Memories Asian Cuisine

Overview:
Memories opened up recently on the third floor of Bahrain's City Center complex. The restaurant's menu consists of dishes originating from countries all over Asia. With there already being an Asian restaurant on the same floor just several meters away, I decided to give it a try to see if it can hold up against its competitor, Thai Chi.

Service:
I must say, Memories's service was pleasantly surprising. The appetizers arrived after a mere 5 minutes from ordering. The main course arrived 15 minutes after that - overall, 20 minutes for everything to arrive. This is an acceptable and above-average time, as we ordered 2 appetizers, 4 orders of rice, and 3 main courses. The waiter had a vast knowledge of the dishes on the menu and would give us advice according to what we were looking for. Another waiter even asked us if we needed anything half-way into our meal, something restaurants tend to neglect nowadays. Another employee, which I am guessing is the manager, asked us how the meal could be improved after we were finished. This implies that the restaurant is not too lazy to progress, which is a good sign. Memories is well on its way to earn its well-deserved 5 in service.
4.5/5

Presentation:
When the food arrived, I noticed that someone put some time into its visual appeal. The appetizers were placed in a cushion of fried rice noodles, festooned with carrot shreds on the side. In fact the food looked so aesthetically appealing that it looks like it was taken straight out of the pictures in the menu (if the menu had pictures). The main courses were also ornamented in a similar manner. One comment I would like to add is that the food didn't come steaming hot. It was warm, yes. But, whatever happened to the waiters rushing over to the table with piping hot entrees who's steam waft into one's nostrils and excites the salivary glands? It seems as if this image only appears in my fantasies, and can never be a reality.
4/5

Atmosphere:
Pretty much all of City Center's restaurants stumble in this category. It seems as if the fusion atmosphere is prevailing nowadays. Unfortunately, this is not good in my opinion. With practically every new restaurant bearing a modern decor, nothing is left to distinguish the Asian restaurants from - say - the Italian ones. In fact, the Cafe Italia next door sported a very similar ambiance. I like to feel in Asia when I am dining in an Asian restaurant, and likewise in Italy when I am eating at an Italian restaurant. It seems this style is dying nowadays and almost every restaurant is starting to sport these black/white curvy chairs and funky designs on the walls. Perhaps it's just a matter of taste...what do you think?
3/5

Food:
The appetizers were very light and enjoyable, getting my taste buds ready for the main course. The wontons and spring rolls were fried to perfection; they were not doused in oil - quite the opposite. The Szechuan Chicken was complemented with some oriental vegetables such as capsicum, carrots, and chili peppers. What throws this food's score off is the fact that the food contains a very strong sauce. The dominant flavor the sauce holds covered up the taste of the meat and vegetables. Soon, the sweet chili sauce was all I could taste. I even began tasting it in the other dishes. The food is exquisite, just one piece of advice: use less of the sweet chili sauce. Other than that, the food was very light, but not light enough to have you leaving on an empty stomach.
4/5

Pricing:
Expect to pay about 6 BD per person. The portions were relatively small compared to the other restaurants that I have reviewed. I don't see the justification of a 4 BD appetizer platter that only contains a handful of nibbles. The main courses also seemed small, but this is perhaps due to the large plates that the food was served on. The rice portions were larger than what I anticipated. They are roughly double the size of the portions at Hong Kong. Overall, the pricing is satisfactory.
3/5

Overall: 18.5/25
Think I was harsh? generous? Let me know with a comment below!

Reviewer: Yousif Al-Said

Kenny Roger's Roaster

I apologize beforehand for the extremely long sections. I just had a lot to comment on this time.

Overview:

Being one of the only American-style roasters in Bahrain, it didn’t take long for Kenny Roger’s to grow in popularity. After its growing success in Sanad, Kenny Roger’s opened up a branch in Adhari Park. With the popularity increasing and the advertisements plastered everywhere, we decided to try it out.

