In my household, weekends are a chance to step away from mundane daily chores and unwind, which usually translates into eating out and trying something different.
And, so while driving with my husband around Jeddah’s Rawdah district, Palestinian restaurant Alkofeia caught our attention with its unusual warm rustic facade.
The interiors of the multi-story restaurant exude an old-world Middle Eastern charm, with miniature roped furniture strategically hanging from the ceiling and vintage sign boards plastered across the walls. The abstract wooden tables, chairs with traditional Palestinian embroidered covers and distinctive cutlery add a unique touch. The restaurant is spacious, with both indoor and outdoor seating.
The menu is extensive, with a plethora of dishes prepared fresh.
For starters, we ordered the beetroot hummus, which was super creamy and flavorful; and the fattoush salad — which was quite fancifully served by the waiter — was fresh, crisp and tangy with the right amount of pomegranate molasses. We also shared a comforting bowl of barley soup.
For the main course, I had chicken maqlouba, which also comprised finely sliced potatoes, cauliflower, tomatoes and toasted almonds; it was simply delicious. My husband had a traditional meat and rice dish garnished with toasted almonds; he quite enjoyed it but I did not. Different palates, I guess.
Both dishes came with a side of small bowls of plain yogurt.
For drinks, both of us had pomegranate juice, finely balanced between sweet and sour.
The prices are wallet-friendly given the prime location and generous portion sizes. We had enough leftovers to take home for lunch the next day.
The servers are friendly but could be a little more attentive considering the restaurant was not busy when we went.
This was my second visit — and surely, not my last.
