By Alyaa Malik
Go on a gustatory journey spanning five countries at Spectrum, Rosh Royhaan by Rotana’s newest addition to its roster of fine dining restaurants.
Business travelers and food savants will appreciate the luxe dining experience that awaits in the elegant interiors of Spectrum. At the entrance, you are welcomed by a state-of-the-art open kitchen on your right, filled with fresh displays of ingredients and bustling chefs. Step further into the restaurant to your left and you will find an array of leather white seating that captures the eye, adding a touch of glamour against the prevailing red and black décor.
The menu is a compilation of culinary inspirations from Thailand, India, China, Japan and Italy. Such a selection is favorable to a five-star hotel that caters to international guests from various parts of the world. Their beverage menu is impressive with lots of creative cocktails to choose from. I would recommend their wood-smoked drinks for its aromatic presentation and memorable taste.
For starters, the Asian Plate composed of fried tempura prawns, Peking duck spring rolls and vegetable sambusa is a play on crunch and munch. Alongside came a platter of spiced papadums with four dipping sauces to choose from – each exclaiming flavors of sweet, sour, cool and spicy. From the sushi bar, a geometric arrangement of nigiri, sushi and maki rolls arrived much to our delight. Don’t ignore the pickled ginger on the side as it helped cleanse our every bite. Judging from the appetizers alone, our tastebuds have taken off to reach Asia already. And it intended to stay there.
The only touch of Italy that we managed to try was their Spaghetti Aragosta on the main course route. It had a creamy texture and rich chunks of lobster meat. Between that and the Far East Delight though, we gravitated more towards the tastier sauce of the stir-fried seafood mixed with udon noodles of the latter. It had a more complex combination of ingredients that were also filling. Meanwhile, a large serving of Laziz Mahi Tikka was amidst us as well and it was a well-balanced recipe of having a soft, moist hamour acting as a canvas for the striking flavors of salt, cumin, turmeric and chili powder. If that proves to be too forward for some, pair it with the cup of basmati rice that comes along with it. However, for something more familiar and mild, they also have a classic Butter Chicken viand that comes with assorted Naan bread.
For dessert, there was the Lemongrass Crème Brulee, Coconut Ice Cream and Strawberry Cheesecake sorbet. The choices were refreshing in nature, with the infusion of the lemongrass cutting through the sweetness of the custard. The fruitiness of the strawberry and coconut being served in cold form was light and cheerful to the tongue. It was the final leisure stop to an otherwise exciting food trip.
Expect a five-star treatment at Spectrum with a staff that aims to please. It is an upscale choice for a dinner experience however, if it’s covering five countries in one place, then it’s probably worth the price.
Spectrum
Al Olaya, Rosh Royhaan by Rotana
Contact No. +966-11-447-9888
Opening Hours: 7:30PM to 12:00 PM daily