Service:

When we entered, we were unsure of what to expect. We came at an odd hour, somewhere between lunch and dinner. For some strange reason, the waiter was so eager to get us to sit upstairs. He argued that the view there is “nicer”. He insisted on moving us even after we were comfortably seated at a table on the bottom floor. We followed his directions not knowing what the commotion was all about. The view turned out to be just an ordinary view of the highway, nothing spectacular. I question the waiter’s true motives for moving us. Oddities aside, it took the food about 25 minutes to arrive, an acceptable time, but not an excellent one. As far as I saw, there was only one waiter. Perhaps this is due to the odd work shift that does not require many employees. This was not impressive. More employees are needed. What if there was an unexpected barrage of customers that the few employees would not be able to handle? Perhaps there were more workers stowed away in the deep underbellies of the restaurant that I am unaware of. I will give Kenny Roger’s the benefit of the doubt.

2.5/5

Presentation:

When I first ate at Kenny Roger’s on one of my trips to Malaysia, the food came straight out of the broiler, piping hot. The overpowering aroma of the chicken would envelope the table. I am sad to say this experience was nothing like the one in Malaysia. In fact, it was almost the opposite. The food was barely warm and hardly gave off an enticing smell. The bolognaise sauce in my colleague’s spaghetti was extremely diluted, having a water-like texture. Well..at least the rice looked like what it’s supposed to…

2/5

Atmosphere:

Let’s put it this way: if you were blindfolded, taken to the inside of Kenny Roger’s, and asked to state what kind of restaurant you’re in after the blindfold is taken off, you would fail miserably in answering correctly. Well, the pictures of Kenny Roger plastered on the walls would give it away; I am referring to the red modern décor that has no relevance to the type of food served at the restaurant. Perhaps a Chili’s or a TGI Friday’s ambiance would have been more appropriate. Moreover, one would expect some country music playing in the background, specifically Kenny Roger’s music. Once again, Kenny Roger’s Roaster fails to impress. The extremely loud air conditioner was all that could be heard. We were all the way on the other side of the room and the air conditioner’s noise was still irritating. It’s one thing to ignore playing appropriate music, but it’s another thing entirely to overlook the fact that your customers are constantly being bombarded with an aggravating noise. If you’re not going to play music, you should at least ensure that the restaurant is quiet and peaceful.

2/5

Food:

As I mentioned earlier, my colleague’s spaghetti bolognaise was smothered in a much diluted sauce. He reported that the taste of the spaghetti was not impressive and that he tasted better at the school cafeteria. I ordered the roast chicken, a dish the restaurant is well-known for. To my surprise, it tasted nothing like the one at the Malaysian branch. The other branch allows you to choose the sauce that the chicken is cooked in – not this one. The chicken itself tasted very dry and stale. I was really upset. The side dishes that came with the chicken were satisfactory; however, when compared to the horrendous dishes that we were served, they seemed fit for kings. The chicken meal also came with a muffin, which was the peak of excellence in this ghastly ordeal. The restaurant makes these muffins fresh. I recommend the muffins. I don’t know if it was because of the below-average food I was served, but the muffin I was served tasted heavenly.

2.5/5

Pricing:

Expect to pay about BD5-6 per person. That should cover a meal, a drink, and a muffin or two. I must say, the price does not justify what I got. I would be more satisfied with a KFC meal at a cheaper price.

3/5

OVERALL: 12/25

Think I was harsh? Let me know what you think in the comments below!

- Yousif Al-Said

Cafe Italia (Seef)

Overview:

Cafe Italia is (as you've probably already guessed) an Italian restaurant situated in Seef Mall. This long-standing restaurant is quite reputable throughout Bahrain. It is loved by many, but disliked by some. The restaurant offers several authentic Italian dishes such as oven-baked pizzas.

Service:

The first thing you'll notice after ordering your meal at Cafe Italia is their speed. Your meal will arrive very soon after you order it (within 10 minutes), and don't worry about it being sloppy; it won't. However, note that some dishes such as the pizzas will require more time. Regular meals such as salads and pastas will arrive within said time frame. The staff at Cafe Italia aren't too special, but they'll get the job done, and I can't say that I have any complaints about them.

4.5/5

Presentation:

Cafe Italia is a restaurant that I've personally frequented several times myself, and I can earnestly say that I'm surprised by how consistently appealing the food always looks and smells. This is definitely one of those restaurants where what you get actually looks the same - if not better - than the picture in the menu. There are many simple yet effective touches that are added to the food or drinks, such as the cherry in the Shirley Temple, the parsley on the pizza, or bread buns by the pasta.

