The red carpet and rope stanchions facing the lift leading to Teatro is the first indication of the red carpet treatment awaiting at the Hollywood extravaganza on the top floor of Sundus Rotana. It is a sight for movie buffs with walls prepped up with posters of classic movies and images of sepia-toned stubs of tickets dispensed in the days of yore; there are spotlights on the ceilings and little tealight candles on the table creating the ambience for the ‘big show’ that the restaurant promises.
And what a show it turned out to be; warranting a curtain-call, if not for the protests from the packed tummy.
While the open kitchen is not intended to be the stage for the Teatro, it does grab your eyes and draws you to the stream of movement, as the head chef and his retinue of chefs move around the counters to turn masterpieces on platters. To one end of the restaurant is the extensive sushi counter, with a display panel presenting ingredients used with notes to explain their importance and role in making Japanese food so popular. The beverage section towards the entrance of the restaurant has its own special attraction with promotions and signature drinks that have earned it a special place among connoisseurs of fine dining.
We were treated to an exotic ‘Red Lotus’ mocktail and ‘Downtown Tokyo’, a Teatro signature drink, which is presented in a little decanter, placed on an ice bed, along with a cup shaped from ice; it is a complete refresher with fresh ginger flavour. The ‘Tiffin Punch’, inspired by dabbawala’s of Mumbai, is another eye-catching signature mocktail that requires you to sip on a straw.
The restaurant, which is open in the evenings, also has an outdoor seating area, with coolers toning the temperature down during summer. The lighting is subdued within and outdoors, adding to the intimacy of dining with family and friends.
The rich black and red tones, presented in the décor and furniture, is reminiscent of other Teatros in Sundus properties (Manama, Dubai and Abu Dhabi). Theatre buffs will love the pre-theatre dramatic feel infused in the ambience.
It is a signature restaurant with a variety of exquisite beverage labels from around the world along with a comprehensive menu – featuring five different types of cuisine (Thai, Chinese, Japanese Sushi, Indian and Italian). Besides the dedicated sushi bar, there is a pizza oven, open-kitchen duck oven and two tandoor ovens.
Our theatrical interlude of the food kind featured an array of cuisines from around the globe, as Teatro’s chefs showed how the mundane act of cooking can be turned into a performance art. We started with Fantasy Roll, featuring unagi (freshwater eel), crabstick, avocado and teriyaki sauce, from the Maki Rolls menu. The sweet and tangy flavour, enhanced by the accompanying sauce, makes this a must try dish for all Japanese food lovers. The Special and Regular Combos, with sushi, sashimi and California maki (in Special platter) are tempting starters if you have a healthy appetite or are dining with friends/family.
Our dinner turned into a seafood fiesta of sorts, as the line up of dishes included Som Thom (Bangkok green papaya salad with prawns), Grilled Seafood Platter (lobster, prawns, scallop and hammour) and ‘Surf & Turf Teatro’, a food diva, with petit prime filet au poivre (black pepper), grilled lobster tail. The Buddha’s Delight (no prizes for guessing if Buddha would have taken a fancy to this one) was indeed a delight with stir-fried prawns, mussels, scallops, calamari and udon (wheat flour) noodles enhancing the taste.
The only chicken dish on our agenda was the very Indian Chicken Tikka served with a helping of steamed rice and a side of pickles and chutneys. We did tuck into a paneer and vegetable masala dish and gorged on hot butter naan, with a soft, melt-in-the-mouth texture creating more drama.
The finale – The Big Show – is a dessert platter that is designed to earn a curtain call for sure.
We had mochi ice cream with vanilla and mango flavours, along with a piece of green tea cake and slices of fresh fruits to do justice to the sentiments of desserts.
Teatro presents a convivial atmosphere, well complemented by culinary performance from the chefs and the friendly mien of staff serving the restaurant. We watched all the kitchen action candidly, forgetting work waiting back at the office.