Dean and Deluca

I understand that this is based on a New York Deli? The one in Doha is nice in parts. The food, cake and sweets look tempting but we go here for the cheese and the turkey breast. The staff (too many to count really and they always seem to outnumber the customers) are very friendly and helpful. They have samples of cheese etc for you to taste that is good. Good ground coffee too, they will grind beans there for you right in the shop.

We also love the bars of chocolate by the  counter, the lime one is excellent!

Not so keen on the cafe, food for us is average and the service could be improved a lot. If you order one hot meal and one cold one they serve them to you at different times. You end up watching your dining partner eating theirs while you wait for yours.

However, the shop is worth a look around and has easy access to the car park too.

Here is a review from Time Out Doha

Al Bandar Fishmarket Restaurant in Souk Waqif

Went here a couple of times in the early summer and we sat outside. Does shisha that is not really for me but the waiters are friendly and the food is not bad. Nice place to people watch in the Souk Waqif and it is at the top of the main thoroughfare there. Food is mixed fish, Indian, Arabic fare so you will find something that you like.

Probably too hot to sit outside in the summer but a great place at the right time of year.

Here are some great reviews on Trip Advisor

Applebees in City Centre

I know this is just a chain restaurant but this was a little oasis for us in the City Centre Mall. Not my favourite mall at all, but it was nice to go into Applebees and get a steak and a light, bright atmosphere. Well cooked food and efficiently served.

Sometimes you just want something that you can rely on and Applebees fitted that bill.

The Lincoln Lawyer Movie

I am a big fan of Michael Connelly novels and the Lincoln Lawyer has now been turned into a movie that is currently being shown at the cinemas in Doha.

We went on 25 March 2011 to the cinema in Doha (be warned it does not open until 12.30pm on a Friday!!!!) and saw this film, it was great.

Stylish, witty and engaging as well as having first rate actors in it.

Well worth shelling out a few Riyals on. Get along to your local Doha cinema now!!!

J&G Sandwich Cellar

Went here when I first came to Doha in May 2010, and the sandwich I had was great. My collegues had meals. Felt very British and curiously there were pictures on the wall all about pork. Strange, as pork is banned in Qatar.

J&G's website should also be checked out as well!!!

Care for a stroll in Doha? Must do the Corniche

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I love the word "Corniche", seems very fanciful to me. This is one of the main features of Doha, the pathway (no cars) that runs around the bay of Doha. During pleasant weather, nothing could be nicer than strolling around here. At one end there is the Sheraton where you can stop for a drink and snack and walk back again.

We parked on the Corniche (where there is free car parking) at the Islamic Arts Museum and strolled around on New Years Day 2011. Lovely.

You can walk the Corniche, jog it or run it. Make a day of it and have a meal out too, well worth doing.

Doha International Airport - A & W Best Burgers in Town!!!

In the current airport (March 2011) not the new Doha International Airport (currently being built) if you go through departures and go upstairs there is a big cafe/restaurant in the corner. The decor is not in the least spectacular but it has two great attributes. It is called A&W.

The burgers served here for me really are the best in town. If you have time before your flight then be sure to pop in and fill up, well worth the visit.

Also along the counter there is an ice cream stall that is good too, so that can be your dessert.

Do not be put off by the general ambience, the fast food is great!!!

Restaurant in Doha - The Bukara (The Best!!!)

For me the best restaurant in town, irrespective of food type. This is the Bukhara that is situated in the Tennis Club Centre at the West Bay end of the Corniche. Fantastic food, great service and a nice atmosphere. Typical cost of a meal for two is about 140 Riyals. No alcohol.

They also do great deliveries as well. The driver complains to us if he hasn't been to our place at least once a week.

Here are some reviews on Qatar Living.

Phone: 4483-3345

Fantastic.

(Picture not from Bukara!!!)

Toastmasters Meeting Monday 28 March 2011

Please come along to our next Toastmasters Meeting, that is a Competition Night, you just need to come along and sit back and enjoy the experience. Speeches are usually humorous, thought provoking and entertaining. You will also certainly make some new friends.

