Job Discussion Forums

Dominic-Pax · Joined: 20 Oct 2009 Posts: 77

What is your favorite restaurant in Riyadh and why?

johnslat · Posted: Wed Nov 11, 2009 7:08 pm Post subject:

Dear Dominic-Pax

The Assaraya Turkish Restaurant, Olaya, Thalatheen Street - the bread is unforgettable (and I don't even LIKE bread with my meals.) The babaganoosh and mixed grill - mama mia, I can taste them to this day, And the shawarmas are delicious.
The prices are most reasonable and the service is great.

I highly recommend it. Boy, do I miss that place.

Regards,
John

Cleopatra · Posted: Wed Nov 11, 2009 7:26 pm Post subject:

The food in the Assarya restaurant is great (especially the bread!) as are the prices. The only downer is that it has the old-fashioned 'train compartment' style booths in the family section, where you have to dine in a little box with a drawn curtain. These booths are the norm in older, less expensive Riyadh restaurants, but are becoming rarer in newer places.

Roma (both the full restaurant on Olaya and the pizza place on Tahlia) is good. And Chandri is nice for Indian food, but it does have the old-style booths, albeit not quite as confined as in Assarya.

saharastars · Joined: 30 Sep 2009 Posts: 107 Location: Wonderland

How about Thai and Persian cuisines?

johnslat · Posted: Wed Nov 11, 2009 11:29 pm Post subject:

Dear

For Persian, I recommend Shiraz, on Abdullah Al Hamdan Street near Al Tahlya Street

The Gad on Gareer St. in Al Malaaz had great Thai food.

Regards,
John

Never Ceased To Be Amazed · Posted: Thu Nov 12, 2009 5:02 pm Post subject:

tacomaboywa · Joined: 18 Jan 2009 Posts: 194 Location: The Magic Kingdom

I concur about Assaraya. Great Turkish food, especially the bread. Yummy!

Cleopatra · Posted: Fri Nov 13, 2009 7:00 am Post subject:

Never Ceased To Be Amazed · Posted: Fri Nov 13, 2009 8:26 am Post subject:

It's been a bit, so I take it from your reply that it's a rare occurrence nowadays? That's good...

The main reason that we chose that restaurant was for the cuisine and the certainty of an uninterrupted meal...

NCTBA

johnslat · Posted: Fri Nov 13, 2009 2:04 pm Post subject:

Dear Cleopatra,
Same for me - I can recall being "sent outside" of a number of restaurants (Although in one place, a French restaurant - can't recall the name, maybe it was the "French Quarter" they merely turned of ALL the lights. You couldn't see a THING.)
Glad to hear the practice is disappearing.
Regards,
John

Cleopatra · Posted: Fri Nov 13, 2009 2:22 pm Post subject:

johnslat · Posted: Fri Nov 13, 2009 2:27 pm Post subject:

Dear Cleopatra,

"Possibly it still goes on in the more down-market restaurants . . ."

Well, NCTBA and I DO like to go slumming.

Regards,
John

trapezius · Posted: Fri Nov 13, 2009 4:16 pm Post subject:

No proper sit down places will kick you out for prayer. They just dim the lights, turn off the music, and lower the blinds. Furthermore, most keep their doors open so you can enter and even order, but they will not prepare your order until prayer is over.

Supermarkets also don't kick you out as Cleo said. You can continue shopping, but of course, you can't pay until prayer is over.

Extra (giant electronics store) also lets you stay in. But Jarir still kicks you out, and I hate that about them.

Cleopatra · Posted: Fri Nov 13, 2009 4:46 pm Post subject:

felton · Joined: 16 Mar 2009 Posts: 41 Location: Sand, sun, and fun