Bateel Cafe

'Bateel' a name synonymous with delectable Dates, Date chocolates and desserts in the Middle East has also ventured into the restaurant/cafe business under the 'Cafe Bateel' brand. Cafe Bateel has branches in Dubai, Riyadh and some other cities of the GCC.

 

Located on the Tahlia Street of Riyadh, Bateel Cafe is spread over 2 levels. The ground level has a 'Singles'Section to your right and there are counters displaying a wide array of dates, desserts, chocolates and condiments to choose from. The display is tempting, so is the variety. We would have loved to take home the 'Dates Balsamic Vinegar' but unfortunately the same was out of stock. The Lime Relish looked good but did not try it.

 

We sat on the upper level of the Cafe which was the seating for families.The section was open and the ambience, pleasing. Being a weekday the cafe was fairly full, mainly with womenfolk with their friends.This is one of the few places where the family seating does not have any partitions or compartments and hence not claustrophobic.

 

We were offered both the breakfast and lunch menus but preferred to order from the lunch menu as it was past 1 pm. The choice was mainly Italian. We ordered for their Mushroom Soup which was recommended by the waiter. One of our friends had highly recommended the Chilean Sea Bass for the main course and I ordered that for myself, a Penne Arrabiata for my wife and another pasta dish for my son. Unfortunately there is no kids menu in the restaurant. I also overheard one of the staff saying that today the restaurant looks like a Mcdonalds, presumably because there were some kids accompanying their parents for a meal. If this is any indication, looks like kids are not welcome here.!!

 

While we waited, a basket of bread was placed on our table. We waited for a few minutes assuming that we will be served some butter but when we realised that the waiter seemed to have forgotten, I asked for some. The waiter informed us that we could eat it with the olive oil and the balsamic vinegar as well. I was surprised by the response and told him that I am aware of that but would like some butter too. Finally he brought the butter which was in a cute ceramic dish, made specially for Cafe Bateel perhaps from France or Italy and really yummy. The bread would have been better if served warm. We enjoyed it with the dates balsmic vinegar and olive oil fusion. The Dates Balsmic Vinegar is something truly worth dying for, awesome to say the least.

 

The Mushroom Soup had a oriental tinge in it, we could get the taste of some pureed chickpeas. It was nice, nothing to rave about. Servings were good and filling.

Coming to the main courses, the Chilean Sea Bass was highly priced at SAR 115 per plate, I thought that the quality was not worth the price. The Penne Arrabiata was at best average, we have eaten better than what they served at half the price in other restaurants in the city. When I glanced around in the restaurant, I saw other guests enjoying some snacks and coffees, desserts but very few people enjoying a full meal.

Would I visit Cafe Bateel again, yes I would but I would try their desserts and beverages rather than their lunch menu. 

We did not try their desserts as the main course had left us tad disappointed especially since they are highly priced but the dishes were not lip smacking per se. We dont have an issue with highly priced dishes but they should be well worth the price.

 

 

 

Back again...

Here I am back again to writing my blog after so many months. We have been bracing ourselves up for some changes in life. My wife and son will be re-locating back to India in May'13 while I plan to be here for some more time. This is a big change as we have always lived together as a family. My son who has never lived in India and hitherto only been there on vacations will now need to be ready for a completely different lifestyle once back home. For my better half, moving to India brings its own set of challenges after over 13 years in the Gulf. She will have to play the dual roles of a father and mother to our 8 year old. For me, the challenge to live here alone and perhaps moving out from the comforts of our villa to an apartment will also be daunting too. We have been spoilt, time to get back to reality. Well, change always is difficult for all of us, isnt it ? I believe where there is a will there is a way and sooner the better.

In the last few months, we did travel to India and had one short but memorable stay in Bekal at the Vivanta by Taj. Bekal is in God's Own Country, Kerala and is just an hour's journey by train from the lush green coastal city of Mangalore. December is a great time to be in India as the weather is at its best.

While we could have hired a car and driven to Bekal visa Kasargod, the roads are bumpy and off course the costs would be approximately Rs 2000 v/s the train tickets which cost us under Rs 300. The train journey also is smooth and very comfortable.

I had booked our seats on the Mangalore-Chennai Express which left Mangalore station at sharp 7 am. The Mangalore station is small, quaint and busy mainly in the mornings. We boarded our compartment amidst the hustle bustle and got ourselves a steaming cuppa. As the train pulled out of the station and crossed the bridge on the river Sharavathi, we could see and capture the beauty of the rising orb.

We alighted at a station called Kotikulam at 8 am and walked out to find some autos parked. We hired one for a princely Rs 30 fare and were dropped at the Vivanta byTaj property at Bekal. We were greeted at the resort by a awesome looking Ganesha statue. Since we had reached really early and there were some hours left for the check-in we settled down in their library area overlooking a pond of water with lotuses. I always enjoy being close to a water body, gives me some kind of peace and a soothing effect, the feeling of serenity. Top it up with some chirping birds and swaying leaves, it is sheer paradise. My Utopia.

 

 

We had booked their top end suite and while we had seen the photos on the net, when we entered the suite, we were blown away. The sheer space, the lovely court yard with our own plunge pool, beach chairs and a day bed mounted on a swing. The bathroom had a steam bath et al. While we could have visited the Bekal Fort, we decided to just be on the property, enjoy the beach and off course indulge at the world class Jiva Spa. We could always visit the Bekal Fort later. Bekal Fort, a place of historic importance is also well known as the fort where one of the songs of Mani Ratnam's hit film "Bombay" was filmed with Manisha Koirala.

A little more about this heavenly Taj resort. Set amidst the backdrop of the backwaters and the Kappil Beach, this resort is spread across over 50 acres. My son gladly accompanied me one morning on their bicycles to explore this awesome property. The Jiva Spa is set on one end of the resort. The resort has a play area for kids and a fantastic bar adjacent to the restaurant. There are plenty of things to keep the kids busy and happy. We spent one full morning at the Jiva Spa. The best ever experience, no words can do justice, only experience can. PLEASE do not miss this. It is expensive but you should pamper yourself once a year at least, isnt it?

 

 

We spent three heavenly days at the property, just relaxing, reading books, taking walks on the beach, treatments at the Spa, in our own plunge pool and enjoying the true Mallu cuisine. Time just flew by in a jiffy. It was time to say good bye, their Front Office Manager and the General Manager were there to say good bye to us. We were pleasantly surprised when one of the Jiva staff came to present us a bottle of the fragrant oil that we had loved. This is the difference that the Taj is known for..small gestures, great service, they all add up to great hospitality.

 

 

 

 

 

I must also share with you that Tripadvisor has sent me a congratulatory email last week that my reviews are amongst the top 3 % read and liked by its reviewers across the world. I am touched and also encouraged to keep writing and contributing...