QL has Iftar at Warwick Hotel Doha

Located in the heart of Doha, Warwick Hotel Doha is a gem not to be missed. Qatar Living was happy to attend Iftar at the L’auberge restaurant of the hotel, and the buffet was the embodiment of a sumptuous Arabian treat.

As soon as we entered the hotel we were taken in by its elegant atmosphere. The golden and white décor complemented the colorful decorations of Ramadan set tastefully at the entrance.

L’auberge restaurant promised to be a pleasant experience as soon as we reached it. It was already almost fully occupied with families and groups of colleagues and friends. We were ushered to a table and seated comfortably with a view of the restaurant as well as the hotel lobby from the balcony.

The assortment of dishes focusing on International, Qatari and Arabic cuisines were nothing short of perfection. We were spoilt for choice. To make matters easy, we started off with Kafta soup.

The soup station is tucked away in one corner, where the chef expertly doled out warm yogurt and kafta inside a cup and deftly presented it in a matter of minutes. Garnishing spices and vegetables were sitting cozy in a nearby alcove.

The appetizer and salad table was abundant with Arabic selections of mezzeh; including babaganoush/mutabal, hummus, cacik (herbed yogurt and cucumber sauce), fattoush, labneh, to name a few. While I could only appease my eyes with the plentiful variety of food, I decided to try a specialty for the main course.

Kabsa Laham is a popular rice dish with lamb/chicken, in Qatar and the Arab region. The kabsa station had a huge platter of the dish from which the chef competently dished out a plate of rice with tender cooked lamb meat. Each morsel was a testament to the fact that the time and effort put into creating this delicious dish was a justification. And a highly appreciated one at that.

At this point we were joined at our table by the host himself. Mr Zeid F. Talhami was the gracious host of the Iftar at L’auberge Warwick, and was constantly attending to his guests, making sure they were having a good time and that nothing was amiss.

It was a good time indeed, with food pleasing to the taste, ambience comforting to the senses and the host making sure only the best was being served.

Finally the sweet tooth begged for something, well, sweet. The selection of desserts was as rich as all the food tables. I opted for my favorite Arabic sweet, Um Ali.

What gives Um Ali its distinctive rich flavor is its blend of soaked crust with sweet milk served at just the right, warm temperature, imparting a soothing taste at once. The aftertaste lingers pleasantly, which is a mark of a tasty dish.

We thanked our host and stopped outside the restaurant door  to have Arabic coffee (Gahwa) and dates. The overall experience was satisfying and pleasant. L’auberge is definitely a must try restaurant if you’re looking for quality with variety.

Check our Qatar Living's dedicated Ramadan page for more posts like this one.