Kirsty Walker discovered an elegant carnivores’ paradise on a trip to Hunters Room & Grill.

Dark wood meets soft lighting for an upscale, intimate feel at Hunters Room & Grill inside The Westin Doha Hotel & Spa. The restaurant, on the mezzanine floor, is surrounded by lush indoor gardens with a stunning water feature. Soft, upbeat music surrounds us. I’m relieved my guest and I dressed up – this is an elegant eatery.

Restaurant manager Alla greets us warmly, shows us to our spacious table by the waterfall, and introduces our waiter. We immediately quiz him on cuts of meat, but he suggests we also venture off the steak menu. And just like that, his expertise sets our feast in motion…

Smoked paprika and honey, balsamic reduction and hazelnut; such butters accompany our warm, crusty bread alongside a bright splash of salt and chili. We resist the urge to devour the entire loaf, and are rewarded with a platter of fresh oysters, sprinkled with caviar and micro herbs. We shlurp down the chilled shellfish, gloriously gluttonous.

Only two oysters down, and my burnt pineapple virgin mojito arrives. Fresh mint leaves burst out of the jar alongside a hunk of charred pineapple. Icy, caramelised fruit in a glass – it’s a favourite of Hunters’ regulars and I can taste why. Judging by my guest’s glee squeezing juice from the dripping, fleshy fruit on her frozen passionfruit daiquiri, she is equally thrilled.

Our prelude to the meat course comes in the form of a delightfully fresh kale salad and a plate of prawns-popcorn; a colossal calorie contrast. Tangy apple slices offset fragrant tomatoes, and the pomegranate delivers a deliciously sweet crunch. The salad complements my favourite popcorn – the kind made with tiger shrimp, dipped in chipotle. It’s obscenely juicy, hot and succulent, and the deep-fried batter forces us to throw caution to the wind and guzzle with gusto.

Now for the main event! Carnivores say that true love is rare, like a good steak. At Hunters, at least for me, true love is medium-rare. It also presents as a succulent, marbled, salted, Black Angus ribeye. On my plate. Deliriously happy with my choice, I can hear my guest’s steak sizzling its way over to her – a thick cut of Wagyu rump, with a side of hot, crisp sweet potato fries and grilled asparagus dripping with butter. My side is mashed potato with a drizzle of white truffle oil. Potatoes can carry half their weight in butter, so it’s a fittingly rich companion to Black Angus.

All is silent as we dig in, always a good sign. The meat is buttery smooth, rich juices flowing forth to blend deliciously with our sides, and so tender, it hardly needs chewing.

Steaks devoured. Mash gobbled. Fries inhaled. Now, a buzzy peach and mint sorbet arrives to reset our palates for the last hurrah.

Being British, I take my sticky toffee pudding very seriously, and I love a restaurant that feels the same. We order the iconic dessert, together with a deconstructed lemon and strawberry cheesecake. The cheesecake resembles Eton Mess – an abundance of textures, a light creamy taste, and layered with zesty fruit compote. But my sticky toffee pudding wins our hearts with its moist date sponge, luxurious caramel sauce and pistachio crumbs.

At a top steakhouse, you expect outrageously good meat. And Hunters delivers that, alongside great starters, sides and sweets. But the impeccable service blows us out of the water. Our waiter’s guidance is clearly grounded in deep knowledge, and a genuine interest in our enjoyment – like the guardian angel of our evening, but without the hovering! Food heaven, with service to match. I’ll certainly be going back. ✤

GO: CALL 3359 8514 FOR MORE INFORMATION OR TO MAKE A BOOKING.