Un Dimanche à Paris – Bluewaters Island

Un Dimanche à Paris is a newly opened Parisian restaurant from the fancy-pansy Saint-Germain-des-Prés district of Paris, now serving affordable gourmet French cuisine and Haute Couture pastries in Bluewaters Island, Dubai. Located on The Wharf next door to Ketch Up, it takes a modern yet elegant approach to its interior as opposed to the classic French bistro style similarly priced competitor Couqley in JLT has taken. Personally, I like Couqley more although Un Dimanche à Paris feels classier and more upmarket. Like all licensed Bluewaters eateries, there is a dedicated bar upstairs, be it a small one compared with some of the others in the general vicinity.

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The three of us got to Un Dimanche à Paris late in the evening. Famished from all the walking, we didn’t dilly dally with starters and went straight to our mains. One ordered a burger (in a French restaurant, really?), the other ordered a Filet De Boeuf, ruining it by having it well done, and I ordered the Joue De Boeuf or beef cheeks to you and me.

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Friend #1 was not at all impressed with his burger which he said was overcooked, dry and not nearly as good as the burger he had at Maison Mathis in Arabian Ranches the day before. Friend #2 enjoyed his two strips of roasted tenderloin although I thought they looked very unappealing without any pink in the middle. Served in a Le Creuset style cocotte with a rich gravy, my slow cooked beef cheeks were the best of the three.

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I felt their drinks were a little expensive with the house vodka, Stoli, costing 42 Dirhams a shot. And the house gin, Bombay Sapphire, 45 Dirhams – too much. I would have through they would have priced their drinks in-line with their food which is refreshingly affordable for a French restaurant (hint hint you guys at Almed).

Service however was super friendly and our waitstaff were extremely attentive and accommodating. In France Un Dimanche à Paris is as famous for its pastries and fresh handmade chocolates as it is for its food. The Dubai branch does not disappoint in this regard. In fact, they have brought in a French pastry chef to ensure their Haute Couture pastries are just as good.

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Proprietors Almed Retail, also owners of JJ Chicken, have done a decent job with this Parisian eatery. If you’re at Bluewaters and fancy a good French meal which will not break the bank, this is definitely an option worth considering. But please, if you order the Filet De Boeuf, have it medium rare and not well done.

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.