One of the more distinctive restaurants in Muscat is Ubhar (unusual addition of an ‘h’ into what is more usually spelt Ubar). Though it’s in the center of town (so to speak) and facing a road, it’s got a discrete appearance from the outside. Inside however it’s a fusion with dark wood, shocking fuchsia cushions and clear Perspex chairs – better than it sounds.

We had a really nice meal from reading the menu through to leaving.

Standouts were the Fruit Juice, Appetizers, Soup, Crème Caramel (in the order they arrived) - the very personable service by the maître d'hôtel .

The restaurant opened a few months ago and is probably suffering from the economic slump and a focus by the affluent local population on coffee shops and fast food . But it deserves to do well - I won a fictional wager that all the staff were Omani including in the kitchen (they were) and as pioneers they deserve to win .