Category Archives for "Activities"
Planet Hollywood restaurant, Riyadh (review)
London, New York, Las Vegas: What do they have in common? They are show towns. They do things on a large scale. At one stage there were Hundreds of Planet Hollywoods scattered all over the world. Now the operation has been severely reduced, but in the above-mentioned cities the restaurants are still going strong.
Planet Hollywood Riyadh
There is also one in Riyadh, although ‘going strong’ is perhaps not the most appropriate description.
On entry the movie memorabilia is rather dour and difficult to make out, and it is necessary to read the descriptions to discover who wore what in which movie. Once upstairs, the greeting by the manager and staff is very friendly and cheerful, and customers are given a choice of tables, and whether they would like to have a screen to enclose them or not.
American Favourites
There are a lot of dishes on the menu. Starters, salads, meat, fish and other popular dishes are in no short supply. As usual in so many restaurants in Riyadh, many of the starters are deep-fried. That being said, the ‘Chees Jalabenos’ and fried calamari were better than elsewhere, and not soaked in oil when served. There are also combo dishes that allow customers try a variety of some of the most popular starters.
'Chees Jalabenos'
<center><div id="fb-root"></div><script>(function(d, s, id) { var js, fjs = d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0]; if (d.getElementById(id)) return; js = d.createElement(s); js.id = id; js.src = "//connect.facebook.net/en_GB/sdk.js#xfbml=1&version=v2.3"; fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js, fjs);}(document, 'script', 'facebook-jssdk'));</script><div class="fb-post" data-href="https://web.facebook.com/ksatourismguide/posts/799160080189343" data-width="500"><div class="fb-xfbml-parse-ignore"><blockquote cite="https://web.facebook.com/ksatourismguide/posts/799160080189343"><p>Planet Hollywood is the place for movie buffs to enjoy steep movie history and a good bite to eat</p>Posted by <a href="https://web.facebook.com/ksatourismguide/">Saudi Arabia Tourism Guide</a> on <a href="https://web.facebook.com/ksatourismguide/posts/799160080189343">Wednesday, 13 January 2016</a></blockquote></div></div></center>
Chinese salad
Grilled shrimps
The waiters, who are all named after movie characters (James Bond, Spiderman, Batman etc, although it’s a shame they aren’t dressed as their characters) all seem to have different opinions about what the absolute best, can’t miss dish is, and recommendations range from New York strip steak to grilled salmon to chicken with peanut sauce (which is also the dressing to a pretty good salad). Make sure to specify exactly to what degree the food should be cooked. It is very easy to grill salmon for too long, to overdo a steak, and to render a shrimp inedible if the chefs are left to their own devices (not a problem confined to Planet Hollywood), but with a simple instruction the main dish that was expected can be produced. Also, it is a good idea to inform the waiter to leave a break in between courses, or a starter may well find itself sharing a table with an entrée.
Grilled salmon
Have a look at the Foodspotting website for more dishes available at Planet Hollywood Riyadh
Movie Memoribilia
After completing the main course, why not take a stroll around the restaurant and check out the outfits and props that adorn the walls. Several huge movies are represented: Bond, Die Hard, Star Trek, Lethal Weapon, but most of the memorabilia is fairly dubious: half a baseball from Fletch; a game controller from Pulp Fiction; the uniform worn by an extra in a Bond movie. The item with the most genuine claim to be in a Planet Hollywood is a pair of boxing gloves from Rocky 3, signed by Sylvester Stallone.
Mel Gibson's motorbike from Lethal Weapon, by The Pink Tarha
If something sweet is needed to finish off the dining experience, be prepared for a sugar overload. The amount of sickly sweet cream, ice-cream and chocolate on offer could potentially lead to diabetes.
Movie memorabilia and American favourites at Planet Hollywood Riyadh
Enjoy Your Visit to Planet Hollywood Riyadh
Planet Hollywood is essentially a good idea, making people’s favourite movies come alive in a way that can’t be achieved just by watching them. However PH in Riyadh, a city in which there are no cinemas, has suffered from an attack of mediocrity. The food could be prepared with more care; the props could be more impressive; but the staff here are excellent, and will do what they can to make sure diners enjoy themselves.
Does our experience at Planet Hollywood Riyadh remind you of yours? Let us know below.
Tokyo Restaurant, Riyadh (review)
Entrance to Tokyo Restaurant
Fresh, raw fish, in the middle of one of the driest areas of the world. Does that seem like a good idea? Regardless of where in the world one finds oneself, sushi is an incredibly popular epicurian treat. The concept is fairly basic (slice some fish, place on rice) but it is amazing how some places manage to achieve the results much better than others.
Sushi
Tokyo rides high on the list of good sushi spots in Riyadh. Not from them will you find weedy, insubstantial slivers of mediocre fish and seafood. No, the slices are like large fingers of the finest fare the sea has to offer. Salmon, tuna, prawns, eel,mackerel, and the local ubiquity hamour are all to be found on the menu, along with scallops, octopus and various roe.
However much wasabi is added to the soy sauce, according to preference, the seafood will slip down the throat at a pace reserved for the finest.
Our friends over at Pink Tarha have an alternate view on the quality of the sushi however.
Where to find great sushi; Tokyo Restaurant in Riyadh
Japanese Design at Tokyo Restaurant
The exterior of the restaurant cocks a nod to traditional Japanese design, making sure the customers know what is on offer inside. Stepping over the Zen gardens set underfoot and covered with glass, patrons are treated to a glimpse of the order and peacefulness that sushi instills. A walk along the corridor, off which are set the private booths for groups of three or more, the decoration comprises of more straight lines, wood and cloth, so essential to Japanese thinking.
