We only have two words for Turkish cuisine – and yes, it’s Turkish delight – the same term for the popular sweets. But that was before we tried Turkish Tuesday at Nidaaya at Crowne Plaza Doha West Bay.
Located on the 6th floor, Nidaaya exudes a restaurant vibe that says, seriously, we serve GOOD food.
The place was just starting to get packed when we arrived at around 7 pm. Nidaaya has been diversifying its offering with a themed night (or day) to welcome more people. Tuesdays, it’s Turkish. The theme extends only to the cuisine offering – from appetisers to main courses and desserts – it’s all about Turkey and their food.
So we came, expecting a lot of meat and grilled meat, shawarma even, and sure enough, Turkish Tuesday is something out of a meat-lovers dream.
The grill section has skewered meat kebabs ready for grilling. You need to tell the chef what you like and they will have it served on your table. Or you can always do what we did: we picked two of each selection just to make sure that we’ve covered everything, and only two each to give space for the other buffet offering. A variety of salad greens and vegetable dishes, according to our host, will balance the meatiness, and balance we did, for starters.
We recommend that you pick your grilled selection before you start on anything, as the wait will give you enough time for anything that comes before the main course. Start with the bread and some hummus. The hummus is a meal in itself. It’s tasty and will keep you reaching for more bread just to keep the taste in your tongue. Go for some salad, again, to keep the balance.
Now for the meaty part.
Our grilled order finally arrived and just the look of it has me clearing up my plate. This is the pièce de résistance, the main reason why we’re here – and it did not disappoint. If you’re looking for the best grilled lamb chops in Doha, look no further. Nidaaya restaurant, hands down, served the most tasty and the most tender lamb chops this side of town, and only on Turkish Tuesday!
The chicken and beef kofta were runners up for the next best grills to try. You can still have them with rice or salad on the side, but these meaty goodness are enough to keep you ‘occupied’ for the rest of the night (or at least until 11 pm).
Room for dessert(s)? We have no more ‘room’ for dessert but our host insisted that we try the Baklava, at least. Who says no to Baklava? And so we tried not one, but three of their Baklava varieties. Crumbly, sweet and sinful even. I was picking up the crumbs even after having more than I should!
One good reason to go out on a weeknight? Turkish Tuesday. Definitely worth your time.
Turkish Tuesday is available from 7 pm to 11 pm at Nidaaya, Crowne Plaza Doha West Bay at QAR145 including soft beverages. For reservations, call 4019 8876 or send a Whatsapp message to 3348 5456. You can also send an email to [email protected].
Author: Lalaine S. Turqueza
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