There’s a new kid on the eating out block and it’s off the beaten track. Find it and you won’t be disappointed, and you’ll be back time and again… we promise!
words Derek Issacs
It’s a long weekend so, if you live in the city, you won’t mind a long (fairly) drive out, especially if it’s to this foodies paradise in Shakhbout City where the aptly name elysium restaurant opened it’s doors back in January earlier this year.
The pandemic stepped in and prompted the restaurant, like so many others, to temporarily close, but it’s open once again and this two-floor stylish space, with a mega outdoor garden is serving dishes that make the journey well worth it (And we mean that!).
So, we made our way over there, tucked in to some scrumptious dishes, some of which you won’t find elsewhere and met elysium’s Emirati owner Hamda Alameri to find out more about this hidden gem.
Why did you choose Shakhbout City for the location of elysium?
Because there aren’t many restaurants in our area and all other dine-in restaurants are far away so we wanted to give Shakhbout City’s residents a nice serene place that serves good food to enjoy near home.
Tell us what got you interested in restaurants in the first place?
Well, I love food, from all kind of cuisine and flavours and cultures, so when I wanted to open a business, it really wasn’t hard to figure out what I wanted to do.
Thinking back to the early days when you first launched your restaurant, what challenge did you face and how did you overcome it?
The main challenge was that the place was far away from people outside of Shakbout City and it was concerning, but we also believed if we serve great quality food and presented a beautiful environment, word-of-mouth would be our best advertisment, and it will speak for itself, and it did.
How and why did you choose the name elysium?
Coming up with the theme, we wanted something very peaceful, serene and beautiful, like in Greek mythology’s ‘Elysian fields or ‘elysium’ which is greek mythology’s closest thing to heaven, hence the name which brings us to the slogan ‘taste of heaven’.
The restaurant was so busy when we visited, obviously you’ve done something right. If there was just one piece of advice to those thinking of opening a restaurant, what would it be?
Concentrate on the quality of the food, friendly staff, and affordable prices for everyone, and it will speak for itself. Word of mouth is the most effective advertising tool
We were mightily impressed by the soup choice, which were some of the best we’ve tasted. Tell us about the menu. How did you come up with the dishes and which one would personally recommend?
We always aim to create some food items that can only be found in elysium, and brainstorming with the team did the rest. All our soups are really tasty but my personal favourite is the spicy Cheddar soup, and I would highly recommend it
In terms of your brand and restaurant, what are you personally most proud of?
I am very happy that our establishment is community and family friendly, and that we have a very loyal customer base that we see regularly almost daily. People in our area especially, always express how happy they are that they finally have a nice restaurant with a unique theme nearby.
elysium, 557 Naseem Al Barr St., Shakbout City, Khalifa B. For bookings contact 02 585 7533
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