salad is priced at SR84 ($22.40) and scallop pasta SR280, but it is worth it, especially if you are booking for a special occasion.

The venue opens from 6 p.m. to midnight from Sunday to Wednesday, and from 1 p.m. to 1 a.m. from Thursday to Saturday.

For more information, visit @flamingoroomksa on Instagram.

 


Emirati restaurant Erth nabs Michelin star in Abu Dhabi  

Emirati restaurant Erth nabs Michelin star in Abu Dhabi  
Updated 07 December 2023
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Emirati restaurant Erth nabs Michelin star in Abu Dhabi  

Emirati restaurant Erth nabs Michelin star in Abu Dhabi  

DUBAI: The second edition of Abu Dhabi’s Michelin Guide was released on Thursday, with one restaurant being awarded a new star.  

Abu Dhabi’s Erth eatery was awarded one Michelin star, making it the first Emirati restaurant to earn a star. The restaurants that retained stars are 99 Sushi Bar, Hakkasan and Talea by Antonio Guida, bringing the city’s total star-holding eateries to four.  

Two new eateries made it to the Bib Gourmand category: Al-Mrzab and Oii. The eateries that retained their Bib Gourmand status are are Otoro, Almayass, Beirut Sur Mer and T’azal. 

The Service Award went to Chandran Thanggaraja at Kopitiam by Chandy’s, the Young Chef Award was awarded to Rigers Cuka at Oii and the Opening of the Year Award was given to James Soo Yong Kim at Les Dangereux.  

There were once again no two or three Michelin Star restaurants, and no restaurants lost stars. 


Where We Are Going Today: IOTA Coffee Shop in Riyadh

To check out their latest offering, visit them on Instagram @iota.sa
To check out their latest offering, visit them on Instagram @iota.sa
Updated 05 December 2023
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Where We Are Going Today: IOTA Coffee Shop in Riyadh

To check out their latest offering, visit them on Instagram @iota.sa

If you see a matcha specialty cafe in Riyadh with a long line of customers, it is most likely IOTA, located on Al-Sail Al-Kabeer street in Al-Ghadir district.

Matcha has replaced coffee as a morning drink for many locals, evident in the increased number of matcha specialty cafes and other outlets including matcha drinks on their menus.

Matcha is believed to be a great substitute for coffee as it contains more caffeine and powerful antioxidants. The matcha powder used at IOTA is premium ceremonial from Japan, handpicked and shaded between three to four weeks.

The famous ice matcha drink there retails at SR24 ($6.40), similar to the price of matcha drinks offered in Starbucks and local cafes in the Kingdom.

IOTA also sells its matcha powder along with the matcha essential kit, including a whisk and bowl.

Their matcha powder can be used to make authentic Japanese matcha tea, mixed in your morning oatmeal or bowl of granola for added benefit, or used in baked goods.

The cafe also offers a variety of cold and hot drinks, which sell at SR8 ($2.13) for a cup of tea, and SR24 ($6.40) for cloudy, a specialty hot coffee drink.

Other popular drinks include their drip hot coffee, iced cloudy, iced espresso and iced latte.

Plant-based milk options are available and include coconut milk, almond milk and soya milk.

IOTA also offers a variety of baked goods — and you never know what you might find there on a visit. Last winter, they served fresh custard and raspberry profiteroles, and beating the heat wave in August, IOTA put affogato to the menu — a shot of espresso added to a scoop of ice cream. They also serve matcha affogato.

IOTA opens daily from 6:30 a.m. to midnight from Sunday to Thursday, and from 7:30 a.m. to midnight on Fridays and Saturdays.

They deliver through the Chefz app.

To check out their latest offerings, visit them on Instagram @iota.sa.

 

 


Where We Are Going Today: Lof Bakery in Alkhobar

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Updated 01 December 2023
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Where We Are Going Today: Lof Bakery in Alkhobar

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  • The bakery offers low-carb options and sandwiches, including a halloumi pesto and a mushroom melt

If you are looking to buy a loaf of freshly-baked, good quality sourdough bread in Alkhobar, head on over to Lof, a brunch spot situated in the middle of the City Walk.

It is believed that the ancient Egyptians were the first to create sourdough bread and in recent years it has become a staple in many households across the Kingdom for its health benefits. The sourdough loaf at Lof is made in-house by a master baker and perfectly sliced so it is ready to eat. While the SR35 ($9) price tag is a bit steep in comparison to loafs of bread at the local supermarket, it is certainly worth the dough.

It is ideal to use as a base for mashed avocados, to spread cheese on or any other topping of choice.

Lof also has an extensive menu that consists of a variety of quiches which go for SR25 each, and egg-lovers will be delighted to know that they will expertly prepare your eggs whichever way you prefer for around SR50. Add-ons are available and the staff are knowledgeable and helpful.

They also have decent coffees and pastries in the display case so you could either indulge at the cafe or take some goodies home to snack on later.

The bakery offers low-carb options and sandwiches, including a halloumi pesto and a mushroom melt.

Lof opens daily from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. from Sunday to Wednesday, from 9 a.m. to midnight from Thursday to Saturday, and from noon until midnight on Fridays.

They also deliver via Jahez or The Chefz apps.

To check out their latest offering, visit them on instagram @Lof.ksa.

 


Where We Are Going Today: Vapiano Italian restaurant in Jeddah

Where We Are Going Today: Vapiano Italian restaurant in Jeddah
Updated 30 November 2023
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Where We Are Going Today: Vapiano Italian restaurant in Jeddah

Where We Are Going Today: Vapiano Italian restaurant in Jeddah

Chefs at the Vapiano Italian restaurant in Jeddah want their culinary creations to be a feast for customers’ eyes.

So much so, that the eatery’s open kitchen concept allows diners to watch them prepare meals.

And as part of the service, restaurant chefs will customize dishes to suit clients’ food preferences.

Located in the city’s Red Sea Mall, guests are given a chip card on arrival that enables them to place orders directly with the chefs.

A choice of salads includes the ceci e melograno featuring roasted sweet potato, roasted cauliflower, chickpeas, kale, baby spinach, pomegranate seeds, and pumpkin. Another option is pumpkin or tomato soup.

Starters include grilled lemon chicken skewers served with rocket and a garlic and herb dip, and creamy burrata cheese accompanied by artichoke pesto, marinated tomatoes, and basil pesto.

For pasta lovers the menu offers classic dishes such as pomodoro — spaghetti coated in a homemade tomato sauce of sun-ripened tomatoes and aromatic basil. The ratatouille combines penne pasta and fresh Mediterranean vegetables tossed in tomato sauce, and pizzas range from BBQ chicken to pepperoni.

Tiramisu, or mascarpone cream and strawberries, make up some of the desserts.

Go on Instagram at @vapianoksa for more details.