Sun, 06 September 2020
Who doesn’t love eating a delicious meal in a beautiful setting? Last month, we were lucky enough to try some of the delicious cuisine at Marriott Executive Apartments’ new and exciting restaurant, Crossroads Bahrain. We caught up with Multi-Property Director of Operations, Shareef Elias Kharouba, at the opening to find out what makes the venue so special.
How do you deliver on your concept of Crossroads?
By offering a warm and relaxed meeting place where a diverse mix of people can get together at any time of day to enjoy anything: from a simple Chai latte from our specialty coffee bar to an intimate dinner from our modern classic menu in a stylish, yet laid back atmosphere.
Who are your target customers?
Crossroads is a gathering space where everyone is welcome. We attract a diverse mix of clientele comprising of our in-house hotel guests, and both business and casual diners, given our convenient location in Juffair with easy parking. By day, Crossroads is the ideal spot for an early nutritious breakfast or healthy smoothie before work, a discreet business lunch or a cosy afternoon coffee and catch-up with friends. In the evening, it’s the perfect place for a relaxed dinner either solo or with a group of friends or colleagues.
What kind of cuisine do you specialise in?
Our menu is diverse and creative. We offer new flavour combinations of familiar British, European and Middle Eastern classics. Whilst we take pride in expertly preparing simple authentic dishes such as perfectly cooked steaks, classic British fish and chips, and authentic Italian pizzas and homemade gelato, we also offer modern flavours of Arabia reflected in dishes such as our Crossroads Mezza Platter, Smoked Salmon Rolls stuffed with labneh, za’atar and Falafel and Quinoa Salad with tahini dressing. Our Traditional Arabic Breakfast is a favourite for weekend brunch, as are our Rosewater Waffles.
Are there any particular dishes or specialities that customers should look out for?
The Crossroads Burger is a must-try: grilled Angus beef served in a signature crispy cheese-stuffed bun. For the more health conscious, we have the Buttermilk Chicken Burger or, one of my personal favourites, the Crossroads Signature Salad: lamb kofta, baby spinach and rocket leaves with pomegranate dressing. If you’re dropping in for an afternoon coffee, our Spanish and Matcha lattes are very popular, and perfect with a slice of homemade Russian honey cake and scoop of homemade pistachio gelato. If you're looking for something to kick-start your day, you can’t beat our freshly made zingy Beetroot & Ginger juice alongside the Prawn Benedict from our a la carte breakfast menu.
Do you cater to special requirements such as vegan, gluten-free or healthy options?
Certainly, all varieties of dairy-free beverage options are available from our specialty coffee bar. Our breakfast menu offers tasty healthy options such as Acai Bowl, Chia Pudding and Avocado Toast or our baristas can freshly blend you a detox drink or power shot of superfoods such as goji berry, turmeric, honey or wheatgrass. The Beyond Meat™ Vegan Burger is a must-try even if you are not vegan - it really does taste just like meat! Our homemade vegan sorbet (watermelon, mango and lemon) is also proving popular and we have several flourless cakes such as Chocolate Mousse cake and Orange & Polenta cake. Our chefs are happy to accommodate all requests so if you want your pasta gluten-free, just ask.
Can you tell us a bit about the interior design?
The design is organic; a mix of wood and muted tones, complemented by modern lighting, which immediately creates warmth when you enter. The seating is a mix of lounge chairs and more formal for dining. We knew Crossroads would become a hangout for afternoon coffees which run into dinners and for long evening get-togethers, so we made sure to use wide seats and soft cushions to maximise comfort and quality time with friends and family. We are also planning to have a cosy outdoor seating area where guests can enjoy a fresh pomegranate lemonade or mint tea al fresco during the cooler months.
Is this the right time to open a new restaurant?
Everyone in Bahrain is looking forward to dining out together again and discovering new and on trend eateries. As a beautiful, brand new restaurant within Marriott Executive Apartments which upholds the highest standards of health and safety regulations, Crossroads will be a natural choice for this pent-up demand. Our menu is available on www.morecravings.com by Marriott Bonvoy and we are already taking bookings of 15-20 people, in accordance with the latest government guidelines. We look forward to welcoming everyone to Crossroads from 24th September.
If you’d like more information on Crossroads Bahrain, be sure to follow them on instagram using the handle @crossroadsbaher