I have apparently reached the stage of my life where dinner needs a storyline. Good food is wonderful, but give me a chef, a tasting menu and a little explanation about why something has landed on my plate and suddenly I’m listening like there will be a test afterwards.
Enter SIRA. September’s curated experience at W Riyadh was The Mexican Chapter: an eight-course tasting menu at SAR 350 per person. And no, this was not tacos, nachos and a decorative bowl of guacamole. This was Mexico with a plot.
The experience
SIRA is intimate, beautifully designed and extremely photogenic. But the best part is how interactive the dinner feels. The chef comes to the table to introduce the dishes, explaining their origins, preparation and the thinking behind them. It turns a tasting menu into an actual experience rather than a parade of pretty plates.
The Mexican Chapter
Charred Tomato Tostada — Blue-corn tostada with charred tomato. Small, smoky and crunchy.
Hamachi Aguachile Verde — Hamachi with green aguachile, lime and olive oil. Light, citrusy and fresh.
Charcoal-Roasted Cauliflower — With green pipián. Proof that apparently even cauliflower can have a personality.
Seared Hokkaido Scallop — With smoked sweet-corn faux risotto and saffron foam. Rich and beautifully cooked.
Roasted Duck Breast with Pink Mole — Crisp-skinned duck with pink mole, sweet-potato purée and seasonal vegetables.
12-Hour Barbacoa-Braised Wagyu Short Rib — With purple-potato purée and date jus. Tender enough to briefly stop me talking.
Origen — A contemporary dessert exploring corn through different flavours, textures and temperatures.
Petit Fours — Mexican-inspired treats celebrating cacao, native chiles, corn and traditional flavours.
Overall
The food was excellent, but SIRA’s biggest strength is that it doesn’t feel like you’re simply working your way through a tasting menu. The chef interaction makes the evening intimate and personal, while the staff are attentive without hovering.
Some of the flavours were completely unfamiliar to me, which was probably my favourite part. The menu challenged my palate without becoming so experimental that I stopped enjoying the food. Everything was beautifully prepared, and the setting at W Riyadh is gorgeous.
At SAR 350 per person, this is an experience rather than an everyday dinner — but that’s precisely how I would approach it.
My only problem is that SIRA changes its curated concept. Because now, obviously, I need to know what they’re doing next.
5/5. No complaints. Very inconvenient for a reviewer.
The photo album
A little flip through the rest of the evening.
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