A Taste Of Beirut In The Heart Of Doha

SD revisits popular Lebanese haunt Debs W Remman and discovers the freshest ingredients paired with imaginative touches.

Debs W Remman, in the heart of Medina Centrale at The Pearl – Qatar, is an easy choice when looking for an excellent Lebanese meal in the city. There’s no dearth of great Lebanese options in Doha, but when we’re seeking dinner at a multi-award-winning restaurant, it’s undeniably our first pick. The restaurant has indoor and outdoor seating and with the cooler temperatures and outdoor cooler, the terrace is tempting. However, we opt to sit in the busy indoor area and enjoy the live music which has recently started and is on offer from Monday to Saturday.

The staff greet us with smiles and escort us to our table – a cosy nook in the corner right next to a beautiful, traditional dining console. We’re immediately served zaatar sticks with a yoghurt dip and olives. This addictive little snack gives us time to admire the aesthetic surroundings. Everywhere we turn, there is something striking.

Little odes to Beirut are dotted around the restaurant. We could very well be in a retro movie set, but truthfully everything here feels very authentic, poetic even. Vibrant floor to ceiling drapes run across the length of the venue, beautifully complementing the rustic-style furniture. A mix of comfortable sofas and dining chairs livens up the space, right below a wooden ceiling with beams and spotlights. The restaurant is large yet homely, making Debs W Remman the perfect spot for a weeknight dinner.

The menu is vast and we’re really spoiled for choice, so we decide to start with a salad – we need to get some fibre in. The Falafel Salad looks and tastes interesting – an elevated take on an otherwise simple iceberg and tahini mixture.

The selection of appetisers is extensive and we’re unsure how many we should order to taste. After all, one can’t have a hummus without a muttabel to go along. After a long study, we pick a few dishes that we find most unique such as the Shrimp Muttabel (the popular Shrimp Provençal decked on a bed of the brilliant, smoky eggplant dip) and the Pesto Ras Asfour. Also, one cannot dine at a Lebanese restaurant and not try the Batata Harra.

The classic repertoire of hot and cold Lebanese mezze is proudly presented at our table, with extra lemon, of course. The Spicy Hummus is silky smooth and we throw dollops of it onto the pillowy soft, freshly baked bread. We also try the Muhammara, which doesn’t disappoint with its perfect walnut-to-red-pepper ratio. The dish has the right amount of zing and is thankfully not over generous with the molasses.

The hot mezzes include incredibly tasty Soujouk – mini sausages – and a delightful Ras Asfour in Pesto. The meat cubes are highly flavourful with earthy notes from the pesto – a stellar combination. The Batata Harra, or potato cubes, are spicy, crispy and moreish. The portions are rather large – which means we’ll have to skimp on mains to save space for dessert. We’ll try the cherry kebab tonight – a surprising main with luscious chunks of perfectly moulded meat, floating on a bed of simmered, reduced cherries. The thick, sweet sauce cuts through the savoury richness of the spiced kebabs. We don’t even need bread for this, but piping hot pitas arrive at the table in a traditional basket.

The Karabij is an excellent option for dessert – sugared almonds and pistachio with halawa flavoured ice-cream topped with cotton candy, or grandma’s hair, as some call it. It’s good for sharing, and we leave no evidence of its existence on the plate.

The attentive restaurant manager checks in on us after every course answering our questions and offering suggestions of things for us to try. He even makes the experience extra special with a personalised touch – sending orange, lemon and honey shots after our meal.

The service is friendly, knowledgeable and overall exceptional and the excellent live music uplifts the ambience entirely. Imagine dining on some of the best dishes in the Middle Eastern region as you’re serenaded by soulful Oriental tunes.

Debs W Remman brings the best of Lebanon to you. If you want to experience the freshest of ingredients, elevated by unique touches alongside familiar flavours, then you shouldn’t think twice before reserving a table here.✤

GO: CALL 3333 4663 FOR MORE INFORMATION OR TO MAKE A BOOKING.