101 Dining Lounge and Bar: Champagne Wishes and Haute Cuisine Dreams.
Having dined at the incomparable STAY by Yannick Alleno, I was more than happy to return to the One & Only The Palm. In our many years in Dubai, we had never ventured to 101, so I was delighted by an invitation. Not that I needed an further encouragement, but throw in some Roederer champagne, and you’ve got a beautiful weekend night in the making. For our visit, we were sampling the special Champagne Menu, featuring a bottle of Roederer, priced at AED700 per person. The meal includes three courses. On arrival (remember you’re going ALL the way to the end of the Palm Jumeirah), we bypass the offer of the buggy and, given the cool weather, decide to make the long walk through the property on foot. Located at the further end of the One & Only The Palm, our approach is basically only an option three months of the year…
Masti: La Mer’s latest (licensed).
Although certain friends seem to be confused by the name and vibe of the venue, I was in good spirits as I made my first trip to La Mer to visit Masti. With an equal focus on both the lounge and food elements, this Indian inspired venue stands tall against the beach pavilions and recognizable lights of the establishment. Inside the restaurant, the modern interior is done in bright colors – teal and similarly decorated as Little Miss India. The lounge (aka, the place where alcohol is served) is upstairs and includes both intimate bar seating (complete with a giant stained glass elephant head) and an outdoor terrace (fairly cold for our visit in early January, but pashminas are offered, which help). From our vantage point, we glimpse buildings on the Dubai skyline. Like many a restaurant these days, the menu is intended for sharing, which suits my guest and…
Mint Leaf of London: Chef Pradeep shines.
There probably isn’t a restaurant that has been on my ‘need to review’ list longer than Mint Leaf of London. Having enjoyed our last trip to the Emirates Financial Tower, Hubs and I were happy to return to visit Chef Pradeep (who was the genius behind a memorable lunch at Jodphur), who has recently taken over the helm at Mint Leaf of London. Having seen a number of ‘grammable options in my feed, I wondered if the food would match the photos. Dodging a bit of Friday night construction in the lobby of Emirates Financial Towers, we made our way to the 16th floor and once inside, to our right into the dining room of the restaurant. Whereas the upstairs neighbors are in desperate need of an overhaul, Mint Leaf has a modern design, complete with an open kitchen. There is a good ratio of servers to diners, such that no one is…
Izu Bakery/Brasserie: City Walk cafe culture.
Knowing myself, I was both frustrated and delighted by Past Courtney’s decision to make plans for breakfast on Boxing Day. Fortunately, due to a wildly disappointing Christmas Day brunch at Traiteur (spoiler alert: it was a total cash grab with no holiday food whatsoever), we woke up hungry and ready to eat. Our visit to Izu Brasserie forced us out of the house and, as I followed my preference for not dealing with traffic, it was easier to try City Walk on a weekday when most people were traveling outside the country. With perfect winter weather, Hubs and I decided to sit outside under one of the covered tables (which was more than Traiteur could offer #iamnotbitter). A note to those trying to find the entrance, the restaurant is best accessed from the main boulevard, on the ground level of LE BLV / Marais (rather than wandering through the store,…
Top Five Apps to download when visiting Dubai.
Whether moving here, a visitor, or a long-term resident, there are a few apps that I recommend to make any amount of time in Dubai easier! In no particular order… Careem. I was an early adopter of the app (back in 2014), and haven’t looked back (sorry not sorry, Uber and their treatment of women among other misgivings can jump off a bridge, I don’t care how epic riding in a Tesla is). Careem is my go-to for any time I need a driver. Given I live in a location where taxis seldom frequent (not to mention my Type A tendencies to make advance bookings), I use Careem a minimum of once a week and often much more. As a frequent solo female rider, I always feel safe. My husband uses it when he attends meetings where parking is difficult, and they are always our reliable ride to the…
BB Social Dining: What DIFC didn’t know it was missing.
You probably thought DIFC had everything it needed, didn’t you? So did I. Thus, imagine my surprise when a new venue came along and is basically like, “Actually…how about we try this?” Take a former art gallery and transform it into a unique multi-level restaurant, complete with outdoor space, and you’ve got my new favorite venue in DIFC. Equal parts casual and effortlessly cool, the menu is a bit eclectic (it works for me, but I can see how others might prefer a more traditional approach) and the engagement of the staff is well above average. This is BB. As they mention on their website, “Begin anywhere,” which is precisely what we did. Seated near one of my favorite chefs in the city, my dining partner and I happily welcomed a glass of Marquis de Joncary Joseph Perrier champagne to start, a special served here (in coupes no less) for…
Cabin: A hidden gem in Barsha South.
I’m going to admit to something you might have already guessed. For the past month, I have been in a bit of an eating slump. There, I’ve recognized my problem. And as someone who genuinely loves food, this is a giant bummer. To not be excited about dishes, or to receive plates and view them in a hypercritical manner isn’t much fun for anyone. Add in boredom and the unwillingness to go out and try new restaurants, and you would pretty much have my modus operandi for the past month or so. Thus, when I saw the new restaurant Cabin, I thought, “I will have a nice enough brunch and be on my way.” My expectations were not high. Readers, I was very wrong and so happy to have my faith in food and service renewed. Greeted warmly by owner/artist Jonny, we were immediately given a tour of the venue. …
Little Miss India: A new entry on the Palm.
I’ll be upfront and say the name of this restaurant is a bit off-putting. My inner feminist wasn’t all too happy to the point where I had to tell myself to get over my feelings and just go for a nice meal already, but let this be a lesson that impressions mean something. Allegedly this name ties to an actual Miss India, and it’s her choice, but still… I can quickly think of at least ten better titles in the span of a few minutes, none of which are borderline insulting to women. Why must she be ‘Little?’ Why can’t she be a ‘Ms.’ instead of a ‘Miss’? Ahem. I digress. I’ll admit, on this particular Friday night, my expectations weren’t exceedingly high. There was a month-long soft launch and official opening on November 1st, so I walked into our November 3rd reservation to Little Miss India willing to give a bit…
Manzil Downtown Staycation.
The Manzil Downtown in Downtown Dubai has been a favorite hotel of mine for many years (yes, I can remember before it was reconfigured and when it was called the Al Manzil). In fact, it has been my go-to property to recommend to visitors from out of town for the past five years or more. Thus, when I was invited to officially review the hotel, I jumped at the chance to return. Even better? I was able to time my staycation for an evening when I had tickets to the opera and enjoyed being within walking distance. So, why do I love the Manzil Downtown so much? What makes this hotel better than the many other options in the city? Should I Stay or Should I Go? Pros Location is everything. When we lived in Doha, we would regularly return to Dubai, and this was always my preferred location. Why?…