 I’ve just hopped in the Uber, I’ll meet you there in about 15 minutes. After a long exhausting week and several rescheduling attempts with my friend, requiring careful coordination between his night shift and my day shift we were finally able to meet up for lunch. Being a fine dining chef in his previous career, he still holds on to his passion whilst working abroad. Any opportunity he gets he researches new upcoming restaurants with vibrant menus, broadening his knowledge and giving him new ideas for creative new plates. It’s no surprise that I’m a foodie (more of an eater than a chef), I naturally get invited on such adventures, which can sometimes make my wallet a bit lighter. Like they say though…YOLO! We organized to meet at a restaurant inside The W Hotel – Doha, Qatar. Upon arrival I was greeted with a rather nice minimalistic design throughout The W lobby. The hotel itself is situated just across the bay of The Pearl, however this location is a bit out of the way for us, meaning we need to travel there via car. As mentioned earlier we were using Uber, which would allow us to partake in an alcoholic beverage, since this is one of the few hotels in Doha that serve booze. “Great, I could use a drink after this week,” he said as we arrived at the concierge desk, “ We’re going to the Spice Market. I read they have a good selection of veggie options.” I was sold! MY ORDER: Once entering Spice Market I noticed the Asian influenced décor paired with the low lighting throughout. The natural light coming from the floor to ceiling windows allowed the blazing afternoon sun to overflow into the dining area contrasting this subtle lighting. After much deliberation, we decided to order a la carte and along with a couple drinks to hold us over during the waiting period. I glanced over some options, but could honestly say there wasn’t as much vegetarian selection as I thought. However, I did ask the server if some of the main dishes were able to be adjusted to a vegetarian option and was informed yes, however there would be a wait time with the curry. As I was starting to verge on hangry, I thought it in everyone’s best interest to stick to the vegetarian dishes off the menu.
Upon arrival of the dishes, the smell of the freshly grilled King Oyster Mushrooms fused with the aroma of the red finger chili from the green curry filled the air. At this point I realized I ordered with my eyes instead of my head, but it was worth it. The minimal spiciness of the curry (I don’t do spicy…because… #heartburn. Just saying) mixed with the crunchy texture of the grilled king oyster mushrooms was the equivalent to a nice sauced up steak from a summer barby. Yes, I was once a meat eater. Almost simultaneously, the seared mushroom & rocket dumplings (which were originally meant to be our starters) appeared. I can’t remember if we asked for them to be served before the main course, but from what I could remember the server asked if we would like all the dishes served together or separate. Regardless, the dumplings were coupled with a sweet and sour sauce, crunched with every bite and peppered the taste buds with a sweet array of herbs, consisting of rocket and parsley. Then came desert, by far the most important part of any meal in my opinion. A beautifully crafted, delicately arranged delicious treat. Every bite consisted of a citrusy flavor married with the soft sponginess of the cake, whilst the meringue provided a cool wispy breeze across the taste buds. Such bliss that almost melts you with delight into your chair
Overall, there wasn’t much of a wait time; however, that could be due to the fact that we went on a weekday for lunch, in an area that normally has high traffic in the evenings.
The décor matched the Asian style of food of the restaurant; however, I am not really a fan of low-lit areas as it makes me feel too relaxed and the last thing I want to do is somehow fall asleep in a high-end restaurant. Not that I have narcolepsy, I just capitalize my time however I can and find a spot to take a nap. True story. The servers were very attentive and helpful with our orders, making sure to keep me abreast any non-vegetarian items, but most importantly made sure my chef friend was topped up with drinks. Hey, when you have a week like we do, you need a few. After finishing our meal, next came the bill. Although lunch may be the cheapest option in this restaurant, I would recommend going with a set menu. Between the drinks we ordered and the options we chose, I believe you would get more bang for your buck with the set courses. Even though it may not seem like it, go with the set menu. Trust me. As we parted ways from The W and I tried to not fall asleep in the cab from a food coma, my belly was very happy and full with my taste buds still dancing under the influence of the Asian flavored dishes. All this seems like so long ago, considering the current climate we are living in and although nobody knows when the new “normal” will take effect, this will definitely require a return visit. For more information or to book a table at the Spice Market click here. #MobileFeasts #SpiceMarketDoha #WHotel #WildIsadora #Isadoraland This article is not sponsored by the restaurant nor does it reflect the views of the restaurant or represents the restaurant in anyway. All effort has been made by the writer for the authenticity of the information herein about the restaurant. For up to date information, please click on the restaurant's website.
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