4.5/5

Atmosphere:

When you walk into Cafe Italia, you'll be able to immediately recognize the fact that someone tried to create a unique atmosphere, what with the decor and what not. Whether the created atmosphere is desirable or not is arguable; I'm sure that it will strike a significant amount of people as a bit tacky. However, the atmosphere is not all bad. After all, this is a matter of taste, and not everyone can be pleased. Music is always playing in the background, but nothing relating to Italy. Again, this isn't a bad thing, but it doesn't help in creating an Italian atmosphere. The atmosphere is most definitely Cafe Italia's weak point, but don't let it stop you from trying it out.

3/5

Food:

Oh, the food. This is most definitely the most important aspect of any restaurant, and Cafe Italia most definitely nails it. The salads at the Cafe are always astoundingly fresh; it's literally as if they're growing the stuff right around the corner. When it comes to the pastas, you should also expect a similar standard of excellence. There's always a perfect proportionality between the actual pasta and the sauce. The freshly-baked pizzas don't disappoint either. As you savor the pizza slice in your mouth, the freshness of its dough will be apparent. In terms of variety, Cafe Italia provides guests with quite a few options. You'll be offered a choice from soups, sandwiches, pizzas, pastas, salads, and other types of dishes. They really do cater for every taste. Also note that the food is regularly of a suitable temperature.

4.5/5

Pricing:

Cafe Italia's pricing is yet another reason why you should definitely give it a go. I honestly can't think of anywhere else in Bahrain where you could get food of such great quality for such great value. It's not incredibly cheap or anything, but once you take how good the food actually is into consideration, you realize what a bargain you'd be cashing in on. Expect to spend around 7 BD per person, (i.e. appetizers, main course, drinks, and desert).

4/5

Overall, I think it's apparent why Cafe Italia has maintained its position as one my favorite restaurants in Bahrain. Whether you've never tried it, or just forgot about it existing, you should try it out.

Final score: 20.5/25

Think I'm being too generous? Let me know, we appreciate your feedback!

-Yaz

New reviews, coming up!

First off, I'd like to apologize yet again for not posting up new reviews for quite a while now. However, there's an upside to this post, and it's that we've got plenty of new reviews up our sleeves, including those of Foli, Cafe Italia, Links, Monsoon, and Kenny Rogers! As always, suggestions are more than welcome from you, our followers. We've already visited all the above mentioned restaurants, all that's left is to write up the actual reviews. Expect them starting this weekend! We'd like you to provide us with as much feedback as possible, be it positive or negative. A simple comment below would suffice. Thank you!

Hey! Hotdog

I truly apologize, for I have not posted a review in a really long time. We have had the mid-terms and a lot of other assignments to work on. I will force myself to write one at least once every week from now on. If I don't, one of my colleagues will. Sit tight for another awesome review:

Overview: Hey! Hotdog is a small diner-style eatery located in Adliya. It specializes in American fast food, consisting of mainly hot dogs and burgers. The sausages and patties are cooked on a grill next to the cash register, where the aroma can easily waft into the nostrils of hungry customers.

Service:
The service was satisfactory. The cashier (one of the 2 people working at the small diner) was not as attentive as she should have been. The food came after approximately 5 minutes from ordering, a suitable time. The drinks came significantly later than the food since one of the workers had to go to the nearest cold store to buy some soft drinks. I would assume a fast food joint would have an available storage of soft drinks; this was not the case.
2.5/5

Presentation:
The hot dogs looked spectacular. The sausages were sliced vertically, and the toppings were placed inside the sausage itself. There was an assortment of different kinds of toppings one could choose to put on the hot dog. The chili was placed inside the indentation created along the sausage. The sausage itself was huge, not the size you would get from the frozen food section at Al-Jazeera Supermarket. I thought 1 hot dog would not be enough; they proved me wrong. The hot dogs were neatly placed alongside each other on my plate, decorated with some french fries on the side.
4/5

Atmosphere:
The restaurant looks like a typical American diner. It has posters of 80's movies and music records plastered on the walls above. The roof is dangled with old music records tied to strings. The restaurant has those tall stools that diners are well-known for. The diner is painted mostly red, which gives it a very retro-American ambiance. The restaurant is, however, EXTREMELY small. It has 2 medium-sized tables and 3 or 4 tall stools. It is definitely not fit for a group of 7 guys. I found myself eating quickly just so I could leave the place and get some fresh air. Claustrophobics beware.
3/5

