Where We Are Going Today: Maritime

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Updated 29 November 2024
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Where We Are Going Today: Maritime

Where We Are Going Today: Maritime

Afshan Aziz

Located in the Jeddah Edition hotel at Kurnaysh road, Maritime delivers an unparalleled dining experience, blending French finesse with Asian culinary traditions.

The restaurant’s design features contemporary sophistication, with stylish tables and seating that enhance the overall aesthetic.

Guests are welcomed into a sleek, inviting space where an open-show kitchen serves as the focal point, allowing diners to witness the artistry behind each dish.

Maritime’s menu is a celebration of culinary creativity, showcasing an inspired fusion of flavors. Chef Cedric Vongerichten, celebrated by Zagat as one of the top 30 chefs under 30, has meticulously crafted the menu, skillfully blending locally sourced ingredients with global influences to create a distinctive selection of dishes that delight the palate.

The lunch menu offers an array of vibrant salads, comforting starters and hearty entrees, tailored for a midday feast. Highlights include the zesty avocado salad with quail eggs and peanut relish, the delicate salmon sashimi with turmeric dressing, and the savory mie goreng, a stir-fried noodle dish enriched with prawns and bean sprouts. For those seeking comforting bites, the corn fritters, paired with sambal oelek and kecap manis, deliver a satisfying mix of sweet and spicy flavors.

Dinner elevates the experience with an expanded and more refined menu, showcasing small plates and entrees. To begin your meal, the monkey bread is served warm and fresh, accompanied by salted butter — a comforting and flavorful start that sets the tone for the dining experience. The shrimp dumplings draped in velvety lemongrass beurre blanc and topped with caviar are a standout, alongside crispy baby squid paired with galangal emulsion.

Main courses offer an exquisite range, from the flavorful garlic crab rice, accented with tapioca crisps and fresh cilantro, to the juicy half chicken Lombok, served with smashed rosemary potatoes for a perfect balance of spice and comfort. The lamb shank, paired with crunchy okra and a deeply spiced gulai sauce, is another favorite that impresses with its tender texture and bold flavors.

Whether it is lunch or dinner, Maritime’s offerings cater to diverse tastes. While the lunch menu features lighter and quicker fare, the dinner menu adds a layer of indulgence, offering an expanded selection of thoughtfully crafted dishes.

Maritime’s desserts are as indulgent as the savory dishes. The pandan custard with passionfruit and the banana sundae featuring ube ice cream offer the perfect sweet conclusion to a meal.

Complementing the menu is a selection of temperance beverages and innovative drinks. Highlights include the vibrant Saffron Spritz, a blend of clementine, honey, ginger, and saffron, and the creamy yet refreshing Avocado Oasis, combining Lyre’s white cane, avocado, cucumber, chilli honey and black lava salt. The tangy Rujak Bounce delights with pineapple, tamarind, lime, gula jawa and tajin, while the elegant Amaretti Sour pairs Lyre’s amaretti with lime juice, cherry, and orange peel. For a classic touch, the Martini features Conviv bianco, Lyre’s dry London, mementi blue and olive brine, offering something for every palate.

For private gatherings, Maritime offers two elegant dining rooms, providing exclusivity and intimacy for special occasions.

Check @maritimejeddah for more information.
 


Where We Are Going Today: Thaiya in Riyadh

Updated 24 December 2025
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Where We Are Going Today: Thaiya in Riyadh

RIYADH: Located on Riyadh’s Tahlia Street, Thaiya is one of the city’s newer Thai restaurants. With five-star reviews circulating on social media, we stopped by to see whether it lives up to the hype.

The menu is concise, focusing on Thai staples including tom yum soup, curries, pad Thai and mango sticky pudding.

For those starting with soup, the classic seafood tom yum is the better choice over the creamy version, which leaned too heavily on coconut cream and dulled the soup’s signature tang.

Among the starters, the shrimp dumplings stood out. Light, well-seasoned and neatly portioned, they worked well as a shared opening dish before the mains.

The mango avocado salad, however, was less successful. Heavy on raw onions and lacking textural contrast, it proved difficult to recommend.

For mains, the chicken satay was fairly standard and nothing to write home about. The fried rice emerged as a highlight, while the shrimp pad Thai was generously portioned and well-suited for sharing, with a noticeable amount of shrimp.

Presentation was polished and portions moderate. Overall, the food was solid but less flavorful than other established Thai restaurants in the city, particularly when compared to favorites such as Thai Soi and Phet-Phet.

Service was a strong point with staffers knowledgeable and attentive throughout the meal.

The atmosphere was warm and cozy, featuring dim lighting and quiet background music that made for a pleasant dining experience.

In terms of value, the prices are reasonable when compared to other Thai establishments in the area. But when the time comes to settle the tab, hold back on reaching for your wallet.

What truly sets this restaurant apart is a unique game of chance. One person per table can participate, with outcomes ranging from a complementary bill for double sixes to smaller perks such as free dessert or discounts on a future visit.

So, is Thaiya the best Thai restaurant in Riyadh? It shows promise, but greater consistency and bolder flavors would be needed to claim that title.