La Petite Maison Doha (LPM) brings its global French Riviera dining concept to Qatar and Sirine Boudjadi pays a visit to see what it has to offer.
LPM is one of those concepts that exists in every major city: London, Dubai, Miami, Hong Kong and so on. All built around this very specific idea of the French Riviera. Not in a clichéd way, but in that effortless, slightly chaotic, olive-oil-on-everything kind of way. Here in Qatar, the charming French restaurant is set on Al Maha Island in Lusail.
Outside, you’ve got the full marina situation: still water, neon-lit buildings reflecting across it, that almost unreal skyline moment. Inside, it’s a different energy. The main dining room mixes warm wooden floors with crisp white tablecloths. The chairs are upholstered in soft beige leather and the banquettes in the back add that more relaxed, intimate touch.
In the entertainment area, the flooring changes completely. You get these small mosaic tiles in light stone tones, with black ornamental patterns running through them. It visually breaks the space and adds a more Mediterranean feel. The space itself is a standout. Marble backdrop, mirrored shelves, warm lighting reflecting on all the bottles.
On the other side of the restaurant, the open kitchen brings a touch of movement into the room. You see the chefs working, fresh ingredients displayed and glass shelves. The place is full, so I have high expectations, especially as a French girl, to see if the food will taste good and feel familiar.
Starters are very much in that LPM style: straightforward, meant for sharing and everything arrives as it’s ready, so the table just builds itself. The Calamars Frits (calamari) come in a bowl, golden and properly crispy, with green chilli slices scattered on top and a wedge of lime on the side. The Escargots de Bourgogne (snails) are still sizzling, sitting in a small dish, bathed in garlic butter and chopped parsley. Classic! The Crevettes Tièdes à l’Huile d’Olive are probably the most minimal but definitely a favourite. Just a few warm prawns laying in a pool of olive oil with a bit of lemon juice and herbs.
It’s also time for us to explore the mocktails. When we arrived, the team dropped what looked like a magazine on the table. It has a contents page, an editorial, random features, a horoscope, crosswords and then, somewhere in there, the drinks menu. The Grand Prix is the best-seller, according to our waiter, so I go for it. It’s made with elderflower, pear, hops and Lyre’s Classico sparkling. I’m usually not into mocktails because they tend to be too sweet, but this one is actually really well balanced. It’s fresh, slightly floral, with a light sparkle, and not heavy at all. The waiter also brings over two more for us to try: the Berry Breeze (berries shaken with mint, lemon juice, vanilla and passionfruit) and the Limonade Noire (rosemary-infused honey with verjuice and activated charcoal, topped with sparkling water). Both feel quite original, especially the Limonade Noire, whose colour could easily put you off, but is actually really good. It’s rare to see a mocktail menu this well put together, so I’m into it.
For mains, we stay in that same sharing mindset and trust our waiter’s recommendations, especially since he already did such a great job with the drinks. He suggests the Côtelettes d’Agneau Vivienne. Four lamb cutlets, nicely caramelised with that sticky glaze, served with olive and aubergine caviar, which adds a bit more depth to the whole dish. The Gratin Dauphinois doesn’t last too long either. A proper potato gratin, golden on top with crispy edges, and completely creamy inside. Same for the Pommes Frites with Garlic Rosemary, basically a must.
Pasta is also a big part of LPM and, as we’re told, the Gnocchi A La Tomate Fraîche is non-negotiable. It looks very simple, just a small plate with a bright tomato sauce and a bit of basil. But once you start, it’s hard to stop. The pieces are super soft but still have a bit of bite, and the sauce has that slightly sweet, fresh tomato flavour that works perfectly. The Daurade Entière Au Citron is probably the most ‘we’re in the south of France’ moment. The seabream is baked with Provençal herbs and lemon and meant for sharing. We’re already full, but we still go for it. It’s light, delicate, easy to eat and, even if we didn’t need it, we’re happy to have it.
We end with desserts, which is also something LPM does really well. My friend orders the Gâteau au Fromage Frais, basically a vanilla cheesecake with berry compote and she loves it. She keeps going on about how light it is: smooth, not too sweet and easy to finish even after a full dinner. As usual, I go for the chocolate option: Mousse au Chocolat Chaude et Glace à l’Orge, and this is the standout for me. It comes very simply, just a small dish with the warm chocolate and the barley ice cream already melting into it, plus a thin chocolate shard on top. Somewhere between a mousse and a fondant, it’s probably one of the best desserts I’ve had in Qatar.
So, of course, it’s not exactly the south of France, but it’s probably the closest you’ll get in Qatar. It delivers that same feeling, just in a completely different setting, and I’m glad to have found somewhere I can come back to when I miss home.
For more information or to make a booking, please call La Petite Maison Doha on 4420 9888.
@lpmdoha