Food:
I was extremely disappointed since the 2 different hot dogs I ordered tasted practically the same. I could hardly taste the chili in my chili-cheese hot dog, and since when did a chili-dog contain ketchup and mustard? The sausage was well-cooked and carried that smoky flavor. Unfortunately, the sausage was smothered in so much ketchup and mustard that I could hardly taste the meat. Hey! Hotdog must not place an ounce of sauce on their hot dogs and leave it to their customers to put as much sauce as desired; different people prefer different quantities of ketchup and/or mustard. The french fries were not anything exceptional; in fact, they were heavy and not as appetizing as french fries from a different fast food restaurant. Overall, the food was satisfactory.
3/5

Pricing:
Hey! Hotdog is not as cheap as McDonald's and is not as expensive as Fuddruckers. It costs about 1-2 BD per meal, which is not much considering that you don't leave with an empty stomach. You get your money's worth.
4/5

I have not tried their burgers, so my review only reflects their hot dog quality. Overall, the restaurant is worth a visit. Don't expect something extra-ordinary though.
Final Score: 16.5/25

Reviewer: Yousif Al-Said
If you want detailed directions, please ask in the comments section below.

Muju Restaurant & Lounge

Info: Muju Restaurant & Lounge is located at the Dragon Hotel & Resort in Amwaj. They serve assorted Asian foods for the most part, as well as some Italian dishes. For more information visit www.mujuamwaj.com

Service:
Our drinks arrived 10 minutes after ordering everything. This is one of the first aspects that Muju needs to concentrate on improving if they want to build a reputable name. Considering the fact that it has only been open for three months, some mistakes were expected. 10 minutes after that, we got some bread with the usual butter and olive paste. 10 minutes after that, we finally got our food. Their timing is hardly impressive, but there's always room for improvement. The facilities available at Muju were, as expected, of a very high standard. The chairs were quite comfortable, the tables weren't crammed together, and the restrooms were well taken care of. The staff were very very considerate, and our waitress was very concerned with our comfort, and made sure to ask about our satisfaction with the meal and whether it was our first time eating there.
3.5/5

Presentation:
Our meals weren't cold by any means, but they were not satisfactorily heated. Even if it means sticking the food in the microwave, it is a rule of thumb to serve food steaming hot. Even though some of the food didn't taste as good as it looked, we're glad to report that it looked quite nice. Someone payed special attention to giving all the dishes a unique aesthetic appeal, and we noticed and appreciated that. The food smelled alright, but since it wasn't very hot, it didn't emit a lot of aroma (yet another reason backing up the importance of heating). As previously mentioned, Muju had only opened up for three months now. All the facilities were sparkling clean, and some very meticulous attention has been given to preserving the cleanliness of the restaurant.
3.5/5

Atmosphere:
Muju serves mostly Asian food, and has a very attractive, stream-lined, modern, simple look that compliments the served cuisine perfectly. Everything from the art work to the tables to the full-glass walls added wonderfully to the atmosphere. As you might have heard from the Muju's advert on Radio Bahrain, the music in the lounge was mixed by reputable lounge DJs. The music was very serene, and again, added greatly to an already amazing atmosphere. The Italian dishes seemed to be rather protruding when compared to the majority of Asian dishes, but diversity is always welcomed. Even though there's nothing especially innovative when it comes to the atmosphere created in Muju, what it already has is near-perfect.
4.5/5

Food:
The menu at Muju supposedly caters for "the most discerning of tastes", but this was not apparent from the choices available in the menu. Even though the dishes available were from a wide range of locales, the actual number of dishes was disappointingly limited. The dishes ordered were: Risotto Porcini (rice with sauce), Pollo Pepirade (chicken), Tika Masala (more chicken), Spaghetti, and Chicken Teriyaki. The only two dishes that stood out were the Risotto and the Teriyaki. The Teriyaki was cooked to perfection. The sauce complemented the chicken masterfully. The proportions of rice:sauce in the Risotto were also well-considered. Other than that, the food was very disappointing. All the food was generally bland and tasteless; the chef shouldn't be afraid to add a little spice to the food. The Spaghetti had a poignant quasi-fishy taste, even though the menu description had no mention of sea-food. The orange juice we ordered was supposedly freshly squeezed, but it doesn't take a critic to realize that that was a blatant lie, and that the juice came straight out of a box. The bread served at the beginning was freshly-baked and tasted lovely with the butter and the other sauces. However, the bread and the Teriyaki are all that can be salvaged from this wreck.
3/5

