Matto is a home-grown Italian restaurant at The Oberoi in Business Bay. I am a big fan of Italian food yet for some unexplainable reason am extremely sceptical when it comes to Italian restaurants, especially the stereotypical ones with some reference to their dear Mammas, or those which use their own names like Antonio’s, Luciano’s, … Continue reading Matto – Business Bay
Forni Pizza is a small pizzeria in the Imperial Residence, Jumeirah Village Triangle. I’ve not physically been there, choosing instead to order-in (home delivery). First things first, the ordering process is a cinch; Kathleen, the young Filipino girl on the phone was polite, patient and well informed. She guided me through their menu making suggestions … Continue reading Forni Pizza – Jumeirah Village
Quattro Passi is two Michelin-starred chef Antonio Mellino’s newly opened Italian restaurant at the Five Palm Jumeirah Dubai. It is, I am told, an evolution of his original Quattro Passi, on Italy’s beautiful Amalfi Coast: https://www.viamichelin.com/web/Restaurant/NERANO_MARINA_DEL_CANTONE-80061-Quattro_Passi-139636-41102. As tasteful and elegantly decorated as its interior is, it pales in comparison to the beautiful seating arrangement they … Continue reading Quattro Passi – Palm Jumeirah
Kabab Safa is a small South Iranian kabab house located within the Yellow Hat Car Services Centre in Nadd Al Hammar, Ras Al Khor. And when I say small, I mean Thumbelina size small. And boy-oh-boy is it popular. Given that there are only three tables inside, most often you are offered a seat rather … Continue reading Kabab Safa – Ras Al Khor
Karachi Darbar has reopened its Al Muteena branch as a 2.0, a total revamp and relaunch of the super successful, affordable Pakistani franchise originally established in 1973. Hey, hold on, the UAE wasn’t even around then…hmm. It took a while, but you just have to see this place – it’s so different from the rough, … Continue reading Karachi Darbar – Al Muteena
The Palm Grove is a licensed Keralite restaurant at the Marco Polo Hotel in Al Muteena Street. It boasts a fully serviced bar which, funnily enough, gets p-r-e-t-t-y busy from lunchtime onwards. The interior of the Palm Grove is a claustrophobic maze of thatched cubicles which, I can only assume, is designed to give the … Continue reading The Palm Grove – Al Muteena
Rajasthan Al Malaki, also known as the Rajasthan Restaurant is, as its name suggests, an authentic Rajasthani thali restaurant. It is located in the Muwailih Commercial District, behind DPS Sharjah Primary School. Driving in from Dubai, I would have found it near impossible to find without Google Maps. Inside, you would not mistake this for … Continue reading Rajasthan Al Malaki – Sharjah
I never thought I’d see the day when I’d be the only customer at a SALT outlet. Well, I was today. But that’s only because the SALT outlet in question was their newest, at the still not fully operational Dubai Creek Harbour. SALT uses the same, immediately recognizable silver food truck as a base, around … Continue reading SALT – Ras Al Khor
Pak Al Safa is a typical Ravi’s and Karachi Darbar wannabe Pakistani restaurant. Located not far from the Marco Polo Hotel on Al Muteena Street, its prices suggest that it has positioned itself as a value for money alternative to Karachi Darbar and Pak Darbar, both a little further down the street. Pak Al Safa … Continue reading Pak Al Safa – Al Muteena
It’s hard to believe Chopstix is an award-winning restaurant. It’s lunchtime, and there’s absolutely no one here. Except Xerxes, a couple of very smiley staff members, and a pair of the world’s largest chopsticks. This is an unashamedly Indian Chinese restaurant, where even the chef is not Nepalese, he’s Indian. That said, these guys actually … Continue reading Chopstix – Al Muteena