Toastmasters Website

The Date:    Monday 28 March 2011

The Time:    6pm to 9pm

The Venue:    Karawan Hall, Gulf Paradise Hotel, near the Jaidah Flyover, Gulf Street, Doha, Qatar

A map to the venue is below:

http://www.vop.pl/qatar/doha/gulf-paradise-hotel-hotel-68844.html

 

Books in Doha - Kindle

Kindle: Get your books electronically from Amazon UK or USA. You will need a UK/USA credit card registered in those countries I believe. You can get most books this way and read them on your computer or get a Kindle and read them on that. Probably the best way, I will get a Kindle later this year as at present I read them on the laptop.

Books in Doha - Importing Books

Importing Books: This is a pretty slow and expensive option. You can get someone to send you books but this roughly doubles the price. I ordered six James Patterson books from Amazon UK and got them sent on to me. Cost of books £32, cost of posting them to Doha from the UK about £35. Took about 3 weeks too.

The Company Aramex do a system for you to order books etc and get them to Doha for you. Their offices are just off the Salwa Road one roundabout from the Decoration Roundabout or they have a stall in the Landmark Shopping Mall too I think?

Or maybe you could get a friend who is coming in to Qatar to bring you some books. Or pop over to Dubai where there are many more bookstores and a far bigger selection than Qatar.

Books in Doha - Book Fair

Doha Book Fair: This was held earlier this year, November 2010 in the Exhibition Centre, had quite a few English books (and loads of Arabic ones). Not sure if it is on next year 2011 as well?

Need to check the local press or look at the signs on the sides of the road (huge ones!!!)

Books in Doha - Car Boot Sales

Car Boot Sales: Doha College for example has car boot sales so it is worth looking out for these. Not too many of these sales in the summer as it is too hot!

You can check these up on websites such as Qatar Living and Qatar Visitor or Time Out Doha magazine. These also have other details about what to do in Doha.

Books in Doha - Qatar Websites

Qatar Websites:

Qatar Living for example has a classifieds section. People come and go in Doha and those that leave often sell off their book collections.

Also another good website is Qatar Visitor.

Both websites have news, views, details of Qatar etc and are worth looking at in addition for book searching.

Worth checking out and revisiting every so often, I got some of James Patterson's Alex Cross series from someone just round the corner.

The Biriyani House a good cheap curry shop

coffee, curries and more: In search of the best biriyani

The Link above is to someone else who has visited the Biriyani House.

There is also a review with comments on Qatar Living

We have been to this Biriyani House in the Industrial Area of Doha and we liked it very much. Cheap food, plentiful and well cooked. The decor is pretty basic but it is clean and tidy. Staff very welcoming.

The surrounding area is not great but it is worth taking the trouble to find the Biriyani House and having a meal there too. Does other food (Filipino etc) too.

Thanks for the link!!!

Books in Doha - Jarir Bookstore

Jarir Bookstore: Best known branch is on the Salwa Road near the Ramada crossroads. A pain to park around there so try and go when it is quiet. With the roadworks outside at the moment it is even more of a pain. The thriller mystery books are OK but not great in terms of selection. They seem to have loads of copies of one or two books by an author and you cannot find any more, a bit of a nuisance if you are trying to read a series.

Also sells computers and equipment, magazines, pens etc. Has a small Costa Coffee in the corner too.

The Salwa Road branch is at etc: Qatar Showroom: Salwa Road, Ramada Crossing, Doha
Showroom Timings: Sat-Thu 9am-1pm, 4pm-10pm; Fri 4pm-10pm
Tel. No. +974 444-0212, Fax No.+974 444-0432

The other branch is Al Rayyan Showroom:Al Sheikh Salman bin Khalid Al Thani Center, Al Rayyan Al Jadeed Road, Doha
Showroom Timings: Sat-Thu 9am-1pm, 4pm-10pm; Fri 4pm-10pm
Tel. No. +974 411-4322, Fax No.+974 411-4838

Books in Doha - I Spy Book Shop in City Centre Mall

I Spy Book Shop In City Centre Shopping Mall  (down in West Bay) on the top floor at the food court end. Quite a good selection of thrillers, cost around 35 Riyals. Worth checking out. They ordered some Harlan Coben novels for me but they took over a month to get to Doha and then I was charged from 50 to 55 Riyals per copy.

