Doha’s Hidden Restaurant Gems – Stockburger Co

So Stockburger Co at the Holiday Inn Doha may not be so much as a hidden gem, rather, it’s a new entrant on the dining scene that deserves  little more exposure.

To be upfront – this place is essentially a sports bar, showing hundreds of games and different sports daily. There is even a private area to watch “big games” and devour your wings and shout out the screen in seclusion (although, they are yet to embrace my suggestion this would also be a good venue for Netflix).

It’s true there is a bar area a very attractive happy hour from 12pm, but this is also a good place for families, groups of friends and generally anyone who wants a good feed in a relaxed environment.

Added bonus? It’s smoke-free.

Double whammy added bonus? An excellent menu of what you could call “elevated bar food”.

As the name suggests, the menu is heavily skewed towards burgers and these are the justifable stars of the show.

They also have an option to “build your own” burger, which I steered away from – nobody needs to see my deepest, darkest secrets in a burger form.

A highlight of the burger menu is a burger that rather than grilled, is oven baked. This results in a more tender, juicy patty. Also the chicken jalapeno burger – on the right side of spicy.

The real winner here though is the bun. So many good burgers in Doha are let down by second rate, poor quality bread. Here the potato buns ensure the structural integrity |(yes, I said that) of the burgers which like many others are not over-filled to the point of explosion. I could write a thesis in the poor execution of burgers in Doha, but I won’t bore you. What is clear is that these are made in-house and with some thought and fresh ingredients.

The rest of the menu also warrants some attention. A basket of wings arrives steaming hot and lightly coated in a a firey buffalo sauce. You almost need a pair of gloves to pick them clean.

A lighter option of prawn skewers with a sweet chilli glaze would be  great starter or accompaniment to a beer.

A healthier option of a salad packed with falafels is less successful, but their flatbreads are noteworthy. One of the stars of our meal was a flatbread studded with a funky blue cheese, caramelized onions and grilled mushrooms. It’s a savory fiend like me’s dream come true.

Desserts aren’t my bag but as you know, I can be tempted. The short and sweet dessert menu at Stockburger comprises of a selection of mason jar treats. Now, in my view theses are a hipster affectation, but done in this environment, they seem to work.  I especially liked the lemon cream rendition, which was the right side of sour for me.

It’s hard to miss the sports theme but there is also a terrace area, booths for families or groups and a spacious dining area. A kids menu ensures the little ones are also well served, and that previously mentioned happy hour ensure parents are well served in a different way.

I must say, aside from the food, one of the most enjoyable aspects of the restaurant is that its smoke-free – still a rarity in many places in Doha.

The Verdict: Don’t me wrong, I love a good sports bar, but Stockburger deserves to be considered as more than a place to catch the big game. With a menu of well executed and even imaginative comfort food, it’s the kind of place you will want to put on your regular rotation of casual, fun places to eat.

The Cost: With a happy hour extending from 12pm to 7pm (50 percent off) and burgers sitting around QR60, this is as pocket friendly as it is fun.

The Details: Stockburger Co at holiday Inn Doha, Airport Road, Doha

Phone: +974 4031 3333

Please read my fine print (no magnifying glass needed)…