Bahrain 2025 – Kardabab Beach Grills. The dinner

You can’t say you were in Bahrain if you don’t taste Bahraini food. 

That’s why I ask Hossam to bring us to a local place for dinner. 

He’s doubtful.

“Are you sure they will like it? The meat is amazing, but it’s a very traditional place, maybe it’s better to go to another restaurant? Do you want to see the pictures first?”

I dismiss his worries with a gesture of my hand.

“They will love it. And in the very unlikely case they won’t, you can put the blame on me”.

They are Elodie and Céline and I know enough about them to be absolutely certain that they didn’t come all the way to Manama to have a schnitzel or pasta and though it’s my first time in Bahrain, I know enough about the region to be 100% sure that the traditional food will be delicious.

So, Hossam comes to pick us up by car and we go.

I don’t know why, but when the four of us are together it’s like our energy shines brighter. We are a good match to one another and that creates moments of such an intense lively beauty that you would never want it to end. I always laugh so much that my jaw aches. Even now, in the car, we are super loud and super noisy. Honestly, I don’t know how he stands us… Joke after joke, laugh after laugh, finally we arrive.

Hossam promises the meat is delicious and there is no reason not to trust his word. It’s a huge open space on a synthetic grass carpet and dozens of tables and chairs. There is also the children area with the playground and even a pony ( I do want to ride the pony but I’m to ashamed  to do so). We sit, and our guide exchanges a few words with the waiter in Arabic and then they laugh.

“I was here yesterday with a group of men and tonight he sees me back with 3 ladies, he asked how did I manage this”.

“So your status got upgraded because we are with you?”

“Something like that, yes”. And we laugh again.

The waiter takes the order and after a while our table is covered with tons of meat cooked in many different ways. Skeeters, kebab, pies with cheese, spicy shrimps, bread, leafs … and much more. Hossam wants us to taste as much as possible, I believe he must have ordered half of the menu, or maybe all of it. Oh boy, I should have skept lunch. 

One dish in particular attract our attention and he explains that is the lamb neck and it’s one of the best options they have. It really looks delicious, so we rip a piece of bread and we pull the meat with our hands. 

Oh my gosh, it’s really delicious. Tender as butter, soft, juicy, it’s melting in my mouth. It’s so tasty that we ask to have a second portion, though there is plenty of food that we will never be able to eat.

As Céline’s area of expertise is media, she is the one taking funny pictures, that one day will become cheer-up stickers.

There is a variety of soft drinks and I go for pomegranate juice. It’s one of my favorite, so I always have it when I can, furthermore I’m able to order it directly in Arabic, it’s one of the few things I did not forget.

I am so full that I leave up to the Elodie, Céline and Hossam to tackle dessert.

Once ascertained that we are not able to swallow anything more, the gentleman sets the bill – by the way, thank you for the invitation – and brings us to another place for the shisha experience.

I’m the only shisha smoker, they prefer vape. Elodie tells me that shisha is very bad for your lungs, but I only smoke it when I am visiting Arabic countries, so I give myself permission not to feel guilty about it.

The scenario changes quickly and we are back to shiny Manama at the Voice restaurant café.

I’m happy with my shisha and grateful for this night. 

I go back to Kardabab Beach Grills for my last dinner in Bahrain. The video is from there.