It is rare that I do a food review without my trusted Canon Digital IXUS 40, but that was what happened when I joined my ex-colleagues for lunch at Holland Village. With the same people that visited "Turkuaz" for Turkish cuisine, we visited "Al Hamra" a restaurant located opposite Turkuaz. Al Hamra serves a variety of Lebanese and Middle Eastern cuisine. The ambient of the restaurant is cosy and furnished in a typical Middle-Eastern style. We dined indoors instead of al fresco, to enjoy the fabulous setting of the restaurant. I leaned back slightly on the comfortable couch, an elbow resting on the silky smooth bolster and through the huge window, I watched people walking up and down Lorong Mambong on a busy Tuesday noon, while waiting for our food, which came shortly.
An a la-carte en·trée is priced at around S$22, which I had difficulty deciphering its description from its traditional name. In the end, we ended up having the set lunch. Priced at S$13.80++, from the jumble of traditional names, we understood that the set meal encompasses a soup, a 'triple-item' starter, entrée of choice (chicken or mutton minced meat kebab) and rice pudding dessert.
Please bear with my bad pictures from my humble SE K750i.
An a la-carte en·trée is priced at around S$22, which I had difficulty deciphering its description from its traditional name. In the end, we ended up having the set lunch. Priced at S$13.80++, from the jumble of traditional names, we understood that the set meal encompasses a soup, a 'triple-item' starter, entrée of choice (chicken or mutton minced meat kebab) and rice pudding dessert.
Please bear with my bad pictures from my humble SE K750i.
Al Hamra
Lebanese & Middle Easten Cuisine
Lentil Soup
This warm legume soup tastes very much like a watered-down version of dhal. Its light taste churns up our appetite for the starters.
Starters
This 'triple-item' starter includes a pita (flat bread), salad, a tasty fried ball (made with mashed beans) and a savoury dip (made with chick peas).
Entrée of minced chicken or mutton kebab
Unlike the Döner kebabs that I had at Sultan Kebab, the ones at Al Hamra are Shish Kebab, which are grilled meat on skewers. The original grilled of the meat is very much retained with a tinge of herbs/spices. The meat is served with a pita and some salad. I had the mutton and the mutton does not have any strong mutton stench which some dislike. It is also tender and not too dry.
Laban (Dessert)
The Laban is a popular Middle-Eastern rice pudding dessert that can be served chilled or warm. The ingredients of a laban should include, white rice, whole milk, sugar, orange blossom water (distilled water with orange essential oils) and cinnamon powder. This dessert is really sweet and tasty, i bet it is fattening too! But it is better than most of the Indian desserts that I have had.
Verdict
I love the ambient at Al Hamra. I would anytime choose to get the set lunch instead of the a la carte menu, for the price. Thought they are Middle Eastern food and do not serve pork, they serve wines and other alcohols to cater to the mixed population that visits Holland Village, hence they are not certified 'Halal'. Though Al Hamra and their neighbour Turkuaz, serve different types of kebabs, nevertheless, both are Middle Eastern cuisine. For now, I prefer Al Hamra over Turkuaz, since the starters and desserts are better at Al Hamra.
Note that they have siesta at 2pm until evening.
Al Hamra Lebanese & Middle Eastern Cuisine
23, Lorong Mambong (Holland Village)
Singapore 277682
Tel: 6464 8488
Fax: 6466 1896
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