Freddy’s is a gastropub/sports bar at the Fortune Plaza Hotel in Qusais. Open from noon, it is famous for affordable food and booze and as such, is busy from when it opens to closing time, past midnight. I found the absolute lack of women (other than the staff) a little unnatural; its expansive, dim lit, smokey (smoking is allowed) interior reminded me of similar, all-male venues I’d visited in Erbil and Baghdad. We’d call them mustache halls – you get the idea.
That aside, this is an old school bar; one which still serves complimentary popcorn and peanuts with its drinks. The music is loud and Western but the clientele is almost all Indian. And as such, there are an equal number of veg items on the menu as there are non-veg. My pescatarian host started us off with some boiled broccoli with cheese, something I do not recommend anyone tries with beer. The sautéed fish fillet which followed was much easier to pallet. Good food.
Sautéed fish fillet 
Peri Peri Mayo 
Boiled broccoli 
There’s nothing better than complimentary popcorn and peanuts…except maybe complimentary drinks
Service reminded me a lot of the Crown & Lion at the Byblos in Barsha Heights where you have a number of mainly Filipina waitresses running about serving drinks and food and…um, flirting a little too. If not flirty, let’s just say the girls at Freddy’s were very friendly and hospitable. This is not a typical place I would go to for a drink but you know what? I had a lot of fun – and – if I am in the area with friends, I will definitely stop by for a drink and some popcorn.
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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.