Here’s why Farah Baig thinks Bo.Sabi’s food and vibe are sure to make it a favourite on Bahrain’s dining scene.
Word on the street was that The Diplomat Radisson Blu Hotel, Residence & Spa had a fresh new Asian cuisine concept restaurant. We’d heard that its ambience was as vibrant and tantalising as its menu so we chose to check it out.
Bo.Sabi. The name itself was enough to grab our attention, and as we walked through the restaurant doors, we soon realised that it had the atmosphere to match. The restaurant is tastefully decorated and has laid-back, contemporary vibe which is perfect for a night out with friends. With its high-ceiling, choice of indoor or outdoor seating, windows overlooking the garden and pool, and vibrant music, Bo.Sabi is sure to be a favourite on Bahrain’s social scene.
After being seated at a large table, we were soon served our starters – Tuna Salad, Crab Meat Salad and Vietnamese Spring Rolls. Bo.Sabi created a wonderful first impression with its Crab Meat Salad which is made from freshly flaked crab as opposed to surimi – seafood connoisseurs are sure to appreciate this detail. The crab salad is served with a fresh dressing and perfectly balanced with creamy avocado. The Tuna Salad is an excellent choice for those who appreciate the flavour of fresh tuna as it’s seared and has a firm texture. We enjoyed the light flavours of the lemongrass, kaffir lime leaves and chili which perfectly complemented the fish.
After washing down our starters with one of Bo.Sabi’s funky mocktails – Ginger Fizz, we moved on to colourful platters of nigiri, sashimi and maki. The platters make for an excellent choice when you’d like to sit back, enjoy some banter and savour quintessential Japanese food. While we enjoyed each and every element of the platters, what stood out to us the most was the Shrimp nigiri which is topped with raspberry, which adds an interesting tang, and a little dollop of caviar.
Next up was the Lamb Chop Teppanyaki which is served with vegetable fried rice, Asian herbs and black pepper sauce. It was beautifully cooked and had a (quite literal) sweet touch with its caramelised potato chips. One of our favourite vegetarian mains was the Tofu Manchurian which offered a perfect punch of familiar Asian flavours to reinvigorate our palette. The tofu was soft and silky and generously coated in a thick gravy, spring onions, garlic, bell peppers and more. This was followed by a light Seafood Red Curry which was ladled with fresh mussels, clams and shrimp. It was light and went perfectly with the steamed jasmine rice. To top off our savoury dishes, we enjoyed the Pad Thai and seared Salmon.
For dessert, we enjoyed the Thai Mango Sticky Rice which is a classic at any restaurant serving Far East Asian cuisine. The Vatiatalipan was extremely inviting; the dish of pudding was topped with crunchy caramelised cashew nuts and served with a side of fresh tropical fruit – we relished it to the very last bite. To end our experience, we tucked into the variety of mochi icecream which were flavoured and coated in a variety of ingredients like black sesame, coconut and matcha.
Dining at Bo.Sabi in good company easily evokes images of being in a tropical paradise. After our experience, we’re convinced that Bo.Sabi is one of Bahrain’s most exciting new dining venues!