Fifty Shades of Food

  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...

  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...

 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...

 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...

 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...

 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...

 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...

 Sometimes stumbling upon an eatery can be a pleasant surprise. This was the case with our visit to Pangolin at the Els Golf Club in Dubai Sports City. Our first visit was a delight in every respect from the food, to the service and the over all feel of the place. So after a gap of two months we revisited Pangolin. Knowing from our first visit that the restaurant had been acquired by a new group we expected some changes. While no visible changes had emerged we heard that the restaurant was being rebranded and the offering would change from the current theme. Our two visits had given us the distinct impression that the Pangolin was a hidden gem. Its Mediterranean accented food offering was simply amazing. The food fitted in so well with the poolside presence of the restaurant and had a nice casual feel to it. While one may say the decor looked 'tired' it at best needs a facelift. The menu was well constructed and every item we ordered was well prepared, with just the perfect tas...

 Once you have weaved your way past two or three competing restaurants on the terrace of The Pointe, you come to A Capella. The decor barely distinguishes it from its competitors but this can be deceptive as soon the food and drink experience that follows sets A Capella as a unique and special eating experience. The views of the Atlantis across the bay of water and the light and fountain show that repeats itself every 30 minutes create an ambience that makes your visit special.  It would be hard to classify this restaurant with a "Passport" menu of offers from select countries, and the food presentation with hints of fusion cooking, (A Tandoori chicken with Japanese sauces as an example). Put aside the need to label this eat place and each item you taste is an explosion of flavours and an attention to gastronomic detail that made us feel A Capella really does deliver. The Aalo Tiki (potato starters) and the Patata Bravas (from Spain) were simply exceptional. The Yellow Dal wi...

 Brunches, especially during the winter months, tend to get a reputation for being pricey and a bit of a glitz parade. Discovering the Hessa Street Kitchen brunch in Friday was as much coincidental and it was a pleasant surprise. The welcome was very warm, Jane, the waitress bumped into us in the lobby and escorted us all the way to the table. While the decor is minimal, and some of the snobs may not find it has the glitz of a five star hotel, it was functional and seating was amply spaced out.  The Dh 295 full alcohol package and a Dh 175 non alcoholic package was really reasonable, all the more considering there was a buy one get one free offering. That meant the two of us end up paying only Dh 295. The alcohol package while basic was by no means spartan. There were offerings of spirits, red, white and rose wines, beers and half a dozen cocktails, the negative being all but one were beer based. We would suggest the cocktails might well be revamped to include some of the more...

Our impression of McGettigan's has been clouded with the idea that is is the watering hole for tourists and upper scale Dubai residents. Positioned in the mind as a pub one would not expect the food to be one of the stronger suites of this Irish offering. Indeed the setting of McGettigan's along the canal of Madinat Jumeirah creates a unique ambience that alone is a footfall driver. A very friendly staff, and the vibe of a happening place standout.  The welcome was warm and friendly, and our request to be seated outside was quickly complied with after a short time inside. There is no doubt this Irish offering stands out with the quick service and the friendly staff. The drinks menu while not exhaustive is well thought out even catering to the one non-drinker in our midst. The food menu while not wide in selections certainly gave the impression this was more than pub grub on offer.  The Spinach Tagliatelle was perfectly cooked and a ideal choice for a vegetarian. The fish and c...

 When a close friend invited us to Mizu at Downtown in Dubai, we were not too sure if we were up for a night of sashimi and sushi. Within minutes of arriving we realised this was not your typical Japanese restaurant; this is something very special. Once you figure out the parking, (use Boulevard Parking 2 and take the lift up) you walk into a very down to earth decor of Mizu. The staff are very polite, the place is vibrant and every table was occupied. We decided to have a medley of starters and found there was nothing wanting in the almost two hour procession of food.  Mizu is a gem of a place and the food is its mainstay. Each dish was an explosion of taste, and you could feel there was considerable thought and effort in the offering that this restaurant presented. Starting from the Yellowtail Carpaccio till the final course of the Mochi Ice Cream there was not a single dish that was below par. There were adequate options for the veggie lovers and vegans amongst us. We enjoy...

Simon Rimmer's restaurant, The Scene at Pier 7 appears on the Dubai social media platforms with accolades and high recommendations. A celebrated British chef the menu he conjures up for The Scene is exciting and promising tempting us to venture out on a Saturday for dinner. Occupying the entire 4th floor of Pier 7 the restaurant is expansive with an outdoor terrace, which overlooks the Dubai Marina, envelopes the restaurant. The welcome was polite with the decor minimalistic and one could not help but notice a couple of buckets on the floor designed to catch the dripping condensation from the air conditioning vents.   As stated the menu is well thought out and the various themed nights with dedicated menus caught our attention. For Saturday the themed roast caught our attention and we opted for the braised leg of lamb with a nice medley of vegetables and roast potatoes. The meat had been deboned and came in the form of a patty supposed to be resting on red cabbage and a Yorksh...

