November 2015 91 www.bahrainthismonth.com “W agamama is coming to Bahrain!” a colleague announced with uncontainable enthusiasm. Based on her excitement, I thought it was a musical or a band, until I realised it’s a popular global franchise. From what I saw online, it looked like a fairly normal pan-Asian eatery, or wait; was it just Japanese? I decided to find out for myself. On a Monday evening, when the rest of City Centre Bahrain looked relatively deserted, my friends and I walked into packed-to-capacity Wagamama, located next to the cinemas. Since this was my first time at any Wagamama, I had no idea what to compare it to. The management informed me that this was the first of the new kaizen (meaning good change) outlets and has a refreshed look and menu featuring an omakase section. The franchise’s history can be traced back to London, where it was first opened as a ramenbar style eatery. The décor in the Bahrain branch is basic but contemporary with clean lines and design. It offers a canteen-like ambience with focus on natural elements such as wood and metal. A Wagamama novice, I took some time to get to grips with the menu, frequently asking the service staff about the dishes. Casually dressed in brand T-shirts, they have a unique way of taking orders — they write the serial number of your item of choice and the quantity on the paper-mat in front of you. The information is then fed in the main system and the order appears on the portable device of the respective chef in the kitchen. The restaurant wants you to savour the food when it’s at its freshest. So, if you are dining in a group, everyone’s food might not come together. When a dish gets prepared it is brought to the table, instantly. We ended up sampling quite a hearty selection, starting with steamed chicken, duck and prawn gyoza. Each came with its own sauce and was absolutely delicious. A hot bowl of aga dashi with crispy fried tofu in ginger and herb-infused broth was so comforting, it made me want to curl up in a blanket and drink it all day. The mains comprised of teriyaki beef donburi, grilled tuna, chicken and shrimp yaki soba and the popular chicken katsu curry. For a while, there was no conversation. I could only hear sounds of four people deliriously enjoying their food. For dessert, we had the white chocolate and ginger cheesecake. Even if you’re not hungry, go to Wagamama just for this delicious little devil. After my visit, I now understand why there’s such hype and excitement surrounding this restaurant. If I’m feeling blue, this is where I want to be because, as my colleague, who was a regular at one of the outlets in London, puts it, “This is my happy place”. DINING ALSO THIS MONTH: 92 SERVED WITH PASSION 110 HAPPENINGS COMFORT ZONE ANKITA MAMGAIN Named after the Japanese word for a naughty child, the mere mention of this restaurant invokes childlike enthusiasm from its loyal fans around the world.
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