Some of the booths are centered around tepanyaki tables. Sadly these are no longer in use, but make for a talking point. The booths ensure an intimacy uninterrupted by the other diners, of which there are many every evening; this place is popular. Despite being enclosed, the waiters can be alerted by pressing a button on a transmitter which lets them know they are needed.
Tokyo Restaurant Riyadh Underfoot Zen Garden by Desert Enlightenment
Ample Variety
The great thing about sushi is that there are several pieces of the same thing per plate. This makes a convenient way of ordering several different dishes to be shared between friends. A wide selection of ngiri, sashimi and maki allows a meal to be comprised of many different items, rather than having tastebuds subjected to the same experience throughout dinner.
However, Tokyo serves much more than sushi. Try the temaki, the tempura, the grilled fish and meats, the tepanyaki, the noodles, the bento; nothing at Tokyo disappoints. Until the desserts, that is. Why is it that the Japanese, who have mastered a way of not cooking a type of food that most of the world believes needs to be cooked so as to involve impending nausea, have failed to come up with a range of desserts that really satisfy? Green tea flavoured ice-cream is bland, however any inclusion of more sweet items that may be more locally popular just doesn’t go with the meal.The Chinese have fruit covered in crispy toffee to finish off a meal, but theJapanese prefer the clean palate cleansing offerings that make a person feel like they had eaten healthily and can quite happily go for a run afterwards.
Enjoy Your Meal at Tokyo Restaurant!
A group of eight people or more is suggested to enjoy an evening at Tokyo. Share your food, pass your plates round the table; if you really like it, order more. And don’t be worried about the price as the regular dishes are all very reasonable.
Does our experience at Tokyo Restaurant remind you of yours? Let us know below.
Tokyo Restaurant. The best sushi in Riyadh.
Posted by Saudi Arabia Tourism Guide on Sunday, 13 December 2015
Garden Barbeque restaurant, Riyadh (review)
The modern city centre of Riyadh is not really very welcoming. The buildings are tall, and mostly covered in glass. So they reflect the environment around them.
Of those that aren’t, many are of an anonymous beige/brown colour much favoured in the city.
Every now and again, however, it is possible to stumble across a hidden treat.
Read below our Garden Barbeque Restaurant Review
Summary
First Impressions
Food Selection
Ambience
Service
Price
Overall Score
First Impressions
Taken from Alkhozama Hotel Facebook Page
The Garden Barbecue at the Al Khozama Hotel is one such place.
Like it’s name suggests, it is actually situated in the hotel’s garden, and open to the the evening air.
Water mist sprays down from overhead to ensure that the guests don’t over heat in the summer.
That is not to say, however, that they won’t overeat.
Food Selection
There is a wide, comprehensive selection of foods on offer, and they are all included in the buffet price.
There is no restriction on how many courses you may assemble, so sit back, tuck in and go back as many times as you want.
The Appetizers
Personally, I think the appetizers are one of the best in Riyadh. The combination of selection & quality suits my palette and relieves my long felt craving for vegetables and salads.
Arabic Food
For the local touch, there are several Arabic salads – all cold – to begin with. These vary in quality according to the attention that is paid during preparation.
Usually though, the kitchen staff at the hotel do them well.
For a regular dinner it would be possible – advisable even – to call for the bill and leave at this point.
But if you do that at the Garden Barbecue you will be missing out much more to come. There are soups, there are pies, there are speciality dishes (stews, etc), and then there is the main attraction: the bundles of deliciousness that they throw on the charcoal grill.
The Grill
- Beef (your favourite cuts)
- Chicken (several different parts)
- Sausages
- Kebabs
- Prawns (several varieties)
- Fish (your choice of the best)
- Seafood – it’s a gourmand’s delight!
Make sure you tell the chef’s directly how you want your choices grilled; things can easily get overdone,especially if let in the hands of the waiters.There’s not many vegetable dishes to accompany them, but the choice of salads is more than adequate to compensate for this.
Desert
The first thing to catch your eye as you walk in is the desserts. The Al Khozama has a renowned bakery & confectionary, so the chances are you will not be disappointed.
At Garden Barbeque, the deserts look like works of art. They also Taste exquisite
Many of their cakes and pastries look like works of art. In a country that loves sweet things, the Al Khozama is right up there in terms of the delicacies it produces.
Mini portions are offered in the garden so you can take your pick of your favourites without having to feel too guilty, and there is a good selection of the ubiquitous Arabic sweets as well as others with more international inspiration.
Ambience
Wondeful View by Pink Tarha
Ambience to die for by Pink Tarha
Janelle over at The Pink Tarha has written her own review and the pictures above are hers.
The ambience is one of a kind in this establishment. The grass at your feet and the trees surrounding you brings about a feeling of outdoors that you expect from being in an outdoor garden. Combined with the high rise buildings and the spectacular view of Faisaliah Tower, it adds a layer of modernism to your outdoor feelings
Service
The service is one of the best aspects of this place. It is exactly the kind of service you would expect from a 5-star hotel in Riyadh
- Tentative Waiters
- Friendly and Pleasant Demenour
- Above & beyond what is required
- True show of Arab hospitality
Price
Alas our dream has to crumble
The price per person is 350 SAR.
At first glance, it does seem somewhat steep, but then you consider that almost everything about this place is superb.
The care and perfection taken in every aspect of this restaurant creates an overall experience that is unmatched.
As such I personally feel that it deserves such a price. However, I do not plan on going often.
Tell Us in the Comments
We'd love to hear from you, tell us your experience by answering some of the questions below or anything else you want to tell us
- Have you been to the Barbeque Garden before?
- How was your experience?
- Was it Similar to ours?
- Is there somewhere comparable you know of?