Indian restaurant wins big as first Michelin Guide Doha celebrates food diversity in Qatari capital

Restaurants that offer recipes from all four corners of India, French dishes with a Qatari twist and regional specialities from Thailand have all been lauded in the first Michelin Guide Doha.

The guide, unveiled at a ceremony in the city's Raffles hotel last night, bestowed one Michelin star to two restaurants in Doha: Jamavar, which serves pan-Indian dishes, and IDAM by Alain Ducasse, which serves contemporary French cuisine.

Four restaurants were also included in the value-for-money Bib Gourmand category and 27 others received notable mentions.

Michelin-starred restaurants in Qatar

Jamavar, an Indian restaurant from Bengaluru, Mayfair (and recently, Dubai), serves pan-Indian dishes, which – given the country's breadth and culinary history – is no small feat. The signature dish by chef Debdash Balaga is laal maas (slow-cooked lamb shank). The restaurant also does a mean Chandni Chowk ki aloo tikki and moreish lobster neeruli, not to mention the Old Delhi-style butter chicken.

IDAM, the second starred venue, comes courtesy of famed French chef Alain Duccasse, who has notched up 21 Michelin stars across his global restaurant empire as well as opening a culinary school in Abu Dhabi recently. It is located at the top floor of the Museum of Islamic Art, with interiors by Philippe Starck. While the venue serves contemporary French cuisine, chef Fabrice Rosso also incorporates Qatari influences by way of spices and local ingredients.

Notable venues and special awards

Starred eateries aside, the Doha guide also named four restaurants in its Bib Gourmand category, an award that measures great quality and great value cooking.

These are: Isaan, which serves regional Thai specialities; Jiwan, which offers Qatari dishes with a modern twist; Argan, which plates up authentic Moroccan dishes; and Hoppers, an outpost of the London original, which melds Sri Lankan and South Indian food.

Elsewhere, Sirijan Saelee of Isaan took home the young chef award; Paulo Bastos's team at Morimoto won the service award; and Robi Ratan at IDAM by Alain Ducasse was lauded for his “imaginative and appealing selection of mocktails”.

Gwendal Poullennec, international director of the Michelin Guide, said the list would “put the city on the international culinary map”.

He added: “The selection of these 33 restaurants is testament to the talented chefs and culinary teams who have made Doha their home, and who bring passion, creativity and respect for local traditions to their craft.”

Of the 27 other restaurants under Michelin's 'selected' category, many have outposts in the UAE, including Coya, Hakkasan, Nobu, Zuma, La Petite Maison and La Mar by Gaston Acurio.