There’s nothing quite like planning an outing on a Wednesday night to feel like life has gone back to normal. We put on our nice shoes, spritzed on our glam perfume and headed for a fun night at one of our favorite haunts, The Radisson Blu Hotel. As this was their famous BBQ Wednesday night, we were expecting a conventional selection but were treated to so much more delightful dining experiences. It was exciting to be out on a weeknight, since it has become a rarity, but we were pining for grills, fall-off-the-bone meat and a night of great company and deep conversation. As we walked into the Al Bustan Restaurant, we noticed that there were lots of cooking stations and then even more outdoor live-stations in the terrace area. We opted for an outdoor table and planning our meal began. Trust us when we say, plan your meal strategy, as there is something to please every palate!
After we settled in and ordered our drinks, we took a moment just to appreciate how far we’ve come. We’re dining alfresco, the vibes are great and everyone shared the same excited energy to be out and about at the beautiful grounds of the hotel. The staff at the hotel and the restaurant are ever-so-gracious, and you feel that you’ve come home to a feast that’s being prepared right before your eyes.
The appetizer buffet was expansive with a huge area of oriental and international salads, sushi, maki rolls and soup. The Cheese Display caught our eye with the fancy French cheeses on display and beautiful layout. Everything was so colorful, fresh and enticing. We carefully loaded our plates because we didn’t want to miss out on anything. From sushi, to beautiful hot smoked salmon that’s prepared in-house and delectable blue potato salad, and everything in between, we were ready to feast. We also made a note to come back to the Cheese station, because it is truly not to be missed.
We were not expecting a Pasta or Pizza station, but the kids were lined up for their favorites. They were choosing from ravioli, penne, spaghetti, tagliatelle and fusilli, then adding the sauce they preferred and garnishing. We absolutely love that the Radisson Blu Hotel always thinks of the entire family when they plan their famous BBQ Wednesdays, and just outside, we saw children clamor for sliders and shawarma, but more on this to follow shortly.
The weather was beautiful and the music playing in the background was a throwback of sorts to remixes and covers of upbeat music from our childhood and teen years. More guests were starting to arrive and it was heartening to see groups of friends and families excited about getting some bonding time and sharing a delicious meal together. The sound of laughter, the sizzling on the grill and the footsteps of the staff making everyone comfortable and happy made the mood even livelier and much lighter than anything we had experienced in months. It’s these little details that make your night, and we appreciated every moment as we continued to navigate our way around the various outdoor cooking stations that featured all the action.
We headed to the Carving Stations and were delighted with the selection on display. To claim that the display was showstopping would be an understatement! There was a whole lamb roast gleaming with the sheen of the fire, an entire roasted prime beef rib, roasted short loin and even oxtail stew. It wasn’t just meat; you could also get roasted salmon fillets and whole chickens cooked Mediterranean style. There were also some wonderful sides like roasted vegetables, mashed and roasted potatoes and a beautiful creamy mushroom and lemon butter sauce that added a zesty twang to the mash. We diligently stood by and watched the chef carve out gorgeous pieces of meat from different parts of the Prime Rib. We can’t deny that we waited patiently as the carving ran deeper, and we saw that red color of medium cooked and super well rested beef we were pining after. After we loaded our plates with lots of beef, roasted potatoes and sharp mustard, we were set for the night.
The anticipation was building up by the time we got to the live meat station on charcoal and the clay oven and we were not disappointed. Offering a more Levantine BBQ experience, it is more than just grilling, it is a performance with live flames, naughty smoke and taste-bud tingling aromas. Shish Taouk, Shish Kebab, Thai Chicken, Kubedhe and JoJo kebab were just some of the available options.
Shawarma is not a usual option at a BBQ, it just has to be there and we had so much fun watching the chef slice the chicken, layer it on to the fresh bread and choose our own additions. There was also a slider live station, where they were grilling burgers on the spot and building your slider with your choice of condiments.
If you are more of a seafood fan, then the Radisson Blu BBQ Wednesday is where you need to be. The live fish market on grill and charcoal features the catch of the day. The chefs expertly grill your choice of hamour, salmon, red snapper, king fish, fresh shrimps, shrimps, calamari, tuna or sea bass as you watch. Fish isn’t the only thing on the seafood menu either, lobster, fresh crabs, shum, sheri, Sultan Ibrahim and shrimp are also available. You will be amazed by how the expert chefs will cook your fresh seafood to perfection, every single time.
There were even more live stations taking you to far flung culinary destinations, like the Mongolian Station complete with a noodle bar and Tempura Station. There is so much to choose from and everywhere you look there is something delicious calling your name. We tried Spanish Chicken Paella and a delicious Vegetable Korma too. The amount of choice is mind-boggling but allows you to sample so many different things. The beauty of the experience is being able to take an international culinary tour, where you sample and revel in all of the different flavors. Everything we tried was cooked perfectly, and it goes to show all of the tireless work the expert team of chefs put in week in and week out to make sure that every BBQ Wednesday is consistently impressive.
Even the shrewdest among us was stuffed by the end but we still wanted to indulge in dessert. We were advised by friends to arrive hungry, and make sure to leave room for dessert. The dessert buffet was an explosion of color, texture and variety. We counted more than fifty types of dessert including Asian, oriental and international. There were a couple of cute kids standing at the chocolate fountain, eyes-wide with enthusiasm and palpable joy. And if you are trying to stick to your diet goals, there is a wide selection of fresh cut fruit. But really, do indulge if you can, as the bite sized apple pie and chocolate ganache delights are just the perfect sweet ending to an incredible evening.
Al Bustan Restaurant is located in the Radisson Blu Hotel. For reservations call 2567 3410, visit the website radissonhotels.com/blu or follow @radissonblukuwait on Instagram for more information. The famous BBQ starts from 6:30pm on Wednesdays, so make sure to come early!
