Jiddah Restaurant Tips by Escadora7

Al Baik - The Egyptian Branch

Restaurant Name: Al Baik

You're in Jiddah, and you want some homegrown fast food, where do you go? The Al Baik chain of outlets definitely; the saudis' are crazy about it, and once you've tried it, you'll realize why.

There usually is ample parking space out front. The interiors are very clean and hygienic [the cleaning men are at it, scrubbing floors and shining bathrooms 24/7] and the general ambience is relaxed, with crowd ranging from executives in their ties, egyptians screaming over their phones, saudi, lebanese, palestinian, syrian kids upto their usual pranks and the odd western or asian group deep in discussion.

The speed of service is dependent on the amount of customers at the moment when you order [I have once waited for almost 30 mins for my order to come through when the place was packed]. However I have to commend the pace at which the service is rendered; and always with a smile! I once remember asking for some sauce and napkins and being given a whole lot more than I wanted. When I just took a select few, I was smilingly told by my attendant, 'Al Baik is the best. We give you more than you want. Tell everyone this.' Very positive attitude to work I have to admit.

Warning: Times to watch out for is usually after Isha or the late evening prayers, when the crowds flock to their outlets (at least the one near Sulaimaniyah). It's a little funny to see all the Saudi's in their white dishdashas / thobes running to be first in line as soon as the doors are opened. It is true though that Al Baik enjoys a good amount of crowd at pretty much all times.

Their outlets are currently located in Jiddah, Madinah and Mecca. There's rumours about how the proprieter tried to open in Riyadh too, but came under resistance from the officials who did not want any competition to their own outlets. There is an Al Baik chain in Cairo - Egypt too, for those of you who can't get to Saudi.

Definately one of my top 10 recommended Jiddah restaurants.

Favorite Dish: Especially recommended is the mouth watering spicy chicken broast (dipped in garlic sauce) and the shrimps (with coctail sauce). The sauces are specials made to order by Al Baik. Their dishes are accompanied by fresh french fries and buns.

4 pieces chicken (+ spicy) - SR 10
8 pieces chicken (+ spicy) - SR 19
8 pieces chicken nuggets - SR 10
Shrimps - SR 17
Jumbo shrimps - SR 27
Juice / Beer - SR 2
Coleslaw - SR 3

plus an assorted list of sandwiches, shawermas and hummus. Extra helping of buns can be got for .50 halalas

Even their coke cans have the chicken logo of Al Baik printed onto it.

I never really noticed a family room nor once have seen a woman in any of these outlets. Women have been given a facility of ordering from a separate window at the side.

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Theme: Fast Food
Comparison: least expensive
Prices: less than US$10 » Currency Converter
Address: Prince Majid street
Directions: There are outlets all over. Just ask anyone how to get to the one nearest to you. These guys don't have take out as far as I am aware, so there isn't really any contact information other than the outlet address.

Apple Bee`s: Eating good in the neighbourhood.

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Updated by Escadora7

on Dec 12, 2005

Eating good in the neighbourhood

Restaurant Name: AppleBee`s

April 03rd 2005; four hungry chumps wanting a bit of a difference in our diet and so we stopped over at Applebee's. This of course was followed by numerous more visits in the future, the last being in December 2005.

With sport paraphernalia all over the place - football displays from manchestor united included - there is a relaxed, almost ethereal, atmosphere covering the restaurant (at least the singles section that is!). The waiters (almost all filipinos) have their own little birthday tune, which they would more than readily hum (accompanied with a whole lot of 'para' clapping), if there is an occasion in the house. And their recommendations and specials never stop.

Favorite Dish:
Applebee's are known for their steaks. Truly scrumptious!

Sirloin baked potatoes with grilled vegetables - SR 57 (recommended)
Steak milano baked potatoes with grilled vegetables - SR 55 (recommended)
Grilled Teriyaki Chicken - SR 36 (recommended)
Chicken Fajita Rollups - SR 30 (recommended)
Chicken classico - SR 36 (not too crazy about it)
Chicken french fries gril veg - SR 35 (not too crazy about it)

Try some of their thirst quenchers. Since alcoholic beverages are banned in Saudi, we had to settle for some not-so-heady stuff. Here's what we had -
Strawberry colada - SR 9 (recommended)
Cherryberry blast - SR 15
Blue seas - SR 10

There is a service charge of about 10-15% on the total. However, the one treat I would HAVE to recommend is the Banana Berry Freeze, a steal at SR 19 a HUGEEE glass.

