Down by the Bay

Bay View is a social eatery with a Mediterranean vibe at the very heart of The Pearl. Kay Woodward dines there to absorb its ambience and delectable menu.

Bay View at The St. Regis Marsa Arabia Island, The Pearl Qatar has it all: superb cuisine, a bohemian atmosphere and a spellbinding view of the calm waters of Porto Arabia. By day, the turquoise waters dazzle and by night, the skyline sparkles. We arrive in the evening and glide over the twinkling fairytale bridge that leads to the hotel, marvelling at how pretty it looks.

If you’ve never been to The St. Regis Marsa Arabia Island, then accompany me. A wide, welcoming driveway climbs up to a stately courtyard perfectly designed for a smooth drop-off at the hotel’s grand entrance. Once inside, a showstopper chandelier fills our vision – a flock of aquamarine glass birds encircles a shower of dazzling crystals, with the finishing touch provided by a host of golden flowers. Frankly, it’s worth coming here just to see the chandelier. Next, we pass a bold artwork before descending to the ground floor, where the hotel meets the bay. We see palm trees sway between wooden cabanas, an enticing shoreline and softly lapping waves. Overlooking it all, we spot the restaurant. It couldn’t have a better view.

We’re here for an à la carte dinner that we know is going to tick absolutely all the boxes and step inside, ready to be wowed. An industrial steel framework is softened by the boho chic of the décor, with velvet armchairs, soft cushions, low lighting, greenery and warm shades of burnt umber, taupe and mustard everywhere. Meanwhile, panes of glittering glass guarantee that the restaurant is light and airy and when the weather is warm enough, the roof opens to bring outside in.

We are greeted by Restaurant Manager Ali, Marketing Executive Nour and Chef Mohamed Sleiman (who we soon discover is very, very talented indeed) and two delicious mocktails – Pineapple Paradise and Cucumber Cool. Our hosts then bring a banquet of delights for us to enjoy. The starters! Where to begin?

We try the Quinoa and Avocado Salad – a bountiful dish that also includes peppers and cucumber, dotted with almond flakes and adorned with butter and lemon vinegar. It’s a mouthful of pure heaven – silky and lemony, with oodles of texture.

The stand-out dish of the trio of dips is the Smashed Guac. It’s smooth but has texture and bite. The tomato salsa is a wonderful contrast, as is the sour cream. With an abundance of tortilla chips, there’s enough for us to enjoy on this table and the next.

With the addition of chicken, the Caesar Salad deserves to be awarded main-course status, it’s so hearty. Delicious Romaine lettuce (there’s no room for Iceberg here) is accompanied by a homemade Caesar dressing that I honestly wish I had in my fridge. Crunchy focaccia, parmesan tuiles and beautifully grilled chicken complete this excellent dish.

The Polpo Alla Griglia is impossibly inventive. A crown of grilled octopus, wafer-thin slices of radish, pomegranate seeds, crispy chickpeas and chilli oil decorate a perfect creamy disc of hummus. It’s different and delightful. The Seabass Ceviche is piquant and moreish, mingling with tomato salsa, lime aioli, olives, coriander and chilli, which nestle together under tempura sheets. It’s a lighter dish, but one with substance.

But, oh, the Burrata and Tomato Flatbread. Flavoursome Heirloom tomatoes, pine nuts, basil pesto sauce, black olives, rocket leaves, aubergine and the pièce de resistance of olive powder sprinkled on the perfect ball of piquant burrata send the starter out of this world. It is seriously delicious. I would eat it again any time.

Before we reach capacity, we move on to the signature mains. At the first mouthful, you absolutely know that the Braised Beef Cheek has been slow-cooked for 48 hours. (It really has.) At the touch of a fork, the meat just falls apart. Accompanied by perfect mash, caramelised baby carrots, broccoli and a delicate drizzle of basil jus, it’s a dish guaranteed to satisfy the biggest appetite.

The Lobster Feast is amazing. A whole lobster is cooked to perfection and served with creamy quinoa and garlic, lemon and herb butter. The lobster is soft, sweet, toothsome and nothing short of delicious.

We barely have room for dessert, but try them anyway. The crispy and truly authentic Churros come with two sauces (chocolate and dulce de leche), while the fruit platter is the ideal palate cleanser.

I have to say that I would hurry back for the Chicken Caesar Salad and Churros any time.

Bay View is The St. Regis’s main restaurant; it seats 120 inside and 50 on the spacious terrace outside, so there’s ample room for guests. The restaurant is open every day for breakfast, lunch and dinner, when diners can expect their food to be accompanied by beautiful music. Saxophonist and oysters? Yes, please.

For more information or to make a reservation,
please call Bay View at The St. Regis Marsa Arabia Island,
The Pearl Qatar on 4020 4444.
@stregismarsaarabiaisland

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