Ric's

I visited Ric's for dinner for the first time this week.  I've been there a couple times for lunch, and wasn't overly impressed with the price for the meals.  However, it was a work get-together, so I decided to jump on some "country cookin."  Based on a recommendation, I had the fried mushrooms for an appetizer.  They were very good.  They were breaded in cornmeal, so it was definitely something you don't experience everyday in Bahrain.  For the main course, I had the Cajan meatloaf, mash-potatoes and spicy pinto beans.  The meatloaf was thinly sliced, but good.  The mash-potates were very good and the beans were nice and spicy.  With a couple diet cokes, the meal was around 10BD.  I probably won't go back until the next work get together.  When I do, I'll probably go for the ribs.  They looked pretty good on the menu.  

Cajan Meatloaf Dinner

Fried Mushrooms

Ric's in Juffair

Fuddruckers (Breakfast)

Fuddruckers has been one of our favorite breakfast spots in Bahrain for a while.  I recently went back and tried the steak and egg platter. The meal was delicious.  It was comes with a drink, 6oz ribeye, two eggs to order, hash browns and texas toast. I ordered the steak medium and it was melt in our mouth good. All for 4.2BD.  My wife got the breakfast platter that comes with two eggs to order, beef bacon, hash browns and texas toast and a drink for 2BD.  To date, Fuddruckers offers the best American style breakfast for the price (6.2BD). 

  

Steak and Egg Platter

Breakfast Platter

Johnny Rockets (American)

My wife and I were in the neighborhood of Amwaj during lunch time, so decided to swing by and see what was open for a bite to eat. 

We found the Johnny Rockets open, with nobody inside but us.  We decided we would go for a burger and split a side order of the half/half french fries and onion rings.  My wife ordered the Route 66 burger with swiss cheese, grilled mushrooms, grilled onions for 2.55BD. I ordered the Houston with jalapeno's, pepper jack cheese, iceburg lettuce, ripe tomatoes and spicy sauce for 2.8BD. We ordered the singles, which was 1/3lb.  I couldn't imagine eating a double...at least at lunch time.  The sandwiches were very good and the onion rings were delicious. We also used on of our buy one get one coupons.  With drinks, the bill came to 6.44BD. Great lunch, but it was definitely a gut buster. 

Route 66 Burger

 

The Houston

Half/Half Order 

 

 

 

 

Fresh Berry Frozen Yogurt

My wife and went looking for a healthy after dinner dessert and we stumbled across Fresh Berry Frozen Yogurt Cafe.  The place was your typical yogurt cafe offering four types of yogurt: traditional, strawberry, chocolate vanilla or a combo of two. In addition, there were a variety of fruit, nut and candy toppings available.  A medium cup was 2.4BD with two toppings.  We used on of our buy one get one free coupons. 

Nestle Toll House (Cafe)

My wife and I stumbled across this little gem over the weekend.  I was expecting to walk into a chocolate chip factory, but that wasn't the case.  Instead, we simply ordered a couple caramel latte's and split a cookie. The latte's were very good, and the cookie was melt in your mouth.  They also had sandwiches and salads on the menu. What really looked good was the frozen yogurt bar.  Several stations to serve your own, with a large selection of toppings compliment. 

 

Casa Mexicana (Lunch)

My wife and I were out during the day and decided to stop by Casa Mexicana for lunch.  We went during the week, where the restaurant is open from 1200-1500.  They offered a lunch special, offering an appetizer, main course and a dessert for BD5.5 This was actually a very good deal; however, that was going to be too much food for a lunch.  Instead, we ordered  the tostada's with shredded beef, an extra order of beans and a bowl of the Sopa De Frejol (Mexican Bean Soup).  Complimented by the chips and salsa, we were stuffed by the time we were done.  We've been to Casa Mexicana several times for dinner and have never been disappointed. 

Tostadas with Shredded Beef 

Mexican Bean Soup

Refried Beans

Chips and Salsa

Casa Mexicana 

New Restaurant Alert

While driving around this weekend near the Riffa Golf Course, I found this little shopping area next to the Riffa International School. It contains an Elevation Burger, Dome, Gusto's and a small Al Osra supermarket.  I actually stopped and the Al Osra grocery store and picked up some really good Italian roasted potato salad and some fresh baked bread from the bakery.   

Elevation Burger

Al Osra

Gusto's

Dome

Cafe Lilou

My wife and I visited Cafe Lilou at the Seef location for breakfast.  It was a late morning, but still pleasant enough for an outside table.  The breakfast menu offered several dishes, but the Omelette Matinee caught my attention, with an eggplant omelet with vegetables.  Included was a hash brown, roasted tomato placed on top of pieces of sunflower bread.  The meal was delicious and reasonably priced at 3.3BD.   

Omelette Matinee

Cafe Lilou at Seef

Cucina Pizza

I've been to Cucina's a couple times now, and haven't been overly impressed on each visit.  

On my last visit, I did notice another patron eating a big pepperoni pizza.  So, my wife and I returned to try the pizza. 

