Al Angham

Al Angham is a heritage-styled Omani restaurant inside the Opera Galleria at the Royal Opera House Muscat, on Al Kharjiyah Street in Shatti Al Qurum, Oman. Its position within one of the country's best-known cultural venues makes it a popular choice for diners attending a concert or ballet, as well as for visitors who tour the opera house by day and want a traditional meal afterwards. The kitchen focuses on classic Omani dishes. Shuwa, the spiced meat slow-cooked for many hours, is the centrepiece, and harees, jareesh and Omani spiced rice are staples of the menu. Jareesh, a crushed-wheat dish cooked to a thick, savoury consistency, and harees are both associated with Ramadan and celebrations, so the restaurant offers a chance to try dishes that are otherwise mainly eaten at home. The decor draws on Omani architectural motifs and traditional furnishings, and the atmosphere is calm, refined and family-friendly, with a smart-casual expectation and low to moderate noise levels. The opera house setting influences the dress code, and visitors attending performances often dress more formally. Prices are in the mid-range, around OMR 10 to 20 per person. The beverage programme leans on Omani coffee with dates, tea, juices and soft drinks, and alcohol should not be expected in a traditional restaurant of this kind. Reservations are recommended on performance evenings, when demand rises sharply and seating windows follow the show schedule. Bookings are made through the Royal Opera House switchboard on +968 2440 3300, and booking two to three days ahead is prudent for major performances. On days without events the restaurant is usually easier to enter without notice. Combining a guided tour of the opera house with lunch or dinner here is a convenient way to experience both the architecture and the cuisine in one outing.