Newly opened Qasr Al Hira Mandi Restaurant is located on the corner of the City Avenue Building (where Raj Bhog Mumbai Se used to be) opposite City Center Deira. It joins Al Marhabani in Umm Suqeim and the Zam Zam branch in Ras Al Khor (taken over from Malik Al Romansiah) as the best-decorated mandi restaurants in Dubai.
And while the food is served in the same posh style, I did not enjoy it. For starters, the meat broth, my litmus test for the meal to come, was tasteless and starchy. The only part of my Lamb Madfoon, served with meat on rice and not in foil, which wowed me was the presentation and quantity of the two-tone rice. The meat, while tender, was not nearly as flavoursome as I expected. My guests though enjoyed their Mandi Hamour and Salmon.
Service is friendly and accommodating but not fast. Bottom line, with the best of the Zam Zam franchise sitting across the road a few meters away, I cannot think of a single reason for visiting this beautifully decorated restaurant.
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Xerxes physically visits (and dines at) each and every venue he reviews. He pays in full for whatever he and his companions eat and drink. Xerxes accepts no money, gifts, discounts or free meals in return for reviews. What you have read was not influenced in any way by the venue. Join me on Instagram @ravenousxerxes or email me on: xerxes@dellara.com