Rimal

Friendly Banyan Tree dining spot Discuss this article

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Compared to other Banyan Tree restaurants, it may be argued that Rimal hasn’t enjoyed quite the same spotlight as Tamarind or Saffron. In the past, those visiting in the evenings would only have had a choice of the two – of course, these are by no means choices anyone would be unhappy with – but Rimal was more likely to be visited by the weekend crowds, escaping the city and heading here to enjoy the Friday buffet.

But Banyan Tree obviously feels that Rimal is indeed worth shouting about – three restaurants not being a crowd, after all – and it can now be enjoyed during the week thanks to the newly extended opening hours. The Friday buffet still remains, but this is now the chance for the à la carte menu to shine, and also to see if the venue works when the backdrop becomes the night sky.

Our first impression is that the transformation to an evening venue may still be a work in progress, and that there might be something of a changeover period. More people need to hear about it, for a start, as on our early evening visit there were not too many about – we were also seated on a table to the side of the raised cushioned area, where we could see the tables along the back completely sparse – not even set for potential clientele. Without the chatter, the light instrumental pop music could be heard over the speakers – something that hints of waiting rooms or elevators, and seems to encourage more of a daytime vibe. But that’s not to say the atmosphere is completely amiss. Through the large windows, the twinkling lights of the complex can be seen shimmering on the water of the pools in the main courtyard, with the occasional whirring of the golf cart as it ferries guests around the complex.

The staff must also be commended. Although perhaps slightly over-eager, with it being a little on the quiet side, we found them to be very knowledgeable about the menu, recommending dishes and items from the wine list. It makes sense that, with Rimal open until now as a daytime venue, what you get as it moves into night is an already well oiled machine.

We tucked into the array of breads brought to our table, with butter, kabuleh and a spread made from red pepper, and comtemplated our choices from the menu. First to arrive were the crab cakes, which carried a chef’s recommendation. Although quite small, the fried discs presented a light crunch and a soft, fluffy innard, packed with meaty flavour. Accompanied by a lightly dressed salad and drizzled with balsamic sauce, they suitably whetted our appetite for the rest of the meal.

On the recommendation of a daytime diner, we ordered the lamb shank, and were immediately glad that we had. The tender meat seemed to flake off the bone at the mere suggestion of a fork, sat upon a bed of warmed mashed potato, and accompanied by green beans and thyme sauce. It’s worth stating at this point that the menu at Rimal doesn’t necessarily cater to one specific type of cuisine, with a number of ‘international’ dishes such as this, seafood and steak, plus Arabic and Thai choices, including staples like Thai green chicken curry. If any are half as good as the lamb, then they shouldn’t fail to disappoint.

Having triumphed over the main, and feeling ever so slightly full, we soldiered on and ordered the chocolate fudge brownie with strawberry ice cream. The brownie arrived as two giant triangles, arranged next to a light, creamy and only slightly pink ball of smooth ice cream, sat in a shortbread pastry casing. While not as good as the lamb, it nonetheless proved a highlight of the evening.

While it is still early days for its life as an evening dining destination, we do hope more people will come to Rimal, as we do think it worth the trek out of town. Perhaps the trick is word of mouth and, if the way to get those mouths talking is to fill them with quality fare or get them chatting to helpful, friendly staff, then expect it to just be a matter of time.

The bill (for one)
Crab cakes BD6.7
Lamb shank BD8.5
Chocolate fudge brownie BD3.2
Evian small BD1.2
1x glass of house wine BD4.5
Total (incl service/tax) BD29.101

• Previous reviews
  • 13 January,2009- reviewed by Time Out Bahrain staff

Time Out reviews restaurants anonymously and pays for meals. Of course, we cannot guarantee the accuracy or independence of user reviews.