After what could possibly be the longest ‘opening soon’ in history, Arsalan, the Mughlai masters from Kolkata, are finally here in Dubai – yeay! I am lucky enough to have visited their original Park Circus branch not long ago and have been anxiously waiting for this outlet in Karama to open for…ever since. The good news is that the interior of this new branch is far better than the one I visited in India.
Thankfully Arsalan Dubai is not just a pretty face, the food is equally good. Before moving on to our deliriously delicious Mutton Biryani, we started with a couple of kebabs (you cannot visit Arsalan and not have kebab), specifically the Chicken Tikka and melt-in-your-mouth, OMG X 3 Hariyali Murgh Masala. Needless to say, we were near tears (of joy) by the time our Biryani arrived.
Now the biryani at Arsalan is very different to the Hyderabadi-style biryanis popular in Dubai; Arsalan’s is less spicy, less oily so you can actually taste the cotton-tender mutton shanks which are snuggled within layers of fragrant, long-grain Basmati. Nestled in with the mutton are potatoes, which I love.
We also got a Daal Makhani and a couple of rotis for good measure. And then…we went to town.
Service at Arslan is exemplary, better than in India. In fact, I found everything – even the food – better at this new branch in Dubai than in Cal, the city I was made and born in. Need I say more?
Hey! Now read this –
Xerxes physically dines at, or orders from,
each and every venue he reviews. He pays in full for whatever he and his
companions eat, drink, take away or occasionally throw at each other. Xerxes accepts
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