Since our next class is going to be about food culture, I thought why not start with some food culture here in Qatar? As you all must be knowing, The Pearl Qatar is undoubtedly one of the most fastest growing glamorous areas in Qatar. With its growth, are increasing residential areas, food and beverage outlets, fashion outlets and many other business opportunities. Every time I go the Pearl, what attracts me the most are their restaurants. They have almost all types of restaurants you can imagine. From Lebanese, to French, to Chinese and Mexican and basically everything and lots more coming as well.
A Part of The Pearl Qatar
Recently, I went to a restaurant called 'Liza' with my friends. Liza started in Paris in 2005 and has opened their second branch in the Middle East, in the Pearl Qatar. It is a mix of Lebanese-French cuisine. Just the idea of combining Lebanese and French food together was very appealing to me.
Liza Restaurant at the Pearl Qatar
As soon as we entered Liza, the ambiance and setting stole my heart. The lighting, seating and music had one of the most perfect combinations I had ever seen. Once we ordered the food, I noticed that food was more Lebanese than French, however it's presentation was in a French style. The desserts were more French, but the starters and the main dishes were mostly Lebanese. When asked, the waiters said the basic ingredients of each dish are imported from Lebanon itself and the interior designing and the chinaware were all French.
As an aspiring sociologist, I was observing keenly on the demographics of the attendees and other guests around. Most of the attendees were either from Indian subcontinental region or some part of Africa, whereas most of the customers were either from Qatar itself, other Arab countries and very few Westerners and Europeans. I could hear them speak in French, hence I assumed they were from Europe.
What is the 'food culture' part of my experience at Liza? Well, first of all starting a restaurant that has Lebanese-French cuisine has provided me with an exposure to that category of food, which I do not get anywhere else in Qatar. Moreover, a large part of my experience at the Pearl comes from the service I receive at the restaurant itself. The customer service of Liza was beyond my expectation and we were treated with love, respect and very attentive employees. What I liked was also the fact that at the end of our food, they would ask for our feedback, comments or suggestions. This really helps standardizing a restaurant in terms of customer service as well as the meals themselves. We were also told that the Liza in Paris is exactly the same as the Liza here in Qatar in terms of its furniture, interior designing and the menu. In a way, we felt how it would feel if we were in Paris for say!
I would definitely recommend this restaurant if you are looking for a nice dining experience, this is definitely one of them!
