De Fish – Karama

De Fish is a popular, highly rated little South Indian seafood restaurant in Karama. Its interior, although modest in size, is well appointed with parquet flooring offsetting whitewashed walls adorned with maritime memorabilia, like boat oars and token ship wheels, which gives it a sense of a seaside eatery. Enter and you are greeted with an ice display decorated with fresh fish from which, obviously, you can choose to have fried, curried or tandoor baked. I don’t think they’ve got a grill going yet.

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My uncle and I thought their thali, which is served on a banana leaf, would be a good representation of all the hoo-ha this restaurant has been making of late – it wasn’t. So, we additionally ordered an Alleppey Curry with prawns (instead of fish) and a deep-fried sea-bream to eat, with our hands, with rice – now we’re talking. And with this addition we began to understand what all the fuss was about. The curry was sensational. But the one thing I liked most at De Fish wasn’t even food, it was the Neer Moru, a spiced buttermilk drink which is very popular in South India. I think I must have drunk two clay pots full.

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The staff at De Fish are a friendly bunch; attentive and accommodating. Our young, bearded waiter was simply amazing and infinitely patient with my uncle and me. He knew the menu very well and was not afraid to make suggestions. Good job.

I must admit, I was reminded a lot of Mota Fish in Barsha which offers a very similar proposition. Like them, this is a restaurant making a lot of noise for all the right reasons. It is easily one of the better affordable seafood restaurants in Dubai and well worth a visit.

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 no money, gifts, discounts or free meals in return for reviews or favouritism. 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.