www.womanthismonth.com March 2017 showcase 49 The Lagoon at Amwaj Islands has some seriously hip and happening haunts serving good brews, delicious fare and everything in between. Among them, Primavera definitely takes the cake for a topnotch dining experience at any time of the day, with its bright walls making the space feel light and airy, while the turquoise furniture and bold, baroque motifs lend it a young, eclectic vibe. My dining partner and I chose to make the most of Bahrain’s transient pleasant weather and sat on the terrace to check out a menu dotted with continental, Indian, Chinese and Arabian specialities along with some unique dishes. Executive chef Jude explained that he wanted to bring an imaginative twist to seemingly mundane food. After a couple of suggestions, we placed the order and waited eagerly. The view from where we were seated was mesmerising, beneath open skies and overlooking the colourful terraces of the other eateries surrounding the Lagoon. The music in the background is consistently upbeat and mostly Khaleeji. Scores of young people occupied the neighbouring tables. Restaurant owner Ali Al Fawad, who joined us The grill plate is every carnivore’s dream, with lamb chops, fish, meat kebab, and chicken shish tawouk. My favourite was the lamb chops because of the authentic, delicate marinade and fall-off-the-bone texture. The Wow Salpicao was enlivened with copious amounts of fresh garlic, cooked just right, slightly chewy and a thoroughly satisfying meal in itself. Needless to say, Primavera has gone down in my list of top restaurants in town. With its picturesque setting, it is the ideal spot for breakfast, lunch or dinner. It gets busy though, probably because service is swift and portion sizes are generous, offering great value for money while delighting the taste buds. Call 16 030-703. briefly during our meal, mentioned that it is quite a task finding a table on weekends despite the array of cafés round about. My strawberry mojito came first, fizzing with tart bubbles and sweet fruit, an ideal breezer for the upcoming months of summer. The starters arrived soon enough, and I stared and stared at what was put in front of me. Three giant mozzarella balls encrusted with cornflakes that looked like spiny pieces of art, and shrimps scaled with almond slivers made quite the entrance. Accompanying was the multivitamin salad with leafy greens, pomegranate, avocado and veggies drizzled in a tangy lemon dressing. The crunchiness of the flakes perfectly complemented the soft cheese, tasting especially good when dipped in the sweet chilli sauce that came with it. The nutty essence of almonds added a burst of flavour to the buttery shrimps, and the salad struck the right balance between sweet and savoury. I must admit, it made me feel less guilty for gorging on the cheese and shrimps. For the main course, we chose a giant plate of mixed grill and the Wow Salpicao, a beef dish made with garlic served with a side of rice and steamed vegetables. With its exceptional hybrid fare and soothing setting, this café at Amwaj Islands goes down as one of the topmost for its brilliant hospitality. PRIMAVERA EAT TO YOUR HEART’S CONTENT
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