Monthly Archives: March 2010

  Located in MQ (Madinat Qaboos), as well as in Al Wattayah, Kargeen is quite popular in Muscat! Many people have recommended this place to me over the past year, so we were more than happy to eat there this week with a good friend’s birthday as a wonderful excuse for going there ourselves!   There are many spots for eating outside and with different water-pipes being used each evening, there is usually a great smell on the premises as apple, strawberry and other flavors of the water-pipe tobacco fill the evening air.  Many Filipina waitresses (and Indians!) work at Kargeen.  This costume, which I was told is Omani, seems to be the uniform for all waitresses at Kargeen.  The oh so popular shisha pipes at Kargeen. (Also known as “hookah” or “nargeela”.)  The menu at Kargeen.  They do take-away.  Check out their menu here.  I love menus like this which give you some history of the place you’re eating at!  For example, that’s interesting to learn that “Kargeen is an old Omani word for a little wooden cottage“!  I love the ancient look which is highlighted with cleverly positioned lights and antiques around the restaurant.  It makes sense that they say ”where time stands still” of this place as you take in the surroundings. (Although we were starting to think they wrote that on the menu to warn us about the rather slow service!  )  Kargeen’s Salad (#43 on the menu): Our very own house salad made with lettuce, avocado, tomatoes, cucumber, green peppers, mushrooms, red cabbage, celery, pomegranate and served with a very special dressing.  Plain Bread (which is FAR from plain!) #15 on menu.  Indian Na’an bread, actually.  Hommous Bil Tahina (#11 on the menu)  I’ve heard of “Shuwa” before but this was first time trying it!  In case you’ve never heard what “Shuwa” is, I’ll let the menu speak for itself: “Shuwa is a typical Omani delicacy prepared only on very special occasions.  Whole villages participate in the cooking of the dish which consists of a whole cow or goat roasted for up to two days in a special oven prepared in a pit dug in the ground.  The method of preparing shuwa is elaborate.  The meat is marinated with red pepper, turmeric, coriander, cumin, cardamom, garlic and vinegar and then wrapped in sacks made of dry banana or palm leaves.  These sacks are then thrown into the smoldering oven, which is covered with a lid and sealed so that no smoke escapes.  In some villages, the meat is cooked for 24 hours while in others, it is believed that meat tastes better after 48 hours.” Interesting and delicious! You HAVE to try this out if you’ve never had it!  My favorite no matter where I eat in Oman-Mixed Grill!  (#37 on the menu)  I’ve never seen it served quite like this before! Wow! I love the serving dishes at Kargeen.  Presentation makes a difference!  Penna Napolitna (#78 on the menu): Penna served in a rich tomato sauce  Lamb chops-(#36 on the menu)-a favorite of my honey’s!  One of the non-smoking rooms at Kargeen.  If you’ve never been to Kargeen Caffé, I highly recommend it.  The atmosphere alone is worth the visit.  The food (that I had) was fantastic and there is SO much on the menu that you could go dozens of times without ordering the same thing twice!  Ah, Kargeen!!!  Why have I neglected you for so long!      MQ Restaurant: 24692269 Reservation: 99253351 Toll Free: 80075757 Outside Catering: 92877106 Fax: 24699522   Email: info@kargeencaffe.com www.kargeencaffe.com  Open Daily from 1am to 1am (Fridays 11am to 1am)  Lunch buffet everyday RO4.5(+tax), breakfast buffet everyday (except Friday) RO3.5(+tax)  Try it for yourself and find out why Kargeen was awarded the Oman Today Restaurant Award in the Middle Eastern food category!