From dining aboard a wooden boat, to a private table in an old firehouse, or smoking shisha in a five-star hotel, eating out in Kuwait City is as much about the culture as it is about the food. Cuisine varies from Puerto Rican to Lebanese. With a restaurant to suit all tastes and pockets, here are 5 of the best restaurants in Kuwait City.
* Assaha VillageHoused inside a beautifully restored fort-like building, Assaha Village is closer to a traditional Lebanese village than a stand-alone restaurant. Reserve early to secure a table in a private building for five to fourteen people in the Glass Café, Police Station or Fire Station. Normal main restaurant dining is also available, but fills up quickly so booking is still recommended. Assaha restaurants believe in delivering high quality, home-style cooked dishes made with the freshest ingredients. Expect just-baked warm bread, zingy hummus, moreish grilled shrimps and mouth-watering lamb cutlets all finished off with complementary local desserts and fresh fruit. Staff are exceptionally friendly and will show you around the kitchen to watch the dishes being cooked upon request.
* Al BoomA seafood and steakhouse like no other, traditional Middle Eastern restaurant Al Boom is situated inside the hull of an old Kuwaiti dhow (wooden boat). The dinner menu is a fixed price and includes hot bread and garlic butter on arrival, an extensive appetizer buffet, a choice of steak, salmon, lamb chops, chicken or lobster tail cooked on the open grill and a huge array of desserts. After dinner, coffee and dates are offered in the Captain’s Quarters and to complete the unique dining experience, visitors are given a souvenir boat nail to take home with them.
* Ayam ZamanLocated on the second floor of the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Ayam Zaman is a traditional Lebanese restaurant with a relaxed, lounge-like feel. Large, inviting sofas in magical hues of red and dusty pink attract those after a taste of the restaurant’s renowned shisha as well as the delectable dishes. Although pricier than some other Lebanese restaurants, the menu certainly is abundant. For smaller appetites sample the sujuk (stuffed homemade sausage) and for those looking to share a meal the seafood platter is just the dish comprising of zoubeidy, lobster, hammour and Gulf prawns. There is an electronic device on each table allowing diners to get a waiter’s attention at the press of a button. Don’t leave without trying the hummus Ayam Zaman, blended chickpeas topped with roasted sesame seeds, pimentos and olive oil.
* Open Flame KitchenDespite the less romantic positioning of Open Flame Kitchen inside the 360 Mall, the atmosphere inside this American restaurant is far from that of a dingy food court diner. With black interiors, faded orange lighting and metal furniture, this restaurant feels more like a night club than an eatery even at midday. The huge open grill takes pride of place in the center of the restaurant allowing guests to watch their delicious steaks and burgers go up in flames giving them that special grilled taste. Dinner fare is typically American with appetizers like tenderloin lollipops, Coca-Cola ribs and shrimp balls; main courses of burgers, sliders, pizzas and grills; all washed down with a thick, creamy milkshake. Reservations cannot be made in advance meaning waiting times can be long but diners can give their phone number to the server and wander the shops until their table is ready.
* MelenzaneOffering everything you would expect from an Italian/Sicilian fusion restaurant, Melenzane serves authentic pizzas, pasta dishes, risottos and paninis. Main courses also include classics such as funghi vitellino (veal with mushrooms), pollo parmigiana and of course the restaurant’s namesake aubergine dish, melenzane casserole. They even have an alcohol-free version of the Italian after-dinner must, Limoncello. Melenzane aims to give guests ‘the perfect dining experience’, the Italian way, of course. Expect lots of food, tasty combinations, rich sauces and good home-style cooking. Finish with the ultimate espresso tiramisu or, during those hot evenings, opt for a lighter strawberry version.