Wagamama

Last visits: 31 January 2017, lunch
Taste: 4/5
Cost performance: 2/5
Location: Lagoona Mall

Though the taste was OK, but it was quite pricey.
For Wagamana Ramen, it costed QAR 58, you can get 2 ramen in Japan.
Wagamama Ramen was described as miso based, but the miso taste was thin, not as miso ramen in Japan. The topping was generous, with grilled chicken, seashell (or was it oyster?), shrimp, and bamboo shoots.
One good thing, the green tea was free.

The branch in Lagoona Mall is located outside in the square looking up the zigzag towers.

This Japanese international chain was from UK, and I visited once in Heathrow Airport.

By the way, "wagamama" is Japanese word meaning "egoist" or "self centered" or "selfish".

Green Gate in Al Khor

Last visits: 29 January 2017, dinner
Taste: 3/5
Cost performance: 3/5
Location: Al Khor

This restaurant became less crowded after opening of Panoor Restaurant in the town.
After visiting Panoor these months, we decided to visit Green Gate again, after some Indian colleagues said they preferred Green Gate over Panoor.

For me, Green Gate won over Chicken Lollypop and the bread (Nan) basket, but other gravy items, I prefer Panoor.
I liked the prawn butter masala, but other gravy items were not that good.

We ordered rare duck mappas listed in special of the day (3 duck menu), but I didn't like it.

Our bill:
- Chicken Lollypop, QAR 15
- Duck Mappas, QAR 22
- Prawn Butter Masala, QAR 25
- Hakka Noodles, QAR 15
- Bhindi Masala, QAR 14
- Palak Paneer, QAR 15
- Manchow Soup, Hot n Sour Soup, Lentil Soup, QAR 10
- Tandoori Chicken Full, QAR 28
- Ice cream (2 scoop from Chocolate, Vanilla, Strawberry, Mango), QAR 20
- Mineral water (1.5 ltr), QAR 2

Michael Pangilinan Live

Michael Pangilinan Live
26 January 2017, 19:00
La Cigale Hotel
https://www.aynatickets.com/event/eventdetail/45
VIP: QAR 200 (bonus CD)
Regular: QAR 120

Though I didn't understand when they spoke Filipino, I was happy attending the concert.
Michael Pangilinan was multi talented, not only good in singing, but he was an excellent entertainer.
Couple of times he went down into the audience seats and he invited some people on the stage, not only girls, but also a gay guy at the end.

Though the flier said from 6pm, the show was actually started passed 8pm, with the raffle.
The opening acts was a dance by some Filipino kids living here.
Then a newcomer singer from the Philippines, Tony Labrusca, sung 2 songs.



 

Breakfast at Mokarabia at Ezdan Hotel

Visit: 27 October 2016, breakfast
Taste: 4/5
Cost performance: 3/5
Location: Ezdan Hotel

With opening of Costa Cafe (open 24 hours), more options to have breakfast in Ezdan hotel, however, I decided to have here in my favourite spot.

Had capuccino monte bianco (white and slightly sweet capuccino) and Shawarma Star (with banana and strawberry inside).
I liked the sweet shawarma, but that time I felt a little bit too sweet.

My bill:
- Capucchino Monte Bianco, QAR 25
- Shawarma Star, QAR 25

Friday Brunch in Westin

Last visits: 27 January 2017, brunch
Taste: 3/5
Cost performance: 3/5
Location: Seasonal Taste Restaurant at Westin Hotel

I got 25% notification email from them, so we decided to try.
There were 3 courses to choose like below.
The food was less gorgeous that Four Seasons brunch, but I liked the environment with the live DJ, a white lady. Then at one time, staffs started to dance, then many guests joined to dance together.

395 QAR – Bubbalicious  (Sparkling wine, Red & White Wine, Spirits, Beers) – 296.25 QAR ( After Discount)

340 QAR  – Supercilious Brunch  (Red/ White Wine & Beer) – 255 QAR ( After Discount)

320 QAR – Delicious Brunch  ( Soft Beverages) 240 QAR ( After Discount)

Lo Spaghetto

Last visits: 26 January 2017, dinner alone
Taste: 4/5
Cost performance: 3/5
Location: near La Cigale Hotel, the small street with Toys R Us in the corner

My first and only visit to this restaurant was few years back in their old Al Saad location.
The new location was brighter and nicer.
I saw two Italian staff, both young guys, one in the cashier and the other one, tall and hot guy, making the pizza.

It was 18:30 slightly after they opened, but the restaurant were quite full with diners.
Since I was alone, I only ordered seafood pasta and sparkling water.
The taste was OK, but I think they could be better with the presentation.
It was like just dumped from the fried pan into the bowl.
The seafood inside, like the crab, was difficult to eat. The shrimp heads were still with their long antenna hair.
Would love to come back though, to try other dishes.

