I’m not a big fan of Tunde Kabab, a Lucknow specialty. This put me at odds with Lucknowee, Dubai’s newest Lucknow cuisine restaurant, before I even set foot in the place. And what a place it is – small but handsomely decorated with a definite hint of shahi. Pride of place is taken by an … Continue reading Lucknowee – Karama
I have a confession to make – I dine at the IKEA restaurant without shopping at IKEA. In fact, it’s the first thing I did when the new IKEA opened at MAF’s new Festival Plaza in Jebel Ali. The restaurant’s look, lay-out, feel and atmosphere is copy-paste from the first one in Festival City. If … Continue reading IKEA Restaurant – Festival Plaza, Jebel Ali Village
Although there is a delicious duck confit on the menu of this gastropub, Duck Hook is actually a golf term (for an unintended hook shot) and not a reference to what is on the menu. Yet for some reason, the restaurant walls are decorated with framed pictures of…ducks – quack, quack. Speaking of décor, located … Continue reading Duck Hook, The – Dubai Hills
We were all so excited when the Irish Village opened at the Studio One Hotel in Studio City, feeling that it brought to the doorstep of Arabian Ranches one of our all-time favourite British pubs. But this latest incarnation of Dubai’s original, iconic watering hole is disappointing to say the least. It looks the part … Continue reading Irish Village, The – Studio One Hotel, Studio City
My Home Kitchen is an Indian restaurant in Silicon Oasis with multicuisine aspirations. Located in Block D of the DSO Hostel Building, its interior looks more like a trendy coffee shop than a curry house. The restaurant’s mantra revolves around home cooked food, specifically (and I quote its website) “an extensive collection of traditional Mother’s … Continue reading My Home Kitchen – Dubai Silicon Oasis
Sadaf is a well-established Iranian restaurant franchise with a strong local bias. It is most famous for its value for money, all you can eat buffets. This restaurant on Hessa Road is the newest of its four branches in Dubai. Surprisingly, it brings to three the number of Iranian restaurants along Hessa – Layali Kish … Continue reading Sadaf – Al Barsha
BRD by Slab is, basically, chef Omar Rodriguez’s take on fried chicken. And for those of you who don’t know, Omar Rodriguez is the head chef at Slab, La Mer. Located next door to SMK (smoked meat kitchen) in the swanky (yet always empty) Dar Wasl Mall on Al Wasl road, BRD uses funky graphics … Continue reading BRD by Slab – Dar Wasl Mall, Al Safa
I’m NOT supposed to have ice cream – NOT. But the Jelly Belly logo pulls me in like a tractor beam; even this discreet, miss-it-if-you’re-not-paying-attention branch in the old town section of Al Seef. The interior is the same as all the other branches – it’s an ice cream parlour – not a lot you … Continue reading Jelly Belly – Al Seef, Umm Hurair
Khao Siam 45 is an authentic Thai restaurant in Business Bay. Located (for the time being) next door to the hugely popular Mama’esh in Bayswater Tower off Marasi Drive Street, this little eatery will only win prizes for interior design if plain Jane is the theme. I’m told the new premises in Al Barsha 1 … Continue reading Khao Saim 45 – Business Bay
Eva Kana is a Levantine restaurant owned by inspirational Jordanian celebrity TV chef Eva Halasa Rihani. There are two branches in Dubai, one in Mirdif and this one at The Ribbon, Motor City. It rubs shoulders with a shisha café of the same name (next door) but we won’t get into that. Extensive use of … Continue reading Eva Kana – The Ribbon, Motor City
