In the Middle

Robust flavours and aromatic spices hold court at this Arabian restaurant.

Crisp falafels with greens.

Sohna Road in Gurgaon seems a slightly incongruous place for an Arabic restaurant, yet there it is. Rearing out of the dusty highway like a desert mirage is FOA–The Flavours of Arabia, located on the third floor of the Ninex City Mart Mall. Unlike most mirages, this one stays solid at approaching.

The restaurant is a large space shaded in orange and browns and split into indoor and al fresco seating areas, with air-conditioned “tents” outdoors for private gatherings as well as a bar and a show kitchen. Low-volumed ambient music wafts through the air, as does the smell of Arabic spices such as sumac and cumin.

The menu mainly meanders around the Middle East, though there is more than a sprinkling of Indian and Oriental dishes to cater to popular demand. So you have Sheesh Tawouk sharing space with Murg Malai Tikka and Chicken Spring Rolls. The prices are reasonable with the average cost of a dish being around Rs 350 and formidable
portion sizes.

Perfectly content with Arabic fare, we order the Foa Mezeh Sahan (a vegetarian platter comprising hummus, mutabal, baba ghanoush, tabbouleh, fattoush and falafel with pita bread) and Zaa’tar Chicken. The platter is like mother made it (provided one has a Middle Eastern mother of course), a pageant of flavours. The cast of a smoky baba ganoush, an earthy hummus, a fragrant mutabal, crisp falafels and fresh crunchy salads flecked with desiccated parsley and cracked wheat (bulgur) get along famously, all supported by toasted pita breads. The chicken comes skewered and grilled with a robust marination of Zaa’tar, a Middle Eastern spice mix of Sumac berries, thyme, oregano, majoram, sesame and other spices.

Happy eating!

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