Off the coast of Doha’s Corniche lies the aptly named Banana Island Resort Doha by Anantara which quite resembles its namesake fruit if you see it from the maps. Famous for its golden beach and over water villas, the 13-hectare exclusive island resort in the Arabian Gulf also offers world-class dining with Middle Eastern hospitality. And we had the chance to try one of them, Azraq restaurant, during one of its themed buffet night.
Azraq’s Maharaja Night
Every Thursday night, the all-day dining restaurant transforms its buffet area into an Indian food feast. They showcase Indian food representing different regions which are then cooked in the restaurant’s signature style.
Guests are greeted into the restaurant with a refreshing welcome drink and then ushered into their seats. As you walk around the buffet area, the chefs are there to help you choose and answer any query that you have regarding the varied food choices available. They sure do know their food!
I like Indian food but my tolerance for spicy food is low so the Sous Chef helped by pointing out the mild spicy ones that I can enjoy. After a few rounds of going around the different stations, I finally settled on my staples.
I decided to forego appetizers since I was already a bit full from the welcome drink. I went straight for the main dishes and opted to try their fragrant Chicken Biriyani, mildly spiced Shrimp 65, tender and flaky Kerala Fry Fish, Chicken Tandoori, and Chicken Malai Kebab to name a few.
I also tried their Dahi Puri, choosing to deviate from my usual order of Pani Puri. These are usually eaten as snacks and is a kind of chaat. This is the first time I’ve tried Dahi Puri, which has curd/ yogurt and chutney. I find that it is sweeter than the Pani Puri, which I definitely like.
The smell of freshly baked lured me in so I also tried their Naan which I then paired with their Butter Chicken. It was nothing short of a wonderful combination. The creamy sauce (gravy) was the perfect dip to the buttery and crispy Naan.
As for the dessert, aside from the popular Indian sweets like Gulab Jamun, Kaju Barfi, and Jalebi, they also offer the usual cakes, pannacotta, fruits, and Umm Ali.
They also have a separate station for frozen yogurt, ice cream, and drinks which include Mango Lassi.
The restaurant also has an outdoor seating with sea view which would be an awesome seat for good weather days.
WATCH THE VIDEO BELOW:
Maharaja Night Details
Timings: 7 PM to 10:30 PM
Price: QAR 225 (in-house guests) | QAR 275 (visiting guests); includes luxury boat transfers
Note: No outside drinks/food allowed; Restaurant does not serve alcohol
How to book or reserve a table: call +974 4040 5116 or email [email protected]
Azraq Friday Brunch
Rates start at 250 QAR per adult for local and international cuisine
Timing: 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM
Book your stay at Banana Island Resort Doha
Booking.com
How to get to Azraq at Banana Island Resort Doha by Anantara
- Contact Azraq for a reservation.
- Head to Al Shyouk Terminal at the Corniche.
- Wait for the ferry at the departure lounge. Board the luxury catamaran. The ride takes at least 25 minutes each way.
- Ask any of the staff for directions or head to the reception (inside the first building after the pier).
Azraq restaurant is located inside the Balance Wellness Centre beside the wading pools.
Have you been to Banana Island Resort Doha?
* Disclosure: I was a guest of Azraq Restaurant for the Maharaja Night but this is not a paid post. All opinions from my experience that night are my own.
