Seleraku is small, affordable restaurant in Satwa which serves authentic Indonesian food. The interior is nothing fancy, but it’s clean and doesn’t smell like a curry house. The food is very good, easily on par in terms of authenticity, quality and taste with Betwai Café or Mamak. Stand-outs for me were the Soto Mie Bogor, … Continue reading Seleraku Restaurant – Satwa
Tum Tum Asia is an Indian, 100% vegetarian take on Asian cuisine. Located next door to sweet specialists Shree Gangour, just off Oud Metha’s famous 2nd street (behind Lamcy Plaza), it’s based in the center of one of Dubai’s Indian middle-class neighbourhoods (always a good thing when launching a veg only concept). The interior is … Continue reading Tum Tum Asia – Oud Metha
Chamas is fully licensed, authentic Brazilian Churrascaria restaurant in the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Sheikh Zayed Road. An imposing churrasqueira barbeque grill greets guests from behind a thick glass as they walk in. The restaurant is dim lit, and elegantly decorated, befitting a steakhouse of its kind. There’s also a bar, where smoking is permitted, for those who … Continue reading Chamas – Crowne Plaza, Trade Centre Area
The Desert Wok is an Indo-Chinese restaurant in Jumeirah Village Circle. I have not physically been to the restaurant, I ordered a home delivery instead. The young Filipino gentleman who took my order on the phone was courteous and patient, talking me through their menu. Our order was delivered within the one hour he promised, … Continue reading The Desert Wok – a disastrous home delivery.
Winners is a small, South Indian cafeteria behind the Movenpick Hotel in Oud Metha. I would have said it’s clean but I’ve witnessed first-hand the filthy, stinky rag the waiters wipe the tables with – yuk, yuk, and triple yuk! Thankfully my old-age OCD compels me to carry Dettol wet wipes on me at all … Continue reading Winners Cafeteria & Restaurant – Oud Metha
Wise Kwai is a cinematic themed Thai restaurant at the Dusit D2 in Barsha Heights. It’s beautifully designed; fresh, modern, colourful yet nostalgic and cosy at the same time. Sadly, it’s unlicensed. As one would expect, the all-Thai staff are friendly, polite and hugely accommodating. Their menu is extensive, covering most popular Thai favourites, many … Continue reading Wise Kwai – Dusit D2, Barsha Heights
Mirdif Fish & Chips has something of a cult following among the British expat community who, either live in the Mirdif area, or who have been around for a while. It’s more of a chippie kitchen than a restaurant; the two wobbly tables at the entrance are a bit of a joke really, positioning anyone … Continue reading Mirdif Fish & Chips – Mirdif
Veri Peri is a Nando’s clone franchise which seems to have gotten it better than the original. This Motor City branch , tucked away behind Crumbs at the Ribbon, is one of only two in Dubai, the other being in Deira. The interior follows the Nando’s uniform using wood flooring, exposed red brick, rope, maps, basically … Continue reading Veri Peri – The Ribbon, Motor City
Moombai & Co. at the H Hotel, fancies itself as something of a licensed Irani-Parsi café. The interior looks like a half-hearted attempt at copying Dishoom of Kings Cross, London. Nonetheless, it’s very well executed, and there are enough nostalgic touches to make it different to the average Dubai curry house. In fact, the first … Continue reading Moombai & Co. – Trade Centre Area
Himalaya is a small, hole-in-the-wall eatery in Karama. The fact that it’s been around for thirty years or so is a testament to the authentic, 100% vegetarian Gujrati thali and street food it is famous for. Its run-down appearance suggests that it targets the very bottom end of the market (translate that to read that … Continue reading Himalaya Restaurant – Karama
