The Entertainer has been absolutely crushing it recently! When April’s monthly offers came out and I saw a brunch with Intersect by Lexus, I was excited. Although I put the call out to other friends, in the end, it was just Hubs and myself and we had a blast (seriously, some very good people watching on offer as well as running into a former colleague from 2008). As a concept, the restaurant is one of three in the world (the other properties are in Toyko and New York, respectively). As the website itself lists, the location is “an artisanal eatery offering an authentic and evolving culinary journey with a focus on pure, handcrafted organic cuisine and beverages.”
Reservations? Made online (1 day before – oops!!).
Ambiance? Located in (where else), DIFC’s Gate Village. As best I can explain, it’s a bit like eating in a funky artist studio. Straight away, unlike some of the restaurants in Dubai, this venue is one of intimate dining. For Friday brunch, there was a wonderful duo (voice and guitar) which added a perfect level of acoustics to the afternoon. In nearly direct contrast to the mellow upstairs is the blinged out downstairs – complete with a giant collection of toy race cars, a real car and the best toilets in Dubai. Oh yes. For friends who have traveled to parts of Asia, be prepared for loos that offer all sorts of bells and whistles. Waiting in line? No bother! The lower level is the perfect spot for selfies.
I would honestly challenge someone to find a more eclectic dining spot in the city…
Service? Polite, engaged and dare I say, normal. Like, you can have a conversation. You can make jokes and share a smile. We saw the head chef out and circulating the tables (he had friends dining in the restaurant) throughout the afternoon.
Food? As a sample of the menu, there was a lot to enjoy. As a note, I thought the mains were a bit on the small side (I am, after all, American), but of course I did feel quite full. I also sincerely appreciated there was coffee and tea offered!
Highlights for me included the shortrib gyoza (we had 3 servings!) and the squid. For the mains, Hubs and I both thought the brisket was a bit too smoky and missing requisite tang that, as Southeners, we expect with this style of beef. The issue with too much ‘smoke’ was also present in the mahi mahi starter. If I’m being very picky, there were some temperature issues in the deserts… The bread and butter pudding, we both believed, should have been served piping hot with very cold ice cream. These small details did not detract from the overall experience, and I would still highly recommend.
Cost? With the Entertainer app, AED495 for two people (including bubbles) is one of the best values for money I’ve seen in awhile.
Thoughts from Hubs… So, why did we stay out another 7 hours?
Have you been yet? What was your favorite dish?
