I’ve already admitted my love of everything French. So, I was delighted to receive an invite for a new authentic French bistro in town. However, it did make me think how authentic will it feel? Am I truly going to get my French fix? I can happily share with you that Sel & Miel is our latest crush.
Let’s talk about why.
The food was excellent – the quality of the bread, cheeses and charcuterie items stood out. We could have happily grazed on the signature salad and our two boards – the cheese board and the cold cuts – yet we didn’t want to leave without trying the Dover Sole. Service here is notable in terms of really knowing the menu and what to recommend. Both for food and drink. And the ambiance felt chic and buzzy. Cool French tunes (think Sebastián Tellier) played while stylish staff came to offer assistance. Their helpfulness and down to earth professionalism really ensure that your experience feels like you’re dining abroad.
What we ate and drank at Sel & Miel…
Salade ‘Sel & Miel’
This luscious looking salad felt like summer on a plate. This thoughtful ensemble of ingredients looked and tasted so fresh. Sweet lettuce met perfectly seared tuna, bitter endive leaves, tomatoes, quail’s eggs and the refreshing zucchini marmalade. It was a great accompaniment to our other sharing starters.
Fromages affinés, selection de miel
Cheese selection and honey
We were offered a range of French cheeses to choose from, and our waitress enabled us to narrow them down to a great selection of truly tasty cheese – the strong, pungent type far away from the typical supermarket offering. I am still dreaming of when I can eat this all over again. I am a willing dining partner if you’re in need of cheese (and who isn’t?).
Planche de charcuterie
Hand’s up, I’m a cold cuts fan. And, this charcuterie board fulfilled my Christmas/holidays fantasy grazing plate. You really are in for a treat full of rich delicacies including foie gras confit, country pate, duck rillete, saucisson, bresaola and cornichons. I have made myself hungry just writing this.
Sole meunière (sharing)
To fully appreciate this dish we shouldn’t have eaten all of the above. But we did. And I was determined to savor it. To do this I had to hold back on the steamed potatoes, which proved a good tactic. The Dover Sole was sublime. The light lemony butter brought the fish and accompaniments together (spinach and green beans). The presentation of it, being filleted at your table, also adds to the experience of thisdish. It gives you a moment to appreciate your surroundings and the skills of the staff.
Mille-feuilles caramélisé et crème Chantilly dulce
We couldn’t leave without trying dessert and decided to some French patisserie. This mille-feuille was incredibly light and filled with a cream that felt indulgent not heavy and rich. It looked so pretty too. Which left us excited to try their other desserts.
Verdict:Loved it and thinking about when we’ll return.
The Damage: This was an invite. But if we’d paid, I’d say the food and service felt good value for money. The salad is reasonable at 45 QAR, the cheese selection (3 pieces) 65 QAR, charcuterie board 80 QAR, Dover sole (sharing) 195 QAR, mille-feuille 45 QAR. Wine was reasonably priced and they also offer a great selection of mocktails, and Hani managed to choose the most feminine-looking of the lot.
Lemon & Mint
2 comments