FISHERMAN’S SECRET

We already adored the Alwadi Hotel Doha and their flair for local Qatari hospitality and cuisine, and now Sofra’s Fisherman’s Night has us permanently hooked!


We’re all about themed nights and were super excited to visit Sofra for their new Fisherman’s Night. Walking into this charming restaurant resembles walking onto the deck of a ship upon the seas of Arabia. The wooden and glass walls were adorned with empty blue bottles; creating the perfect fusion of traditionalchic.

The main dining area is dimly lit and occupied with large comfortable leather seats and wooden tables that are fit enough for a captain on deck! The wooden ceilings mimic boat sails and further act as a reminiscent of the traditional dhow boats and culture of pearl diving in the country. We were guided to an open seafood bar with a selection of crabs, tiger shrimps, lobsters, and whole fish. Pretty much a seafood lover’s dream!

The staff were incredibly attentive and helpful in selecting our platter, carefully describing the difference between each catch. After much deliberation, we opted for the tiger prawns, seabass and red snapper. Each order is paid for by weight, so after making our selection and weighing the fish, we were taken to the spice station.

It seemed daunting at first but turned out to be the highlight of the experience. The chef asked about our taste preferences and guided us to try a garlic and rosemary concoction and we’re glad we did! You can definitely take a sail on the spicy side, but we prefer to keep things subtle. The whole process of selecting the fish, spices and watching it being grilled in the live kitchen was mouthwatering from start to finish. We also caught up on some tips and tricks on how to perfectly season various seafood options.

Our meal was served family-style on a beautiful wooden tray, with a side of their special tartartahini sauce, grilled vegetables, crunchy crackers and a salad protruding with tangy-freshness. This was accompanied by fresh Arabic bread and the creamiest and prettiest beetroot hummus.

It honestly looked picture perfect and too good to eat! The fish was grilled to perfection, amazingly juicy, flaky and tender on the inside, and deliciously crispy and seasoned on the outside. We couldn’t wait to dig in with our forks, and carefully make our way around the platter. After completing our navigation through the fish and its bones, we moved onto the tiger shrimp.

Truthfully, the largest shrimp we’d ever seen! Their shells were coated in the aroma of the grill, efficiently detaching from the flesh for that first tender bite. We’re talking about that crunchy, firm, crisp texture you get with the perfect shrimp.

We were also given an extra bone bowl each, to keep our table as clean and bone-free as possible. Sofra regularly offers speciality traditional Qatari cuisine for à la carte but offers their new Fisherman’s Night every Tuesday from 7pm to 11pm. They also offer outdoor seating on their terrace, overlooking Souq Waqif. Sofra’s Fisherman’s Night is truly a treasure from the sea and must try! ✤

GO: EMAIL RESERVATIONS.ALWADIHOTEL@ACCOR.COM OR CALL 4009 9999 FOR RESERVATIONS AND MORE INFORMATION.