My bill:
- Spaghetti Frutti di Mare, QAR 75
- Acqua Sparkling Water, QAR 12

Jollibee

Last visits: 21 January 2017, dinner
Taste: 4/5
Cost performance: 4/5
Location: Ezdan Mall Food Court

This is the most selling chain restaurant in the Philippines.
First time ate in Qatar.
Good alternative for KFC.
Good value for this pack including 3 chickens (one is wing), fries, drink, corn salad and bun/rice, for QAR 19.
They have a special BBQ sauce.

But for me, I prefer KFC because it is crispier.

Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra: Greatest Film Music of Outer Space

Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra: Greatest Film Music of Outer Space
21 January 2017, 19:30
Qatar National Convention Centre (QNCC) Theatre
http://qatarphilharmonicorchestra.org/concerts/view/greatest-film-music-of-outer-space/

Nice concert of movie films, many from Star Trek, but also from Superman, Matrix, Aliens etc.
At the enchore, they played Star Wars Episode VII.
Nice with screening at the back ground.

The Cheesecake Factory

Last visits: 20 January 2017, Friday dinner
Taste: 4/5
Cost performance: 3/5
Location: Mall of Qatar

The first in Qatar, quite popular that we had to wait about 30 minutes to be seated.
The portion was big, too much for Asian like us.
Chose the spicy jambalaya pasta and was nice.
Ordered also Salted Caramel Cheesecake, also a big one, could not finish it myself after dinner.
A lot to choose from the menu too, with variety of International food.
There was "Skinnilicious" menu for people on diet.
Though it was not cheap, generally we were satisfied with the food and service.

Our bill:
- Jambalaya, QAR 98
- Smokehouse Burger, QAR 65
- Americana Cheeseburger, QAR 65
- Hot tea, QAR 15 (to select from a box of tea bags)
- Salt Caramel Cheesecake, QAR 38

Ooredoo Marathon 2017

http://www.gulf-times.com/story/527894/Kenyans-dominate-Ooredoo-Marathon

First time joined Ooredoo Marathon and was happy to participate.
The good feeling finishing the run was great.
Relatively well organized by Premier Online.
Only during the registration, the staff took time to find the race pack (an envelope) with my bib number, since they had to find it from boxes of envelopes.

Shreya Ghoshal Live

Shreya Ghoshal Live
13 January 2017, 18:00-23:00
ALI BIN HAMAD AL ATTIYAH ARENA
https://www.aynatickets.com/event/eventdetail/28

It was written from 18:00, but the first performer started at about 19:30, and the main singer appeared after 20:00.

Less than my expectation, there was no back dancer at all.
Only the singer and the live band.
A bit boring for me.

I think I was the only non-Indian audience there.

Happy to listen my favorite Bollywood song, Channa Mereya was performed by side male artist.

La Villa Hotel

Stay: 12 January 2017 (Thursday)
Booked by: Agoda
Paid: QAR 189
Room: 608

Located near Ghanim Bus Terminal, behind Kingsgate Hotel, 5 minutes walking from Museum of Islamic Arts (MIA).
Chose here because joining Ooredoo Marathon the next day early morning.

What I liked:
- Location, in souq areas, about 5-10 minutes walking from Museum of Islamic Arts and Souq Wakif. Lots of local restaurants and shops around.
- Good value, one of the cheapest options in Doha, renovated room.
- Room was small but bed was big. Room with window, good soundproofing glass window.

What I didn't like:
- No water kettle in the room. I ordered hot water for drink from the Room Service, they brought me a pot of hot water, but the taste of the water was awful, it was the taste of the plastic pot. In their newer branch La Villa Palace Hotel (I stayed in the previous week), it was available in the room.
- No hairdryer in the room. I tried to borrow but they said it was not available. In their newer branch La Villa Palace Hotel (I stayed in the previous week), it was available in the room.
- Room soundproofing was not good, could hear noise from the hall and other rooms.
- Shower door could not be closed tightly that water come out during shower causing floor wet. But better than La Villa Palace which had no choice than flooding the whole bathroom floor during shower.
- Morning call was 10 minutes late.
- Mold on the clothed wrapped drawer next to the bed.
- Wifi sometime stopping.

Shop Qatar Fireworks

Shop Qatar Fireworks
12, 13, 14 January 2017, 20:00
Corniche
http://www.iloveqatar.net/event/content/shop-qatar-corniche-fireworks

La Villa Palace Hotel

Stay: 6 January 2017 (Thursday)
Booked by: Agoda
Paid: QAR 189
Room: 307

Newly opened hotel by renovating previous building.
Sister hotel with "La Villa Hotel" and "La Villa Inn".
Good value, though the room was small.
Many doors, seems like they made now smaller rooms from the original building bigger rooms.