We ordered the Insalata Mista salad and a Manzo E Funghi pizza.  First out was the appetizer, bread and oil with vinegar. The salad followed.  I was a little disappointed in the salad. For 3.1BD, I was expecting more than a variety of leafy salad with tomatoes. 

The pizza was from the wood fire oven and tasted pretty good.  The big pepperoni's were a hit, compared to some beef pepperoni I've had in Bahrain.  I would recommend the pizza over any other entree on the menu.  However, I think the pizza is a little pricy; 4.7BD for a 11" pizza. The best part of the dinner was I used the entertainment coupon, so it was a buy one, get one free pizza.  Perfect for lunch the next day.   

Manzo E Funghi PIzza

 

IInsalata Mista Salad

 

Peppers and Parmesan 

 

Appetizer

 

Cucina in Juffair

 

Le Chocolat - Pizza

After my recent visit to Le Chocolat for coffee and dessert Click, we decided to head back for lunch to try the pizza and a salad.  I've heard a lot of great reviews about the wood oven pizzas, so my wife and I headed over to the location near the Seef Mall. 

We arrived at 1115 on Saturday and sat inside overlooking the mall.  A friend recommended the Roca salad, but we were told it was unavailable, so we ordered the greek salad instead.  I asked how big the salad was, and the waitress said it could feed two people.  As you can see from the picture below, you could probably feed three with no problem. I went to order the pizza and was told we couldn't order until exactly 1130.  So, we were served our salad, which was very good by the way, and promptly at 1130, we ordered the vegetarian pizza with pepperoni.  In just a few minutes, our pizza was delivered.  The pizza was very good.  A nice, tasteful thin crust with eggplant and peppers.  The salad was 2.2BD and the vegetarian pizza was 3.8BD plus an additional .550 for the pepperoni. 

Vegetarian Pizza with Pepperoni

Greek Salad 

Le Chocolat Cafe Restaurant

After driving by the Le Chocolat Cafe Restaurant in the Seef District for a couple years, my wife and I finally stopped by for a coffee. 

Upon entering the cafe, the place was filled with family's eating pizza's, sandwiches and of course, desserts. There was a case that had all sorts of desserts and sandwiches to choose from.  The manager approached us and we quickly told him this was our first time at the cafe. The manager was super friendly and told us we could sit in the main eating area, or in the back that had a great window view of the Seef area.  The manager told us that the outside seating would soon be available. After sitting in the back area, our waiter brought us the menu.  I was surprised to see how big the menu selection was.  Not only did they have coffee and desserts, but they had pizza's, sandwiches, pasta's, salads and other main course items.  Though we only opted for a coffee and dessert, the manager told us they have the best pizza in town.  The wood oven, the wood for the oven and ingredients are all from Italy. 

The dessert selection looked great, but I settled for the Pistachio Creme Brulee and a Cafe Latte.  The Latte was 1.5BD and most of the dessert selections were about 2.0BD each.  Le Chocolate Cafe Restaurant is a nice place to enjoy a great coffee and dessert.  I'll be back again to try the pizza.    

Cafe Latte

 

Pistachio Creme Brulee 

 

Pizza Express Part 2

Rumor had it, that Pizza Express in Amwaj, added calzone's to the menu. I have been to Pizza Express once before and really enjoyed the pizza.  So, a few of us headed over for pizza and a calzone.  After arriving, we were told that they actually hadn't officially added calzones yet; however, the manager agreed to make me a calzone since I made the trip just for it. We ordered the garlic bread with cheese and the baked mushrooms for an appetizer.  For the main course, we ordered the Margarita and Fungi Bosco with pepperoni pizzas and a Giardiniera calzone.  

The appetizers and pizza were good, but the calzone was a home run.  It was huge, filled with red pesto, fresh mushrooms, asparagus, red peppers, artichoke, cherry tomatoes and mozzarella cheese. I also enjoyed dipping the calzone in the spicy and garlic oils provided at the table.  We'll be back for sure!

Pizza making in action

 

Vinegar, Spicy and Garlic Oils

Giardinera Calzone

 

Margarita Pizza

Fungi Bosco with Pepperoni

 

Baked Mushrooms 

 

Garlic Bread with Cheese

P.F. Chang's

P.F. Chang's has been open for a while now at the Citi Center Mall; however, every time I've gone by, there has always been a wait.  This weekend, my wife and I decided to go for lunch on the weekend.  We arrived a few minutes before they opened (1100) and were the first diners seated.  

We ordered the Chicken Lettuce Wrap as an appetizer.  The server came to the table and prepared us a dipping sauce from the oils and vinegar shown below.  Little did I know how big the portion was.  The appetizer was delicious, and would probably order that as a main entree on a future visit.  For our main courses, we ordered the spicy eggplant and the pepper steak.  Both were very good and came with a serving of rice.  We also ordered a side of spicy green beans.  Needless to say, we had enough food to take-away.  Added to the bill was Black Tea and a Diet Coke, for a total of 19BD.  

Variety of Oil and Vinegar

Chicken Lettuce Wraps

Pepper Steak and Spicy Eggplant

Spicy Green Beans