November 2016 131 www.bahrainthismonth.com alfrescodining This venue offers Bahrain’s first authentic robata counter where Japanese fusion meets culinary artistry. One of the Kingdom’s top dining and entertainment venues, Meisei, has introduced the island’s first full robata experience to food connoisseurs. Chef Michael Sang Kyu-lee, a renowned veteran of the fine-dining industry, has created a melange of robatayaki grill delights (robatayaki translates literally to fireside cooking), providing a fusion take on the traditional Japanese grill. All this can be enjoyed at the newly installed, bespoke counter fashioned from 75-year-old Californian redwood on the restaurant’s ambient ground floor. Chefs provide a show for diners with live cooking on the open grill, which uses traditional Japanese binchotan coal to cook delicacies at over 1,000 degrees Celsius. The robata dishes lend themselves to a casual dining style, with yakitori (bites cooked on a skewer) of different varieties, from spicy king tiger prawn and rib-eye prime Angus beef with ajipanca marinade to spiced tofu with black bean ginger marinade. Carnivores, pescatarians and vegetarians alike can enjoy the creations, as chef Michael includes veggie delights such as grilled avocado topped with tomato salsa, zingy grilled romaine lettuce with black bean sauce and sesame oil reduction, and the classic halloumi yakitori. Try out Robata Tuesdays, where selected dishes plus four house beverages can be enjoyed for two for BD30. You can witness the chefs at work through the theatre-style kitchen window behind the counter, or dine al fresco on the panoramic rooftop during cooler days. The tranquil Meisei Garden with a special afternoon menu that includes a new Bao (Japanese steamed bun) slider menu has recently opened, adding to the list of culinary experiences. Call 17 007-770. MEISEI Over the Counter Robata board mixed grills
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