Go pamper yourself!

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Theme: American
Comparison: more expensive than average
Prices: US$21-30 » Currency Converter
Phone: +966 - 2 - 6610012
Address: Al-Andalus Street
Directions: Very close to the american embassy in Jeddah. Bang on the main road, you can't miss it.
Website: http://www.applebees.com/

Vertigo: Let's chill Jeddah?

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Updated by Escadora7

on Dec 12, 2005

Restaurant Name: Vertigo Music Cafe

Heart warming music and tummy filling food ... two ingredients that primarily makes eating anywhere fun. And Vertigo has excessive amounts of both!

A close friend Bilal, a colleague at work, Kapil and me tried getting into the Java Lounge (the trendy bar-like-restaurant opposite to Vertigo) for Friday dinner, only to be told appologetically that the place is open to single males for breakfast and lunch; never in the evening. Oh well, Vertigo did not dissapoint us at all! Vertigo does have a single and family section too, and I'm told you could easily ask a group of mixed crowd / women if they'd mind you going in with them so that you gain entry, but then we didn't really wait to see if that trick worked ;)

Almost instantly, the moment you step into the joint, you are hit by a feeling that the place is not geometrically defined. And that the designers' have definately not made any attempt at hiding this being some sort of a musical lounge. Almost everything seems to be wavy, including the couches and motifs along the wall. Even the musical instruments hung along the wall seem to follow a seawave like pattern. Not to forget the strong bright colors in almost everything you set your eyes on.

There's a rack of CD's for sale along the entire length of the right wall which you can probe at your leisure. The music ranges between chillout, retro and arabian beats - enduring and enticing. Some psychedelic lighting to spice up the decor, and polite service. With a mix of locals smoking their shisha's and some expats enjoying a meal with a smoke, relax into a couch and soak into an ambience as what the doctor ordered! (Umm maybe not the health doctor)

Favorite Dish: Starters ~
Gold fingers - SR 24
Halloumi Lymasol - SR 22
Drummer - 34

Thirst quenchers ~
Lemon Margarita - SR 18
Cappuccino Fiorention - SR 14
Chilled 'Vertigo' - SR 22

There is a 15% service charges applicable.

Sheesha.

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Theme: Eclectic/International
Comparison: about average
Prices: US$11-20 » Currency Converter
Phone: 02-666633241
Address: Palestine commercial center.
Directions: Andalus street (more like the Hamra district), two minutes from the American consulate.
Website: http://www.vertigomusiccafe.com
Other Contact: Fax: 02-6652992

Pizza Hut: Jeddah's own lil junk food outlet?

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Written by Escadora7

on May 21, 2005

Restaurant Name: Pizza Hut

Favorite Dish: Veg Pizza
Chicken
Beef
Prawn

Choose from a variety of options including
pan
small, medium, large
mushrooms
extra cheese
regular, spicy, very spicy

Other options -
Spaghetti
Potato wedges
Salad
Chicken wings

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Theme: Fast Food
Comparison: less expensive than average
Prices: US$11-20 » Currency Converter
Phone: 6674078
Address: Prince Mohammad St.(formely Al Tahlia)
Other Contact: P.O. Box 1674, Jeddah 21441

Shezan Restaurant: Asian delight in the heart of the city!

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Written by Escadora7

on May 21, 2005

Restaurant Name: Shezan

Provides home delivery, though the time limit is usually over 1 hour. So order well in advance for the food to arrive in time.

Favorite Dish: Butter chicken - SR 37
Chicken tikka - SR 26

A variety of breads ~
Nan - SR 3
Garlic nan - SR 9
Stuffer paratha - SR 11

Deserts ~
Gulab Jamun - SR 10

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Theme: Indian
Comparison: more expensive than average
Prices: US$21-30 » Currency Converter
Address: Andalus Street
Directions: Tel:
Al Hamra ~ 02 - 6656040
Sari ~ 02 - 6621086
Faisalia ~ 02 - 6635180

Chili`s: Not at all spicy as one would believe!

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Written by Escadora7

on May 21, 2005