A high quality Chinese dinner experience in Oman: Restaurant Ba Ban @ W Muscat (27. January 2023)
Getting a cab without cash (i.e., intending to pay by credit card) is a bit of an adventure. So, my original booking idea somehow failed due to the missing cab options. Hence, I decided to go for a restaurant within the hotel. Once you’re seated at the Ba Ban, you’re served a few pickled vegetables and a crab chip with sauce.
What I absolutely liked was that they offer you a starter and a dessert or two cocktails for free, when you’re an Ambassador member. I decided to go for the “wagyu beef mushroom & black truffle puff (4 pcs)” (8.000 OMR), which was one of my ‘free’ options. The taste of the puffs is quite nice, but they somehow only look semi-appealing, since they are somehow like big maggots, optically. Taste-wise, though, they are quite enjoyable.
The “supreme dim sum platter (2x crystal prawn & black truffle; 2x Omani lobster ‘squid ink har gow’; 2x wagyu beef & mushrooms; 2x crystal sesame mushroom)” (15.000 OMR) is quite a portion to try. And while I somehow enjoyed it, I also somehow didn’t. I guess I will never be the biggest fan of dumplings – I just don’t like the texture of most.
As a main, I went for the “Omani honey miso Chilean sea bass (bok choy, pickled ginger)” (26.000 OMR), which was quite nice. It was prepared in a delicious way, however, the fish was cooked a bit too dry for my personal gusto.
As a side, I went for the “wok-fried broccoli & garlic” (OMR 6.000), which was my second free dish (since I didn’t want to have dessert). It was okay – but somehow a bit disappointing, as I had expected a bit more intense flavours.
Last but not least, before you get out, you get “chocolates”, which is quite a nice gesture.
The place is somewhat lovely, but if you want to sit inside, you have to book in advance. Since my decision was spontaneous, there was only space outside – it’s not bad here either, but it’s definitely getting a bit cold outside in January.
All in all, I liked the Ba Ban experience, since the place is nice, the food is good, and the service is very friendly and attentive. So, even if you’re not staying at the W, but definitely yes, if you’re staying at the W, you should dine at the Ba Ban.
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Contact Details:
Restaurant Ba Ban @ W Muscat
Al Kharjiya Street 103
Muscat (OM)
Tel.: +968 22 12 00 34
Homepage: https://www.marriott.com/en-us/hotels/mctwh-w-muscat/dining/
About the Author: Sven
I started the blog in October 2009, while living in Milan which I definitely consider to be one of the food capitals of the world. I was in touch with food since my early childhood (as my father is a former chef). Whenever I can, I travel the world to discover new places, to meet people but mostly to try local dishes and to find hidden gems! If you know a place worth going, please drop a line to: info@thediningexperience.org.
Currently, I am a member of the following food-related associations: Chevalier @Chaîne des Rôtisseurs Zurich-Ville; Membre Gourmet Dégustateur @Ordre Mondial des Gourmets Dégustateurs [OMGD]; Gesellschafter @Goldener Fisch and Member @Slowfood Convivium Zurich City. 
