Restaurants in Middle East
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Abdel Wahab el-Inglizi
Set in a nice old Ottoman house, this place is a favourite with locals for its table-bending buffets. It is a great choice if you're hungry for high quality mezze and are a particular fan of hummus, of which there's numerous varieties - it won't leave you much room for dessert.
reviewed
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Floka Restaurant
Choose from the catch of the day (which normally includes sea bream, silver snapper, grouper and goatfish) and select how you would like it cooked. Service can be a little slow but it’s a friendly, unpretentious establishment. There’s indoor and outdoor seating.
reviewed
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Eibal Coffee
For up-market nuts scooped from wooden drawers, call in at Eibal Coffee. Try the smoked nuts: a kilo of pistachio, cashew and almonds costs JD8 but they are irresistibly moreish. Ask for them to be bagged in 250g bags to avoid them going soft in the humidity.
reviewed
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110 Hamburgers
The best, however, is this place to which Shirazis come like moths to a neon flame (two glowing palm trees). Their version of the shwarma, with meat sliced off a spit and shovelled into a bread roll with healthy bits like tomato and pickle (IR18,000), is good.
reviewed
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Hediard
This Abu Dhabi branch of the elegant French chocolatier and patisserie chain, established in 1854, has proven to be popular with Emiratis - the men love to linger and read the paper over lunch, while the wives like to drop in for coffee and petit fours between shops.
reviewed
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Emporio Armani Caffé
The revolution in Dubai’s mall food offers no better example than this outpost of the Armani empire. The coffee is as smooth as an Italian server, the food is as stylishly presented as the staff, and the Italian flavours so good we wish it had a liquor licence.
reviewed
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Asia Restaurant
A longstanding favourite locally (particularly among Jeddah's expats), the Asia's Thai food is much sought after, particularly the Tom Yum Kum soup and its fish seafood such as deep-fried grouper with tasty chilli sauce. Reserve at weekends - it's packed.
reviewed
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Books@Café
For a slice of coffeehouse chic and good Western food, this restaurant, bar and cafe is hard to beat. Genuine Italian pizzas and pasta are joined by good salads, and hot drinks are enjoyed by plenty of hip young Jordanians lounging on sofas in corners.
reviewed
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Gérard's
As soon as you get a whiff of this sweet, hot and sticky place you'll be hooked. It's all about hot waffles, ice cream, shakes, crêpes, frozen yoghurt and iced coffees. Think Brad Pitt in Thelma and Louise - all bad but, oh, sooo good.
reviewed
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Lebnani Snack
A reliable place for good-value Arabic fast food, such as a cheese and olive sandwich. There's an English menu and good juices too. There are four branches around town, including at Abdoun Circle and a good branch on Ilya Abu Madhi St in Shmeisani.
reviewed
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Marrakesh
If the exotic Moroccan décor and the authentic cuisine, including delicious tajines and couscous, aren't enough to bring you here, there's an excellent Moroccan band and bellydancer. Evenings here are memorable and go late.
reviewed
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Al-Mallah
Dependably sublime chicken and lamb shwarmas. The juicy chicken is loaded with pungent garlic sauce and jammed with pickles; lamb is tender with tons of fresh tomato, parsley, pickles and hummus. Great felafel, too.
reviewed
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Hezardasan
Hezardasan makes a valiant attempt at giving its cellar room that sofrakhane sonati feel, but the overall effect is a little too neat to be memorable. Its delicious qimeh nasar comes mounded into barberry rice.
reviewed
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Al-Shami Restaurant
In a lane between Raghadan and Zahran Sts, the Shami is another cheap place recommended by readers. The menu (printed in English outside) is quite extensive and the air-conditioned dining area upstairs has good views.
reviewed
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The Conservatory
One of the oldest cafés in Manama, this has earned a fine reputation for its excellent teas and homely atmosphere. Step through the door of the town house and it feels like stepping into a secret garden.
reviewed
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LeNôtre Paris
Think chrome and blue-glass in this hip coffee shop that attracts busy professionals and be-seen sushi-eaters alike. If chocolate is your thing, there's plenty of wickedness in the designer desserts.
reviewed
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Afghan Kebab House
Big hunks of meat – lamb, beef, chicken – charred on foot-long skewers come served with rice and bread. That’s it. Think caveman food. Eat with your hands. Tricky to find but locals can direct you.
reviewed
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Bekdach
A purveyor of scrumptious ice creams made with sahlab (like semolina powder). The generous servings of creamy ice cream are topped with crushed pistachio nuts. A souq shopping must.
reviewed
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Al-Balad
This place offers the tastiest, best-value Lebanese mezze in Downtown, and is especially popular with lunching business people. The spicy red hummus, in particular, is well worth a dip.
reviewed
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Formosa Restaurant
For a really excellent Chinese perspective on seafood (and with plenty of meat and vegetable options on the menu too), you couldn’t better this cosy, intimate restaurant.
reviewed
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Automatic Restaurant
This Lebanese eatery is a branch of the successful national chain, and while everything on the menu is good, their tangy shwarmas are some of the most delicious around.
reviewed
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R&B Shawerma
Not your average sliced-meat stand, the shwarmas here come in three sizes - 6, 10 and 12 inches - and come in Chinese, chicken and cheese varieties. The fries are good too.
reviewed
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China Restaurant
The cook at this good place is Chinese and his restaurant has long maintained a high standard, getting numerous repeat visitors. Prices are reasonable.
reviewed
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Syrian Palace Restaurant
As the name implies, this is a good option for Syrian and Jordanian food, including fish dishes. It’s next to the Al-Amer Hotel.
reviewed
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Yum!
Yum! is a good pick for a quick bowl of noodles when you’re wandering along the Creek – and you can be in and out in half an hour.
reviewed