The weather is amazing. And when the weather is amazing in Bahrain, people jump at the chance for al fresco dining. A place that I’ve been gradually hearing more buzz about is the newly opened Ritz Gourmet Lobby Lounge outdoor terrace. The setting is beautiful, with comfortable chairs on a patio overlooking the manicured grounds and swimming pool of one of the swankiest hotels in Bahrain. Sheesha is available, with a multitude of flavor combinations, which for many will be a huge drawing point. Indoors, the decor is very reminiscent of London afternoon tea parlors, and is elegant and luxurious without being overdone. I was most excited about their dessert sundaes, since I feel there is a real lack of sundae places in Bahrain. We ordered saffron tea, american coffee, tiramisu sundaes, oreo brownie sundaes, and the lobster mac and cheese to try. The saffron tea was delicious, it had an exotic undertone of flavor without being overpowering. The lounge also has an extensive tea cocktail menu, which is cold blended tea drinks that I still haven’t tried. Next came the lobster mac and cheese.
It was good, but nothing that I’d really crave again. The sauce was mild and creamy, the lobster pieces were good sized but the whole combination seemed to lack a little flavor. A few bites, and I was bored of the dish and ready for dessert. And dessert came looking very good.
The portion size was good, filling without being excessive, and surprisingly I liked the tiramisu sundae more. The coffee poured over it gave the ladyfingers a nice moistness and the white chocolate whipped cream gave the needed sweetness. The oreo and brownie sundae was good, but nothing amazing. The brownie bits were a little dry and the oreos being present in their whole form instead of crumbled also made the sundae a little dry and hard to eat.
What redeems the Ritz’s lounge for its exorbitant prices (3.300 BD for coffee, 4 BD for each sundae) and slightly above average food is the beautiful ambiance and the setting in which you eat. I felt like I was somewhere other than Bahrain, the pleasing views, comfortable chairs and attentive service made this a place I know I’ll go again and again. Only next time, I think I’ll stick to drinks and dessert maybe choosing something from their exquisite looking pastry display case. Check out the full menu here!
everylittlecrumb 
