Raydan Kitchen & Restaurant – Umm Suqeim

Raydan Kitchen & Restaurant is a famous Saudi mandi franchise. This first Dubai branch is located in a stand-alone, five-star premises on Jumeirah road. Its interior is lavishly decorated and spotlessly clean. The dining area is located on the first floor and is accessible by a lift. The entire ground floor is taken up by a modern, state of the art kitchen. Upstairs there are traditional floor seating cubicles including more private and secluded ones for families. Of course, table and chair seating is also available. I don’t think I have ever been to a mandi restaurant as clean and well-organised as this one.

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Because we were at a Saudi restaurant, we had to try their Meat Madghout. My friends and I also ordered a Meat Mandi and Meat Madfoon. Interestingly all three were served together in a single platter with a very regal looking shiny stainless-steel dome cover. The traditional meat broth we started our meal with was good, a sign of things to come. All three meats were well cooked but the Madfoon was the most tender and juicy. All three were delicious. The quality of rice was of the highest standard, and here it was the beautifully spiced Madghout which stood out. We ended our meal with a cream filled Kunefe – yum.

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The best part of Raydan for me was the service. It is simply in a different league to anything else out there. I have little doubt this restaurant will be a smash hit. The closest a mandi restaurant has come to this upmarket was Malik Al Romansiah (now Zam Zam) in Rashidiya. Before I sign off, I must share the coolest experience I had with their complementary valet service. A message is automatically sent to the valet as you are settling your bill so by the time you come down, your car is ready, a/c running. But what really put a smile on my face was the fact that a plastic cover was put on the driver seat and cling film wrapped around the steering wheel to prevent the parking/valet attendant sweating on your car. Oh man, it doesn’t get much better than that.

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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.