Pricing:
While the portions we received were of a respectable size, they still do not warrant the hefty price tag of about 8 BD per dish. A meal for three persons cost 50 BD. As mentioned above, the facilities were of a high standard, but still - they do not justify the pricey bill.
3/5

Overall Score: 17.5/25

Reviwer: Yazeed Al-Dugaither

Next Review

We will be conducting our next review tomorrow. It will be at the Kenny Roger's restaurant in Sanad. Due to all the work and exams we have, the post may take a week or two. Sorry for the inconvenience. Please, feel free to suggest places we can try out and review.

- Yousif Al-Said

Hong Kong Restaurant

Overview: Hong Kong Restaurant has a lot to offer to those who want an authentic Chinese experience. Nowadays, there are hardly any Chinese restaurants that mimic the Asian atmosphere here in Bahrain. Hong Kong has outdone itself in every aspect possible, from ambiance to food presentation. It is located in Um al Hassam along the main road.

Service:
The service at the restaurant is superb. I made orders that were enough to feed an entire village, and it all came in a time span of a mere 18 minutes; this is outstanding since there were at least four other families eating there. My order consisted of an appetizer, one soup, three main courses, and a dessert. I couldn’t help noticing how many times the waiter would come and refill my glass with water. The staff was very attentive to its customers and its service was marvelous.
5/5

Atmosphere:
The restaurant’s atmosphere was above average, but nothing out of the ordinary. The walls were decorated with Chinese portraits and the ceiling was overflowing with Asian designs. The food was served in Asian china; the plates were decorated with blue calligraphy and designs. The Asian lamps used for lighting also helped portray the Chinese atmosphere. The soft music in the background consisted of Chinese flutes and other instruments originating in the Far East. However, as I mentioned earlier, there were at least four other families dining at the restaurant. This resulted in the restaurant being very loud with chatter, especially since the size of the facility was relatively small. Another thing that I found odd was the lack of carpeting. Almost every other Chinese restaurant I have been to has facilitated red or green carpeting to add to the Asian ambiance. The protruding white floor was difficult to ignore. If this restaurant wants to outdo itself, it must install carpeting and soundproof the walls.
3.5/5

Presentation:            
Every large table facilitated a variety of sauces, from soy sauce to chili sauce. I couldn’t wait to try every one of them on my food. When the food came, it was steaming hot. The aroma was wafting across the table, exciting my salivary glands. I could not wait to devour the delicacy the restaurant has prepared for me. The food was presented on Asian china, which further made it look authentic.
5/5

Food:
The spring rolls were superb; as soon as I finished them, I wanted a taste of the main course. At first, I wasn’t hungry, but when I bit into that spring roll I was overcome by starvation and anticipated the main course. The appetizer did not fail to strengthen appetite. The ice tea I ordered as a beverage was freshly brewed. The main courses were not any less spectacular. The chicken with cashew nuts was covered in oyster sauce, but not too much as to preserve the flavor of the chicken. The beef and broccoli was also very delightful. They were not stingy with the portions; I got my money’s worth. The food was truly authentic and the many Asians dining there was proof of that.
4.5/5


Pricing:
The pricing was adequate; the restaurant is fit for a middle class budget. The portions weren’t stingy. Expect to pay about 5BD per person. That should cover a main course and a drink.
4/5 

This restaurant is probably the closest one could get to an authentic Chinese experience here in Bahrain. I was impressed by the service, décor, and food. Keep up the good work, Hong Kong!

Final Score: 22/25
Reviewer: Yousif Al-Said

Pastarito, Reviewed!

When City Center opened, it was filled with all kinds of stores and restaurants. At the time, there were many Pastarito ads posted on highways and elsewhere. We decided to give it a shot.

