New dining spot on the island? We are there! Fernanda Langhammer headed to La Terrace at The Ritz-Carlton, Bahrain, to discover what’s on the menu.
The Ritz-Carlton, Bahrain is a well-known destination for its beautiful beach and pool area, good vibes and delectable dining experiences in the heart of the city. With the weather reaching its prime in this part of the world, the property has added a new, charming spot to the long list of eateries on offer: La Terrace.
The new space is located on your left after crossing the revolving door that leads to the pool area. For those who know the space well, it’s just outside La Med. I was surprised by how cool the place looks. It has its own character with a menu that pleases all palates. The décor is edgy, with grey floors, massive black umbrellas and black-and-white chairs with turquoise cushions – inviting, right?
My party and I were there during sundown, and it was an enjoyable experience that I believe I haven’t felt in a while. Maybe it was the nice weather, the DJ tunes, good company, a new menu to explore or the sound of water splashing in the pool a few metres away, but it just felt right, like I had unplugged from the urges of the day and just embraced a feeling of relaxation.
For me, an aspect that makes good food even better is having knowledgeable, friendly staff. Abhishek assisted us throughout our dining journey with patience and attention to our many requests. He also helped us pick items from the expertly crafted menu. The selection is an ode to classic French dishes with a local and Mediterranean twist, perfect to accommodate all diets and preferences.
We placed our orders and, in no time, the dishes started arriving at our table. The Niçoise Salad, a classic recipe originating in the coastal city of Nice, France, is traditionally made with tomatoes, hard-boiled eggs and tuna. At La Terrace, it was also accompanied by green beans, cooked potatoes, green leaves and onions, with all ingredients plated in separate portions. The confit red tuna was the best part, with a tender, flaky texture and luxurious flavour, far moister than typical canned tuna, absolutely delicious. The Spanish Octopus was next, grilled to perfection and accompanied by rocket salad and cherry tomatoes. This delicacy is one of my dining companion’s favourite seafoods and we were all excited to try it. In my opinion, octopus should be prepared simply to highlight the incredible qualities of this oceanic treat – and that’s precisely what we got. The grilling process added a charred, smoky flavour, revealing a tender, succulent consistency with a slightly sweet, mild aquatic touch that was far from fishy – one of the winners in an evening of strong contenders. Still in the seafood business, we tried the Oysters On Ice, six pieces of the freshest samples I have ever had in my life, and Garlic Prawns. I know, it was a marine feast! The prawns were butter-poached, meaning they were cooked slowly and gently in melted butter at a low temperature. This cooking style prevents food from becoming tough, keeping it moist and juicy. The lemon and parsley added the final touch, giving it a luscious bite.
Moving on to mains, we tried a great vegetarian pick: Tagliatelle with Mushroom and Truffle Cream. I have to confess that I am a pasta lover, and if there is an option on the menu, I automatically go for it. If it has a truffle touch, there is no way I won’t order it. As expected, the warm dish was as comforting as I wanted it to be – rich, decadent and earthy, with deep umami flavour. The truffle provides a musky and pungent aroma that marries beautifully with the mushroom’s meaty notes, enveloped in a silky, creamy sauce – it was luxurious and indulgent, and I kept going back for more.
From the Signature Dishes section of the menu, we tried the Truffle Croque Monsieur, which Abhishek insisted on (thankfully) and Steak Frites, which is commonly served in French and Belgian brasseries. We initially didn’t go for this because it’s usually just a fancy grilled cheese.
However, La Terrace elevates it to an entirely new level; the bread feels like it was made as a sophisticated puff pastry, generously filled with Emmental cheese, turkey ham, truffle shavings and, last but not least, truffle béchamel sauce. The crispy exterior and rich filling delivered an exuberant bite, with complex flavours that somehow harmonise – perfect for cold nights when all you want is a meal with intense notes. The steak was beautiful: US prime striploin (250g), cooked in herb butter, served with fluffy, salty French fries and salad. Every proper place serving high-quality meat usually provides special cutlery to enhance the experience and at La Terrace, we received nice-looking Laguiole French knives. The meat was juicy and succulent with a deeply browned crust – heaven on a plate for a carnivore.
On a side note, if you are a caviar enthusiast, there is a Caviar Service in the menu offering Kaspian Caviar served with sour cream, chives, chopped egg white and yolk, shallots, capers, blinis, crispy and boiled potatoes. You can choose from 10g to 125g.
To end our meal, we tried two French desserts: Crepe Suzette and Profiteroles. The crepes were flamed in a very theatrical tableside performance by Pastry Chef Rajashekar. A delicate sweet made with thin, pancakes folded in quarters, served in a caramelised orange sauce. The dough was super light, with pieces of orange confit and fresh segments. A mouthful of striking flavours that we all loved. The profiteroles had a choux pastry that was crispy on the outside with a slightly moist interior, and, to my joy, it was not filled with whipped cream but with soft vanilla ice cream, finished with a chocolate sauce – not too sweet, just perfect.
If you are looking for a place that offers superb ambience for a casual endof-the-day drink paired with tasty food and hookah, La Terrace will tick all the boxes. But you have to move fast – the tables are proving to be hot tickets – it’s outdoor season, babe.
For more information or to make a reservation,
please call La Terrace at The Ritz-Carlton, Bahrain on 1758 0000.
@la_terrace
@ritzcarltonbahrain