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Nola @JLT Dubai

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  Nola at JLT Dubai is a hidden gem that brilliantly captures the essence of New Orleans cuisine while infusing it with a contemporary twist. Upon entering, you’re greeted by vibrant decor reminiscent of the lively streets of the Big Easy, from the colourful murals to the subtle jazz notes wafting through the air. The atmosphere is both inviting and festive, making it a perfect spot for casual dining with friends. Touted as a cajun eat place would have liked more New Orleans music to be piped through. The music being played was a but subdued.  The menu is a delightful exploration of Southern flavours, offering a range of classic dishes alongside innovative creations. While the offerings embody the essence of being in New Orleans, we stuck to starters. The Sea Bream Carpaccio was divine, with lovely flavour and delicate marinade. The Wagyu beef skewer bites were exceptional, albeit the serving was noticeably small. The Nola salad was tasty, but again meagre in serving size (the...
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Rasha Kana @International City Dubai.

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  Rasha Kana @International City Dubai Rarely does a meal at a resturant pull at the strings and takes you to the native taste, smell and flavor of food from our native land. Rasha Kana is, in our opinion, the best food from the tribal lands that straddle both Afghanistan and Pakistan. Celebrating Afghan and Shinwari food, the experience was the best I have had in over 40 years in UAE. This is a true gem and is a must for foodies.  The restaurant is small (40-50 covers), with a simple decor, and is very clean and welcoming. The seating is comfortable, and the staff is not only attentive but also very friendly. The husband and wife team who own the restaurant are present and very knowledgeable on the cuisine they offer. The menu is designed for meat lovers, though they were very accommodating to conjure up a vegetable dish for one of us who is a vegetarian. Talking to the owners, they did say they will include some vegetable dishes in the future.  A word of warning: the me...
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Flamingo Beach Resort @Umm Al Quawin UAE

 Set aside any pretensions of snobbishness, and arouse the true beach experience enthusiast within you and you will find that tucked away in Umm Al Quwain is a quaint but delightful experience. Close to the mangroves and literally at the end of this long stree, which towards the end shows you old UAE, you come upon the Flamingo Beach Resort. Arriving here took one back to the late 1980's when the East coast of UAE had a few privately run beach resorts. From Umm al Quwain to the end of the Fujairah coastline they were priceless destinations. This was way before hotel chains or booking.com got onto this scene.  Flamingo Beach resort reminded us of those days, with a very pure formula: Excellent service, a beach, and shaded pergolas and staff that attend to you all the time. There is a pool too, and a kids pool and showers and toilets all handy. Its not pricey and you pay a fraction of the price you would to put your towel on a sun bed in hotel on the Palm. True this does not hav...
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Crescendo Brunch @ Anantara The Palm Jumeirah DXB

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 Dubai, as a destination, is known for the overwhelming offers for brunch experiences. An exploration of all that is on offer will take years to fathom and discern. Nevertheless, there are some experiences which immediately appeal not only to the taste buds, but also the who range of senses. After half a dozen repeat visits, each perhaps with a view to find something wrong, finally one had to surrender and admit that the Crescendo Brunch at the Anantara ranks in the best five one can experience in Dubai. Is it the oriental welcome, is it the relaxed detail to customer care, or it is simply the food?  The welcome is warm, the staff attention is always subtly always present but not in your face. The food is what does the trick. The salads without exception over all the visits stand out as the best on offer. A particular favourite is the Thai Beef salad that seems to have an Anantara twist to it. The food stations are many, from Japanese, to Sub Continental, Mexican, Italian, Ara...
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The Bolt hole @ Villanova Dubai.

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 The Bolt Hole at the new community of Villanova (on E 611 near Habtoor Polo) is the latest addition to community centred food and drink offerings in Dubai. Community focused eateries always have a challenge to cater to the diverse cultural composition of residents in Dubai's communities. The Bolt Hole certainly overcomes that challenge with ease through two simple steps; a diverse but uncomplicated international menu and secondly with an impeccable quality of food and service. Yes for out of the main stream restaurants TBH comes across as pricey, however in fairness this Jumeriah group owned place does have a mix of price points that can let you enjoy a good meal without breaking the bank.  There is some chatter that a price review is in the offing but still judging by the reception the place is getting there are a lot of good things going on here. The decor is very good and inviting; comfortable, uncluttered. The open kitchen is an attraction in itself seeing 8 or 9 staff bu...
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Banan Beach Rask Al Khaimah.

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 Discovering this gem at the entrance on Marjan Island in Ras Al Khaimah was a treasured moment. Lovely setting, rustic architecture, simplicity with class and the great beach front added by the fact the place is dog friendly makes it a must visit location. Having been there now half a dozen times, one can assuredly say that the first experience being great was not a fluke. Each visit has shown the attention to clients, the good quality of food and just something different from the glitz of many hotels is what UAE needed. The weekend brunch was exceptional with an accent of Palestinian food, the poolside seating, the sound of the ocean waves next door and the wonderful service want to pull you back each time.  It was no surprise that in the last month each time we have called on a Thursday to book for the brunch it has been booked. (Note to self must call a week in advance). The owner, Mr Banan himself, is usually on hand and very friendly and likeable. The manager of the faci...
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Rags to Riches @ Studio One Dubai.

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 The opening of Rags to Riches is a welcome addition to the culinary and social scene around Studio City and Arabian Ranches. Located on the first floor of the restaurant area of the hotel, it is accessed from either the lift facing the courtyard or from the larger lift to the left of the reception desk of the hotel, (through the lobby). While we went for lunch we did feel a second visit in the evening is warranted.  The welcome was warm, the seating well thought out, the decor simple but tasteful and the large outside terrace promises to be ideal with the weather cooling down. The menu is a delight, with an excellent food offering that is a hybrid between classy pub grub and a casual dinning experience. The bread rolls (baked in house) with rosemary were absolutely divine as was the nachos and the jalapeno poppers. The service stood out and later we were joined by the co founder and brain behind the concept Shaban Ibrahim, (previously at the Ranches Restaurant at the Golf Clu...
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