Worth a visit.

Books in Doha - Virgin in Villaggio

Best branch is in the Villaggio Shopping Mall near the Aspire Tower. Since they revamped the store a bit they have much more selection. The selection for me is pretty good but their books are pretty expensive around 50 to 55 Riyals per book.

Also sell computer games, musical instruments, TV's, computers, magazines, CD's, DVD's etc.

Cafes just outside the door and all air conditioned as well.

Books in Doha at Caribou Coffee

Caribou Coffee On the Salwa Road near the Alzizya Roundabout. Go upstairs and they have quite a slection. Unfortunately it is in the smoking section so go there when it is quiet or hold your breath! Books are relatively cheap for Qatar, about 22 to 25 Riyals for a paperback.

Probably the cheapest for books in Doha!!!

Toastmasters Public Speaking Group (Talking Matters)

Don't know what to do in Doha? Every two weeks the Toastmasters Club I belong to has a meeting. The Club is called Talking Matters Toastmasters Club and it has a Facebook page and will have a website soon too!

There are about 40 Toastmasters Clubs in Qatar. The Toastmasters International organisation is American based, starting in the 1920's.

Every two weeks the club has a meeting where people give prepared speeches building up to become a Competent Communicator (10 speeches checking for different aspects of public speaking). Speeches last from 5 to 7 minutes. Other Club members play roles such as the Grammarian, Timer, Ah Counter etc. Every encouragement is given to you, there is no criticism just suggestions to help improve you.

I am up to P2 level that is I have given my second speech towards the ten to become a Competent Communicator. So far, even in this brief time, it has enabled me to overcome the fear of public speaking (there is no holding me back now!), to consider how I structure speeches, to practice beforehand etc. My wife gave her first P1 Icebreaker speech yesterday and she is still buzzing from the experience.

It costs 400 QAR for each six months to be a member. 27 US$ of this is for Toastmasters International and the rest of the money goes to hiring the hall, snacks at the interval etc.

The people at our club are very welcoming so please check out the Facebook page of Talking Matters Toastmasters Club in Doha. Please come along to our next meeting as a guest, no charge, the meeting will be at 7pm on Monday 28 March 2011 (Venue to be decided).

Look forward to seeing you then!!!

Italian Restaurant Cinque Sensi in the Souk Waqif

The restaurant Cinque Sensi is an Italian restaurant with fantastic food. It is situated at the "top" end of the Souk Waqif. Nice atmosphere, friendly and attentive waiting staff and not overbearing. Fantastic food with free small portions of tasters inbetween.

We have always loved to go there for a romantic meal. Open quite long hours and always worth a visit. No alcohol and about 250 to 300 Riyals for a meal for two.

You can also sit out side on the veranda and watch the people go by or sit inside and be more romantic.

Well worth a visit, especially if you want to add a bit of romantic atmosphere to your evening!!!

Nice feature in Doha Time Out too.

Phone 4443 2999

Caribou Coffee Salwa Road

A good coffee shop in Doha. This is Caribou Coffee on the Salwa Road, near the Azizya Roundabout. Good coffee and snacks that you would expect. Comfy sofas downstairs that is non smoking. Open during prayer time on Fridays!

Upstairs is smoking unfortunately as they have a selection of books to buy up here. Quite good selection too and not too expensive for Doha (22 to 25 Riyals for thriller type paperbacks). There is also a meeting room too for about a dozen people.

Magazines to read downstairs and you can get 1 QAR off of your bill if you can answer a general knowledge question behind the counter. Free wi-fi.

Worth popping in.