Service:

We ordered a pizza and lasagna, both of which arrived impressively fast. However, the drinks took a while to arrive. It took even longer for the desert to arrive, 20 minutes to be precise. The desert was a type of pastry, something that would take only 10 minutes to prepare. The staff was generally doing well at serving us, but we can't say that they were the happiest bunch. (Their frowns were especially hard to ignore with all the grinning and dancing going around at the TGI Friday's next door)

4/5

Presentation:

When we got the food, we were glad to notice that it was hot, as a pizza should be. It also smelled lovely, and we couldn't wait to dig in. The lasagna was also a looker, and we felt remorse for having to split it in half and ruin its beauty. The facilities looked clean and the utensils seem to have been thoroughly washed and taken care of.

4/5

Atmosphere:

When it came to the atmosphere, we were pretty disappointed. It seems as if they weren't even trying to create any sense of being in an Italian environment. The decor, at least in the outwards seating area, did not even have a hint of Italian architecture. Aside from the quasi-Italian bakery inside, there was nothing to be impressed with. However, they managed to give their dishes an Italian feel.

The benches were not too impressive either. They felt very flimsy, and whenever the person sitting behind you would laugh, for instance, you would feel the annoying vibration. May god help you if the person sitting behind you is a garrulous, chunky, inconsiderate fellow (as was the case with us).

2.5/5

Food:

The menu is HUGE. It has many dishes and many categories. It includes sandwiches, pizzas, salads, desserts, appetizers, grills, drinks. They really didn't miss a thing. The pizza was very good. It had a small amount of tomato sauce, making it lighter than your average pizza. The lasagna, on the other hand, turned out to be poorly cooked. The ratio of meat, cheese, and tomato sauce were poorly considered and the overall taste was nothing out of the ordinary. All the dishes had appropriate heating.

The dessert was, without a question, the pinnacle of excellence that Pastarito had to offer. It was called the Botta di Vita. The ingredients sounded very peculiar. It was basically a dough with Nutella chocolate mixed with some kind of cheese that we were neither able to pronounce nor remember. We thought it would be horrid. We were wrong. Go try the desert!

4/5

Pricing:

The pricing at Pastarito was appropriate. Their portions weren't stingy even though we didn't feel keen on spending 5 BD on lasagna alone. It's all a matter of knowing what to get. Expect to spend at least 4 BD per person.

3.5/5

Final Score 18/25
Reviewer: Yazeed Al Dughaither

Our Grading Criteria

We want to let you know how we will be grading the restaurants we review. Here's our chosen criteria. Note that this criteria only applies to dine-in restaurants. (We'll be using a different set of criteria to grade fast-food restaurants, for instance.) Feel free to provide any suggestions, comments, or questions.

A) Service:

- Speed (how fast the food arrives depending on its type)

- Facilities (everything from the bathroom to the tables)

- Staff (how efficient the staff are in doing their jobs, and how friendly they are)

b) Presentation

- Temperature (we want our steaks steaming hot and our ice cream freezing cold)

- Visual appeal (tasting good isn't enough, our perfect meal has to look the part as well)

- Scent/aroma (we won't eat a Shawarma that smells like flatulence)

- Hygiene (the cleanliness of the facilities in general)

c) Atmosphere

- Design/decor (we want to feel like we're in Venice when we're eating at an Italian joint)

- Suitable dishes (in accordance to the type of restaurant- if we see a Bahraini restaurant selling apple pie, we won't be impressed)

- Other details (the AC isn't set to five degrees below zero, nice lighting, etc.)

d) Food

- Variety of menu (caters to vegetarians and all tastes without straying too far)

- Balance of ingredients (things like sauce : steak ratio)

- Quality (frozen food is NOT acceptable)

e) Pricing

- How expensive are the dishes with respect to the portions?

- Are we getting are money's worth in terms of facilities and staff treatment?

Other miscellaneous aspects to consider:

- Location of restaurant (We won't be too keen on visiting a restaurant after one million twists and turns in the tight alleyways of Umm Al-Hassam. We're looking at you, Al-Arisha)

- The targetted customers for the restaurant.

Pastarito

We've changed our minds, and we have decided to review Pastarito instead of Wafi Gourmet. Our next two posts will be the criteria we used to grade the restaurant followed by the actual review. Expect it soon! (and tell your friends!)