Lawson Misquitta visited Teatro Downtown to try their new menu that proved to be a delightful journey of flavours across many beloved cuisines.

Located in the bustling heart of Manama and tucked away on the fourth floor of the Downtown Rotana is the hotel’s premier restaurant – Teatro Downtown.

Upon arriving at the restaurant on a lively Thursday evening, me and my dining companions were warmly greeted by the staff and were seated at a table that showed off a lovely panoramic view of the city centre.

As I looked around the place, I found myself impressed by the aesthetic of the restaurant’s interior which was characterised by tasteful modern décor with an elegant and relaxed ambience.

Truth be told, we were quite excited to be making the trip to Teatro that evening after being made aware of their new, revamped menu. As we looked through the menu, we were visited at our table by Teatro’s Head Chef Warrick Ong. Hailing from the Philippines, Chef Ong has been an integral part of Downtown Rotana’s kitchen for over six years. He enthusiastically told us about the various new additions to the menu and highlighted its simple intention of being able to offer a more globally-inspired cuisine to guests.

We kicked off our evening with refreshing mocktails of orange juice, lime and soda. And it wasn’t long before our first appetisers, Beef Bao and Burrata, arrived at the table. The light and fluffy steamed bao buns were stuffed with a juicy, mouth-watering filling of braised beef brisket and crisp Asian slaw. It was accompanied with a serving of spicy Gochujang mayo that brought just the right amount of heat to every bite. While on the other hand the second dish was a revelation to me, creamy rich burrata served with fresh juicy Heirloom tomatoes diced to just the right size, along with Taggiasca olives and dressed with basil, olive oil and pesto sauce; this was simplicity at its flavourful finest and a new personal favourite of mine! Things were undeniably off to a great start!

Next, we were treated to one of Chef Ong’s signature sushi preparations called the Passion Torch Roll. Held together by a thinly cut slice of flame-seared salmon on the outside, done using a torch to gently scorch the surface of the fish, transforming its flavour and bringing forth a singed, smoky texture. It served as the perfect contrast to the buttery and silky feel of the fresh tuna and avocado on the inside. Topped with a delectable sauce and dressed up with a pretty edible flower and pieces of gold leaf, this was visually a sight to behold that was equally as satisfying once eaten, colour us impressed!

This was followed with an amazing Combo Bento Box that included chicken satay skewers, Peking duck spring rolls and wasabi shrimp tempura. Every preparation brought out something special from each of the ingredients used. Combined with the accompanying sauces – wasabi mayo, mango Dijon and peanut sauce, it was an absolute triple threat of meaty goodness! Thereafter came the main courses, the first of which was the Lobster Linguine – a rich, creamy and deeply flavourful bisque infused with garlic, onion and chilli was the perfect base for smooth strands of perfectly cooked spaghetti. Handfuls of cherry tomatoes along with the tender, firm and succulent pieces of lobster meat completed the dish in the most pleasing and sublime manner. This was truly one of the standout dishes of the night.

Also offered on Teatro’s menu is a variety of choices for personalised ramen preparations, and we had to try some for ourselves, opting for the miso sauce with beef broth and chicken. The rich brown broth was bold and hearty, with a beautiful umami flavour and was drizzled sparsely with chilli oil to add that extra oomph, absolutely delicious! Other elements such as the noodles, various veggies, boiled egg and the perfectly cooked chicken came together to create the ideal bowl of soupy brilliance.

Our final main course was a wonderful cut of ribeye steak that had been well seasoned and cooked exactly as requested to a perfect medium. The robust flavours and juices came flowing abundantly with every melt-in-your-mouth bite.

We ended the dinner with a stunning dessert called the Teatro Special Nougat Parfait. Part of the closing act, this was a grand finale if ever I’ve seen one. Served on a mountain of ice, decorated elaborately and placed throughout were nearly all of the exquisite offerings from the dessert menu. There were plenty of delicious tropical fruits, different flavoured mochis and the Valrhona fondant cake served with vanilla ice cream and more. But the clear standout for me was the Nougat Parfait, which consisted of hazelnut nougat parfait with milk chocolate crunch along with spicy orange marmalade and chocolate gelato – every spoonful just hit the right spot!

As the night ended, I must highlight that all the staff were extremely kind and attentive throughout our meal, which helped make the overall experience great.

The variety offered on the new menu left us thoroughly impressed and satisfied with the culinary journey across different cuisines. There’s plenty more to explore at Teatro and we will be returning soon. I’d recommend you should visit too. ✤

GO: CALL 1311 9999 FOR MORE INFORMATION OR TO MAKE A RESERVATION.