Hospitality Development Company (HDC), a wholly-owned subsidiary of United Development Company, has announced the soft opening of celebrity chef Richard Sandoval’s latest concept, Isla. 
The restaurant is located against the waterfront backdrop of The Pearl-Qatar in 2 La Croisette, Porto Arabia. 
Bringing a new street food experience “straight from the heart of Mexican dinin,” Isla is the latest addition to the list of franchises in Qatar developed by HDC, according to a statement. 
“Created by chef Sandoval, who is internationally recognised as the ‘father of modern Mexican cuisine’, Isla elevates Mexican cooking to new heights where guests savour authentic Mexican street comfort foods in the casual yet upbeat ‘cantina’ style dining room and patio,” the statement noted.  
Infusing traditional Mexican recipes with Asian ingredients, Isla offers diners the opportunity to explore a variety of signature dishes such as lobster tacos, carne asada, chipotle rubbed salmon and fresh homemade guacamole. Guests can enjoy a flavoursome culinary menu served alongside a selection of fresh mocktails that are inspired by Sandoval’s kitchen mantra of “old ways, new hands”. Isla is a reinterpretation of traditional Mexican dishes with “innovative techniques that are skilfully and ingeniously presented”.
“Latin American food is more than a meal, it is an event,” said chef Sandoval. “Isla embraces this concept, offering new flavours on a diverse menu to encourage diners to sample a range of exotic and delicious dishes. The result is a new ‘Modern Mexican’ restaurant, exposing even the most seasoned diner to the myriad of new flavours.”
As the day winds down, warming fit pits and live music are featured on the Isla Terrace by the Rumba Latina band, which performs every day (except Sundays) between 7pm and 10pm. Adjacent to the Isla entry will be a grab-&-go window with a selection of desserts like churros, chocolates, coffees, smoothies and fruit juices.