Arola Restaurant & Bar

• Food: 4.5 5
• Service: 5
• Decor: 5

Review posted more than 6 month ago

Located in a quiet corner at the Lobby Level of the J W Marriott Hotel, Arola is not just a restaurant, it is an experience. I was lucky enough to have dined with the man himself, Chef Sergi Arola, who started out with the namesake in Madrid, Barcelona and Paris. Arola's food philosophy is to explore the complexity of simplicity, and this is something that is very evident in the kind of food that is served. From the very simple Naan that came in something that looked like a Bento Box, spread with Tomato paste and drizzled with Olive oil, Garlic and Sea Salt, to their signature Patatas Bravas which I highly recommend, the food was so simple that it was almost impossible to believe how delicious it was. It was amusing to know that other than a couple of ingredients, all the produce used by Arola is purely local. Arola boasts of its Gin bar which stocks 30 different kinds of Gin and I tried their Orange Flambe Gin and Tonic which was served in a humongous goblet yet kept me wanting for more. I also tried the Negroni which was very potent and had just the right amount of hit. But of course, any meal would be incomplete without a dessert and we were treated with the deceivingly simple looking Crema Catalana, which looked like a Bruleed Whipped Cream in a Martini Glass, but was actually so well balanced that there were no words spoken while everyone polished their glasses clean. A good restaurant is not just about good food and Arola caters to that very well. The staff is friendly, knowledgeable and always willing to guide you. The ambience makes you want to go into relaxation mode and the custom designed Arola music transports you to a different world. Its so simple that it is complex.

Favorite Dishes / Drinks: Patatas Bravas, Porcini Mushrooms with Ibero Ham, Crema Catalana

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