Casual Dining at Shakespeare & Co, Doha

A hop, step and a jump away from our apartment is one of those restaurants which, since its opening last year, has got people talking. 

 

As I stroll past this quirky restaurant's terrace with our pram on our regular walks around the marina, I've noticed it is the only place in the vicinity which is always busy regardless of the time of day. Families, business meetings, romantic dates...the clientele it attracts is many and varied, and because of this it's one of my favourite spots on The Pearl for a spot of people watching.

So what is bringing people here in their droves? My little family and I headed over for lunch this week to find out for ourselves.

Unfortunately Sophia had been suffering with reflux that morning, leading to bouts of crying, spitting up and inevitable outfit changes. As a result we were considerably late for our reservation - almost an hour in fact, something that I really dislike and try to avoid as much as possible. It was relief that we opened the door to be greeted with warm smiles from our waitress, told that they were waiting for us and taken to a table which they had kept waiting. I was reminded that the relaxed, friendly and attentive service which we'd also experienced on previous visits really gives this place the edge.

The unconventional decor of the Victorian-era themed interior makes it stand out amongst some of the more traditional restaurants on the island. The colourful interiors, adorned with ornate oil paintings, empty gilt frames and old fashioned light fixtures make it one of the most Instagram-able spaces on The Pearl.

The eclectic menu is also a big draw. It's a page turner which takes you from all-day breakfast items to salads to classic main courses, and a large array of naughty puddings thrown in to boot. You don't have to be the most discerning of diners to eat here; there truly is something for everyone.

We started with warm, gooey and satisfying Mozzarella sticks.

And the restaurant's famous Piri Piri Prawns which had a sharp tang of spice, and were served with crispy potato croquettes that take the edge off the heat. I was happy to discover that this dish was every bit as moreish as I'd heard it was.

My breakfast-obsessed husband opted for Eggs Benedict for his main course, while I fancied going for something a little healthier, and chose the Quinoa Salad with grilled chicken. We knew the Benny was a good one, as we had trotted down here for breakfast on numerous occasions previously.

Look at that perfect yolk!

However, the quinoa salad was a new one to me, and I was rather taken aback when this mammoth plate of food was placed on the table in front of me!

Tasty, perfectly-cooked quinoa spilled out of a flakey pastry bowl, accompanied by chickpeas, pomegranate seeds and other more traditional salad items in a delicious dressing. The grilled chicken was juicy and cooked to perfection. The only downside was that there was enough on the plate to feed a family of five and I was only able to manage about half it!

By the time the dessert menu was brought out, we were both stuffed, but agreed to order the strawberry cheesecake to share.

Definitely one of the creamiest and tastiest cheesecakes I've had in Doha so far!

We had had a lovely meal, we had warded off any FOMO by ordering several different styles of cuisine from the extensive menu, and most importantly, we were full to the brim.

In fact, we had had such a good time that we returned the very next day for a drink on the terrace.

 
If you are looking for a relaxed, friendly and informal place to eat, and if you are one of those people who dislikes the confines of small, a la carte menus and prefers to be spoilt for choice when it comes to their food, then this is the restaurant for you.

We were guests of Shakespeare & Co. on this occasion, but as always all views are my own.