Tag Archives: classroom restaurant Muscat

  The National Hospitality Institute is tucked away near the hills of Wadi Al Kabir.  This is where they train a large number of waiters, waitresses and chefs that end up working in some of the best restaurants/hotels of Oman.  I was told that students study at the institute from 8am to noon each day and then they serve and have real practice at the “Classroom Restaurant” from 1-3pm, Saturday to Wednesday.  Mustafa Al Belushi is the head waiter and head trainer at n.h.i. and a real gentleman.  We were overhelmed at the amount of care and attention we received in the restaurant.  We had made a reservation a week before the Wednesday of Eid Week and when we showed up it was not operating as they decided (understandably!) to give the staff the entire week off.  They apologized profusely and the manager even insisted that we receive a complimentary meal due to their so-called error.  Wow!  How nice!  We went for the Wednesday buffet and really enjoyed it.  We hope to return on a day between Saturday and Tuesday when they serve a 3-course meal.  They change their menu every two weeks!  Chefs in training at the Classroom Restaurant!    Wednesday buffet!    The head waiter, Mustafa Al Belushi, with the head chef, Aurilia!  They run the “Gulf Chef School” at the n.h.i. as well!  Apple crumble with custard sauce!  This was even more delicious than it looked!  Mmmm!  This free cooking lesson offer is something new at the nhi.  They haven’t had any take up the offer yet so maybe someone out there would like to get some free cooking lessons from some of the top chefs in the region!  www.nhioman.com  We were very impressed with the service at The National Hospitality Institute.  The reason we decided to check it out in the first place was because we had heard so many great reports from friends who had tried it out.  Well we definitely weren’t disappointed and we highly recommend this establishment to anyone out there who happens to be in Muscat and who has free time from 1-3pm sometime between Saturday and Wednesday.  You might say that at The National Hospitality Institute, “Hospitality is their middle name”!  (Get it?! nhi…”hospitality”…middle name…oh, never mind!)