Enjoy an Iftar straight out of the Arabian Nights at Flying Carpet
Iftar at The Torch Doha’s Flying Carpet restaurant certainly lives up to its magical name. You can visit this relaxing restaurant for a buffet that is fittingly fashioned to emulate the Arabian Nights.
What I really liked about this place was its calm ambience. There were no glaring screens or too-loud music, and I could actually break my fast in a relaxed, peaceful atmosphere. The decor is beautiful, the lighting perfect, and it put me in a good mood for the rest of the evening.
The buffet offers an array of international and traditional Arab dishes. You can sample the essential cold and hot mezze, or try the mini pizzas, sautéed chicken wings, or stuffed and breaded jalapeños.
The salad bar is extensive, and though I’m not much of a salad person, the shrimps and red cabbage, and long bean salads were a couple of my favorite options. I especially enjoyed the potato salad. Sometimes the simplest options are the most appealing after a day of fasting. If you’re a pickle fanatic like me, you can have anything from whole lemons to beets and green chilies.
For mains Flying Carpet offers Qatari, Middle Eastern, Mediterranean and subcontinental options, including the mandatory but delicious machbous and some mouthwatering chicken kabsa, which I highly recommend.
By far, my most memorable pic was the tandoori shrimp, which I tried with a side of vermicelli rice that had been cooked to perfection. It may not be your typical Italian-Indian combo, but it worked for me.
There was a substantial selection of dessert, which I took full advantage of, but the date cake and black forest cake stood out for me. Black Forest cake is not usually what comes to my mind when I think dessert, but it’s light on the stomach and in this case well-balanced in flavor.
Although there is no Turkish ice cream server jangling bells, there is some good ice cream for those interested—at least the chocolate and caramel flavors definitely are.
The Torch Doha Hotel may be a bit out of the way for those living in downtown Doha, but it’s certainly worth a visit for a quiet and satisfying Iftar or Suhoor.
The Iftar buffet is served daily from Maghreb prayer time until 8 pm at QAR 190 per person. The price is inclusive of Ramadan beverages. For bookings of 5 people and above each person may pay QAR 175.
Kids 6 to 12 years of age may dine for QAR 70.
If you’re interested in Suhoor, the buffet is also served every day from 11:00 pm until 2:00 am at QAR 160 per person, including Ramadan beverages. For bookings of 5 people and above each person may pay QAR 145.
For reservations, call 4446 5600 or email at [email protected].
Visit our Ramadan Page for more useful information about the Holy Month!
