As our host is a very busy man, specially in the evenings, it was a late dinner for us at 9pm. Personally, I don't mind, my only concern was since it would be so late I was afraid I'd be tempted to eat before the appointed time which was what happened the first time with the Expat Daddy, it was a last minute invitation he called at around 8 just after we had dinner! But it was a long delayed arrangement so we were embarrassed to decline. So since we usually serve our dinners at home at about 7pm, I hoped I could stop myself from eating! I know what to look forward to and it was good! But, you guessed it right! No success at all! But in all fairness to me, I just had maybe 3 spoons of rice and just a couple of bites of the Sweet and Sour fish that the nanny had cooked, just to satisfy my hunger. And I've read somewhere that that actually is a diet tip before eating out! Eat something before you leave the house so you won't eat to much during a party or get together, haha! So... I am actually on a diet! LOL!
At 8:30, Nora was already in the house and it was a good thing that our host had also left his office at around that time so in another 10mins or so we are on our way to Little Sailor Seafood Restaurant. The restaurant is located in B Ring Road just beside the Hot Bread Bakery. See, that's the good thing about Doha you can reach your destination in many different ways! For us, coming from the Ramada Area, we took the C Ring Road then turned left at the Muntaza Signal (just after you've turned left you'll find the Holiday Villas on your left and the Muntaza park on your right). We then passed the first signal with the T intersection, then passed the Apollo Clinic on our right, then on the next signal we turned left. The restaurant is just a few hundred meters from the signal on your right. So if you're coming from other parts of town... well you just have to find the signal I am referring to and you won't miss the place :)
Our host knows his way around the restaurant and is very familiar with the staff. He seems like a regular customer so we were attended to very promptly. The moment you enter the restaurant, you'll find assorted fish and seafood displayed over a bed of ice. The main idea is, you choose the seafood or fish of your liking and you tell them how you want it cooked --- well not specifically! You just have to tell them the taste you are aiming for, if it's on salty side, a bit sweet or spicy.. and you tell them also if you want it fried, or grilled. Now, if you don't have an idea, the pictures on the wall over the bed of seafood can help you. Since, our host is very familiar with the place, we had let him choose for us. He had taken 1 big Sharry about 1.5kg, 15pcs. medium sized prawnes, about 1/4kg squid rings, and 3 pcs or Tilapia (about 500gms each).
After we had chosen, The chef and our host discussed how the dishes will be prepared, I did however made a single input, I wanted the Tilapia to be cooked Egyptian style. I had tried it the first time during my and Expat Daddy's first visit to Hosny Seafood grill which I have earlier posted and I loved it. I craved to have it again.
We then proceeded to get a table at the dining area in the second floor. The dining area is not very big, not very stylish but clean and with a pleasant ambiance. After we have sat, we were served with a bottle of water and a basket of flat bread, i know it is kubous but the way they have made it is a bit different, more like a flat pancake instead of flat bread, but hey! I'm not complaining! The bread was served with lemon wedges and tahina sauce.
It took about half an hour before all the dishes were served to us. We were not in a hurry so that's fine. But in case you are very hungry do not have the patience to wait, this place may not be right for you. This is ideal for a dining experience with good food, good company and good conversation :)
Having said that, our conversations wander from all sorts of topics, legal, travel, family and other sorts... what I found out was that our host enjoys his ghost stories! Hahaha! I didn't expect that from a high profile professional! He had a lot of personal experiences of the world beyond which was shared by Nora. I just listened to the two of them chat away about elements, ghosts, devils and satan. I tried to share something of my childhood experience but I don't sound convincing, hahaha! I mean, surely I wouldn't be, I am not afraid of ghosts! Well I do believe them I guess like those elemental creatures, there's a lot of that stuff in the Philippines... and mind you! The Expat Daddy is afraid of ghosts! hahaha! But me..... hmm.... not really! Well as I told them, there are only two things I am scared of in this life, snakes and taxi drivers! Nice combination eh? But truly, those are the only two things I am afraid of. Still, I am very fascinated of their stories to the point that I even thought to myself that I wished I had also experienced it somehow! maybe then, I'd grow up scared, hahaha!
Then the food came... but that's not saying the ghost stories ended! They went on chatting until we finished our meal :) The dishes were served at the same time and we shared all. We did not order rice or soup to go with them as we were thinking if we did, then with just 3 of us, we won't finish even half of it.
The sharry fillet was breaded and fried and served in the platter with it's head and bones topped with mushroom and shrimp butter sauce. It was very good and the best among the dishes that night. It looks like the sauce was just melted salted butter with the shrimp and mushrooms. What I liked about the dish is that the chef managed to cook the fillets keeping it juicy and soft... well I don't eat sharry as I don't like its meat, but the way it had been prepared by Little Sailor, I loved it! If I must say, it doesn't taste like sharry at all!
As requested the fish was cooked Egyptian style, but I was a bit disappointed by it. It's nothing compared to Hosny's which we have tried out a couple of month's back, I have posted our visit here. First and foremost the fish is very lean and do not have much flesh, so I guess that's why the charred skin had somehow affected the flesh. The stuffing flavor was not well blended with the fish I didn't taste it at all, it really was just grilled fish, doesn't taste Egyptian at all!
The squid rings were buttered and deep-fried. Nothing special, I could make one at home. There also was no sauce served with the squid rings so I didn't really enjoy it as there were no flavors that could give the squid the ummph! it requires.
The grilled prawns as always are divine! No flavors required! The prawns speak for themselves. Very fresh and the flavors just came from it's meat. Such a lovely dish anytime and anywhere!
I ENJOYED!
Rating: 4 stars
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose, we paid for our meal (well, technically our host did :) ). I am writing about my personal experience an views and I have not been compensated to write this post.
Little Sailor has 3 branches, Al Muntaza, Najma and Gharafa.
Muntaza Branch:
Road No. 2/ B Ring Road (Engineering St.)
Tel. 44420208
Fax 44354363
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