Al Qumrah restaurant at the Jeddah Yacht Club and Marina is offering a festive buffet experience with views of the sea.
The buffet, curated by Chef Hadi Noueiri, includes around 60 dishes blending Arabic and international flavors, with every item prepared in-house.
I started with the lentil and harira soups, which were well-seasoned. The salad bar, and dishes from grape leaves and hummus to ash bin laham were all impressively fresh, as were staples including fattah with chickpeas, fried aubergine, and foul.
The two varieties of hummus, particularly the beetroot version, stood out for their balance of flavors.
Small bites including spring rolls, musakhan rolls, Hawaiian pineapple prawns, teriyaki chicken gyoza and sambusa were all consistently good, while the potato curry pockets were worth sampling for their simplicity.
The main courses available in the buffet included a 10-layer lasagna, lamb chops paired with mashed potatoes, chicken saleeq, and chicken tikka masala. The live cooking stations brought a dynamic element, with grilled kebabs, chicken skewers, spicy fajitas, Vietnamese spring rolls, and beef bao. Unfortunately, the sea breeze meant the grilled dishes cool down quickly, diminishing their impact.
Desserts included Umm Ali, basbousa, dates pudding, namoura, Znoud El Set, and a variety of pastries such as brownies and strawberry tarts.
The variety of Asian, Italian, and Mexican dishes on offer ensures there is something for every taste here, giving you the chance to explore different flavors in a single meal, though the wide-ranging selection can feel a little overwhelming at first.
For reservations, visit @alqumrah.jyc on Instagram.
