The unseen photo was taken during their visit to India to promote their 2017 action movie 'xXx: Return of Xander Cage'
One of the key components that fine casual places borrow from fine dining concepts is great décor - and the interiors at BTB are gorgeous. It's possible I'm biased: I love elements of wood because they just make you feel right at home - and this place has loads of wood, right from the furniture to the shelving and slants. A 'self-maintaining green wall' at one end - which has customised plants affixed to it vertically, and which has its own irrigation system (such magic!) - really adds to the ambience like a breath of fresh air. Add the large open windows through which sunlight streams in gloriously, and you'll just want to make the couch under the green wall your new workspace. (There's outdoor seating, by the way, which we're sure will be a right hit once the cooler climes set in - but for now, my colleagues and I are happy to settle at the long communal table in the room.)
A variety of mains are brought out next, and I have to take a slight detour here to say: ever since I started my '90 per cent veg' journey a year back, I've usually had to settle for a bland salad or a plain pasta at most restaurants, as they struggle to dish out innovative offerings for their non-meat-eating customers. I love that that wasn't true here. Sure, the veg mains did consist of salads, sandwiches and pastas - but the difference was that each one seemed very well-thought out, and not just cobbled together and plonked on the menu for the sake of it. In my book, that's what's going to make me come back again.
It's rather hard to not recommend any of the veg offerings either: whether it's the Quinoa and French Lentil Salad or the Marinated Beet and Goat Cheese Salad; the Caprese Ciabatta (i.e. vine ripe tomatoes, fresh mozzarella and aged balsamic on deliciously grilled ciabatta bread) or the open halloumi and moutabel sandwich; or even the Penne Con Tomate Fresca (with its eggplant, cherry tomatoes and basil slathered in sauce) - pick blind, because you're honestly good to go.
Of the dishes my colleagues sampled, the slow-cooked Crispy Half Chicken "stole the show" with its excellent seasoning and interesting sides of ratatouille and garlic mashed potatoes. The restaurant also offers what they call Travellers Chicken, which takes its inspiration from both India and the Caribbean isles - but although the meat is quite tender, it couldn't beat the aforementioned star. Colleague One declared the salmon "very good", especially with its beurre blanc (white butter) sauce. The BT Burger is prime Angus meat served on a brioche bun with fries that will fill you right up; it's very well done but, as Colleague Two pointed out, just as good as any other out there. The last sampler, the Lone Star Chili Pot, consisting of tender minced beef seasoned with chillies, onions and tomatoes, ticks all the boxes that this comfort dish should - these guys, however, serve it with corn bread. There's something you won't find everywhere!
Prices are slightly upscale, but that's typical of a fine casual place, which usually values items somewhere between the fast food and fine dining range. One last word: despite all we ate (and we only did so because it was a menu tasting, not a review, like we're used to!), the dishes still sat fairly lightly on the stomach. We were promised healthy food - I believe they delivered.
What we didn't like: We're hard-pressed to tell
Cost for two: Dh150-200
Contact: Bean There Bistro, Millenium Airport Hotel, Garhoud, Tel: 04-7028735
Rating: 4/5
karen@khaleejtimes.com
The unseen photo was taken during their visit to India to promote their 2017 action movie 'xXx: Return of Xander Cage'
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