What I liked:
- The staffs were friendly.
- The water kettle was provided in the room and the hair dryer too. Two water bottles were provided.
- The location, surrounding many local shops.
- Though I didn't use it, there was a small gym.
- Though I didn't use it, there was a large private parking in the hotel (not on the road).

What I didn't like:
- The shower, all over the bathroom floor was wet after shower since there was nothing to prevent the shower water flooding the whole floor. No bath tub.
- The room wall was thin, so I could hear people checked out in the morning. Also the pigeon/doves voice woke me up from the window.

Layali Doha Restaurant and Coffee Shop

Last visits: 5 January 2017
Taste: 4/5
Cost performance: 4/5
Location: Ghanim

Lemon with Mint Shisha: QAR 20
Tea: QAR 8

Though I don't think they are cheap, but this place is very popular.
I visited about 10-11pm, and left about midnight, but the place was still crowded.
I even had to share table with other guy.

Though the place was dark, pink, and full of smoke, somehow it was cozy.
Most people, many Arabic and Indian, smoked shisha and drink coffee/tea.
Big screen for sport watching were there.

I enjoyed my time smoke shisha and watching FC Barcelona vs. Athletico Madrid match that night.

The wifi was not working.

MRA Bakery Sweets and Restaurant

Last visits: 6 January 2016, breakfast
Taste: 4/5
Cost performance: 5/5
Location: Al Ghanim

Second time to MRA chains, this time I visited the branch in Old Doha, their first restaurant in Doha.

I ordered Dosa Plain (QAR 6) and Egg Curry (QAR 8) and my friend ordered Dosa Set (QAR 7).
We ordered also Chai.

Its Dosa Plain was crispier the one in Markiya branch, but the egg curry was good.
Dosa Set's Dosa was not the same as Dosa Plain, was thicker and white. It came with dhall curry.

Cucina at Marriot Marquis Hotel

Last visits: 5 January 2017, dinner
Taste: 4/5
Cost performance: 3/5
Location: Doha Marriott Marquis City Center Hotel

We were 4 persons, ordered one appetizer, one risotto (asparagus seafood), one pizza (diabola) and one pasta (seafood fetuccine), also drank beers, one bottle of white wine and espresso, we paid QAR 647 (after 15% discount as hotel residence).

The interior decoration was good and the service was nice, the food was good too but not that special, I think.
Taste wise, I think W Hotel's La Spiga was better, but Cucina was cheaper and brighter here.

Souq Wakif Boutique Hotel

Stay: 23-26 December 2016 (3 nights)
Booked by: Direct booking
Paid: QAR 1850 (3 nights, with breakfast for 3 persons with extra bed)
Room: 103

Booked this hotel for my family visit to Qatar.

The hotel concept was magnificent, a collection of 8 boutique hotels (buildings) inside the great Souq Wakif, Qatar number one tourist spot, nearby the other biggest tourist spots like Corniche and Museum of Islamic Arts.

The design of each hotel was nice too, they were boutique hotels anyway.

However, the above might be the only good things about this hotel.

What I didn't like:
- The reservation team, namely Hassan and Hany. Their responses were not timely, their follow-ups were bad and many emails were not responded. I requested also them to arrange the visa for my family, but they informed the visa was rejected just one day after application without further information.
- The receptionist, namely Sameer. He insisted my booking was a room for 3 persons without extra bed. I had to argue with him, telling him how come he asked us to sleep in a double bed room for 3 persons without an extra bed, before finally he called the hotel reservation team and got the correct info that my booking was with extra bed. Even after the confirmation, he informed us that no extra bed was available, all was booked long time ago. I told him that I booked the extra bed 2 months before. Finally another hotel staff, not wearing jacket suit like Sameer, informed me that he would arrange an extra bed from other building.
All 3 staffs mentioned above were proud Arabic who didn't know to work in hospitality.
- The room was small, comparatively small, considering the room price.
- The swimming pool was small, the gym, though large, was not well equipped. The jacuzzi had to be operated myself (was no water).

What was nice:
- The other staff like the room boys. They were of South Indians, friendly and better educated in serving guests than above mentioned 3 Arabic staff.

Maison de Sushi

Last visits: 31 December 2016, lunch
Taste: 4/5
Cost performance: 4/5
Location: 01 Mall

Remotely located in Doha Industrial Area, inside a small newly opened (2015?) 01 Mall, this all the time all you can eat by order system for QAR 130 per person is a good value.

By order system, it ensures the food is freshly made.

Not only Japanese food, Thai food is available too.

Though the sushi is not as Japanese authentic due to the rice, it is still OK.

The drink is included and the dessert, though only 2 choices is included too.

I love the interior design.

Tempura

Pad Thai