<a href="https://www.zomato.com/dubai/ranches-restaurant-arabian-ranches" title="View Menu, Reviews, Photos & Information about Ranches Restaurant, Arabian Ranches and other Restaurants in Dubai" target="_blank"><img alt="Ranches Restaurant Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato" src="https://www.zomato.com/logo/205788/biglogo" style="border:none;width:104px;height:34px;padding:0px;" /></a>  Long term residents look upon the Ranches Restaurant, located within the Golf Club, the go to place for a relaxed meal and local week end eat place for the family. The restaurant has survived over 20 years with a combination of tenacity and resident loyalty, braving the cyclical nature of its standing from amazing, to mediocre. One can only look at the Ranches Restaurant much like a long term relationship which usually has awesome days and then once in a while the odd bad day creeps in.  The food choices ar...

<a href="https://www.zomato.com/dubai/hqs-459-jumeirah-1" title="View Menu, Reviews, Photos & Information about HQ'S 459, Jumeirah 1 and other Restaurants in Dubai" target="_blank"><img alt="HQ&#039;S 459 Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato" src="https://www.zomato.com/logo/18594341/minilink"  style="border:none;width:130px;height:36px;padding:0px;" /></a> Looking for affordable and delicious food then head on over to HQ's 459 at the Le Mer in Dubai. Once the challenge of finding a parking spot was over come (we opted for valet parking) finding the restaurant was easy. The welcome was cordial and the seating outside over looks the beach separated with a pathway for pedestrians. Le Mer is a busy place and if one can take the crowd walking past the outside seating the rest is all wonderful. In addition to the palm trees with their twinkling lights, its  good place to people watch a...

<a href="https://www.zomato.com/dubai/d-a-dhow-anchor-jumeirah-beach-hotel-umm-suqeim" title="View Menu, Reviews, Photos & Information about D&A - Dhow & Anchor - Jumeirah Beach Hotel, Umm Suqeim and other Restaurants in Dubai" target="_blank" ><img alt="D&amp;A - Dhow &amp; Anchor - Jumeirah Beach Hotel Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato" src="https://www.zomato.com/logo/200167/biglink" style="border:none;width:200px;height:146px;padding:0;" /></a> Visiting a restaurant a decade after the last visit gives one an excellent perspective on the changes. The Dhow & Anchor was a popular watering hole back then and one would not necessarily have gone there for a meal. The pub previously, was very dark and dingy.  Glad to see all that has changed with an openness and loads of light and a new feel. More of a pub bistro feel it has the advantage of outside seating with excellent ...

 We went to Maiden Shanghai, a much touted Chinese restaurant at the Five on the Palm in Dubai with much expectations. The Five is a busy location with a vibe that is difficult to define so getting through the busy entrance was a small achievement. The restaurant is over three floors with the first offering outdoor seating and the third with an outdoor terrace. We opted for the first floor though a narrow reception begged the question how would they handle a party of more than four arriving together? The welcome greeting was a bit cold and distant, though the girl who ushered us to the table was very helpful in finding a nice table. Our waitress Shama, was helpful and knew the menu well.  The menu was a bit confusing and one needed the waitress to explain the offerings.The spring rolls were amazing, fresh and crunchy, though would like a little more sauce. The dim sum platter was mixed, with the mushroom, beef and shrimp dumplings being exceptional, the turnip dimpling was a f...

 If you are a meat lover then Fogo de Chao is the experience you must have. Located at the Central Park Towers in DIFC Dubai, the restaurant offers a churrasco offering of various cuts of beef, lamb and chicken brought to your table. Having experienced the original offering in Dallas Texas, one had an idea on what to expect and perhaps gauge against. In terms of Dubai’s food offerings Fogo de Chao does stand out as a nonsense meat lovers spot to be at. The salad offerings and the polenta and sweet potato selections may give a vegetarian friend some excellent solace but make no excuses this is unashamedly a meat place.  Arriving through some navigation to the third level of the building the welcome was warm. The restaurant was well booked and busy. The service oscillated from below par to excellent and it all depended upon who came up to your table. For this class of restaurant some glaring missteps; no one offered to pour the wine or refill, then the ‘serve me’ tabs were green...

 The Kite Beach at Umm al Quwaim, not to be confused with the one is Dubai, slipped into out Google search. The first attempts to make a booking were a bit of disaster due to lack of response to emails, phones and WhatsApp messages. Thankfully 48 hours later this was resolved though on arrival noticed that the cabana we asked for was not booked. The very helpful lady at reception did apologise and explained in a few days their new booking system will be up and running. Once past this hiccup walking into the facility was a delight; clean facility, loads of beach seating, very well kept beach and pet friendly. Ordering the meal was a slight challenge as the girl at the meal counter was intent on multi tasking but other than a slight irritation the food was just very special. The kite beach burger was excellent, the sweet potato fries just done right and the milk shakes were refreshing. The menu had many choices for vegetarian clients and the carnivores were certainly well taken care ...

 Mr Miyagi at Studio One hotel has been a regular haunt for us and while we have not attended each of the special nights they offer, the Thursday and Friday brunch have been special. If you have an affinity to Asian starters then Mr Miyagi will not disappoint you, indeed their dim sum and spring rolls would easily rank as the best on offer in Dubai. The starters come in a three waves with the final wave of Japanese sushi rolls which were simply divine. You have to be regular to figure out how you will pace yourself to leave room for the main course. The starters are more than adequate to be a meal in itself and should you still have an appetite for the main course the Thai curries will not disappoint. Our only beef would be that the high standard set  by the starters would create an expectation of similar gastronomic excellence for the main course. Don’t get us wrong the main course offerings are excellent but the starters steal the show. Mr.Miyagi is a happening place and is ...