Al Shamaliah Grill Restaurant in Khasab at night, Musandam, Sultanat of Oman, Arabic Peninsula
We did not really know what to expect. The last thing we had hoped for were the absolutely delicious fruit juices: mango, avocado, kiwi, pineapple, pomegranate… Can’t make up your mind? Have a fruit cocktail! It comes in colorful layers and is addictive.
Mezzes come first – tabouleh, hummus, aubergine puree, yoghurt with cucumbers and mint – all long time favorites of us. Add excellent fish, shawarma and chicken. We missed nothing!
Indian influence on Omani cuisine is omnipresent. Trade with India has brought the hot stuff to Oman more than thousand years ago. Today’s culinary invasion goes beyond – most restaurants are Indian owned.
Service can be quite hectic, since all eateries function as drive-in restaurants. People drive up at the curb and discreetly blow their horn. Next thing you see is a waiter dashing towards the car taking orders. The running continues, with tea, with the food, with the change. We could not take our eyes of this permanent commotion. It is not unusual that only three to four waiters tend to a large number of cars and a full restaurant. This hubbub makes it hard to concentrate on your food and company.
Maybe we should mention that in those two weeks we did not discover a dish that was purely Omani: neither pre-Indian Omani nor post-Lebanese.
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