On an afternoon visit to The Gulf Hotel Bahrain Convention and Spa, Farah Baig dined at its newly refurbished Café Delice and discovered what makes it special – signature dishes with star Bahraini ingredients, warm hospitality and a cosy atmosphere.
The thought of dining at The Gulf Hotel has always been exciting to me since they never do anything by half measures. I found that Café Delice is easily accessible from the parking lot and as you walk in its facelift is evident… its elegance is understated; just so charming and cosy.
Naturally, as anyone at a café would, I first gravitated to the large display of baked goods and was blown away by the sheer variety. I admired loaf cakes, croissants, artisanal chocolates and whole cakes for every occasion, each beautifully decorated, while exciting banter carried on around me. A flat white and pastry would have kept me happy, but the team was eager for my companions and I to try the made-to-order items.
We soon sat down at one of the tables and before we knew it our host, Noel, and his team were serving up a feast.
Café Classics the Bahrain Way
Driven by pure curiosity, the first dish I tucked into was the César de Mehyawa. What I appreciated immediately was the fact that Café Delice doesn’t add a playful garnish or sprinkling of a Bahraini ingredient – it dives straight in. This salad was scrumptious, not only for its crisp gem and frisee lettuce, but the generous mehyawa Caesar dressing which builds on the classic anchovy dressing with the famed Bahraini fish sauce which not only includes anchovies or sardines but a special blend of aromatic spices. Parmesan cheese lends additional richness to this salad. It’s tart, salty and creamy all at the same time and in the best way possible.
Next came the Poached Egg & Hollandaise Foam on toasted sourdough, which was generously topped with avocado mash. The drip was satisfying when we sliced into the egg and the subtle flavours make it perfect for breakfast.
The Halloumi Manoushe was a cheese-lover’s dream. The warm dough topped with mozzarella, parmesan, akawi and halloumi inspired audible satisfaction, but it wasn’t just the cheese but the chilli honey which gave it just enough sweetness to balance the salt of the halloumi.
Being a hot summer day, we requested refreshments – Peach Iced Tea, a cold brew and an Iced Spanish Latte – each steeped to perfection by the skilled barista.
An Ambience That Makes You Slow Down
While we happily sipped on our drinks and waited for our mains, I took in our surroundings. The café is now adorned in shades of beige and beautiful emerald green that’s tastefully incorporated into the seating, main counter and even some of the chandeliers. Warm wood accents bring the space together.
High chairs adorn one end of the café where you can happily work away with your laptop (yes, a laptop-friendly café in Block 338!) since plugs are comfortably accessible atop the table. Sofas, benches and dining chairs offer plenty of variety depending on whether you’re there for a quick relaxing bite or a full feast, like us!
Large windows shaded by canopies allowed just enough sunshine in for us to appreciate the hotel’s greenery. The sun, visible across palm trees, was setting over Adliya by then. Something about the timing of our golden hour visit made me appreciate Café Delice’s beauty even more.
Light, Flavourful and Hearty Mains
We ate with our eyes first when the Chicken Scallopini arrived and eagerly passed the plate around so we could all have a taste. This panko-crusted, thin chicken cutlet was perfectly crisp and paired well with the herby sauce and fresh greens. For a fried chicken dish, I found this to be surprisingly light yet satiating.
Another nod to the island came next with Sufrat Al Bahrain – a sharing tray with several local favourites including Bahraini kebab, eggs with tomato and balaleet, which is a sweet noodle dish flavoured with cardamom and topped with a savoury egg. We sampled each with some warm sesame bread. It was comfort in a tray and one we’d love to tuck into again for breakfast someday.
A variety of delicious dips made with fresh ingredients and a Pepperoni El Romana pizza were the final touches to a memorable early dinner… or so I thought!
Can a Dessert Be Worth a Life Sentence?
So, the exciting banter I mentioned earlier was about a pancake that took seven years to perfect. That’s a life sentence! But is it worth investing that much time into a pancake? And do I risk eating dessert after such a satisfying meal?
The Crème Brulee Pancake soon answered my questions. When you think about pancakes, you expect a stack, but this is one, single pancake because a literal cake made in a pan is all you really need to be blown away. The exterior is crisp and the interior surprisingly soft, giving it a great contrast of textures. As for the taste, it’s got a hint of addictive saltiness to cut the sweetness and a divine buttery flavour that lingers with every bite. A dollop of mascarpone adds a light creaminess – no syrup of any kind needed here.
So, what’s my verdict? Guilty… for being crave-worthy. There is no other pancake like this on the island.
Finally, we couldn’t walk away from trying the Crêpe Zalabia. These luscious light crepes have a great orange flavour with crisp pistachios adding a light crunch.
It’s worth mentioning that Café Delice’s pricing is far from the eye-watering amounts you see these days. It’s five-star quality and culinary innovation at a price point that doesn’t have to be a ‘treat’.
It’s far from your average café, it’s a vibe and well worth the visit.
For more information or to make a reservation, please call Café Delice at the Gulf Hotel Bahrain Convention and Spa on 1774 6434.
@cafedelicebh
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