Indya by Vineet, colorful and economical.
With our foster dog recovering from a long overdue surgery (always spay and neuter your pets, people!) I hadn’t planned anything significant for the weekend. In the end, this was a good idea. Friday saw Hubs enjoying golf in the beautiful February weather which Dubai likes to offer, and me monitoring our little patient and generally catching up on things before a busy week ahead. Thus, having heard positive comments about the recently opened Indya by Vineet, I braved the marina (something I do on a bi-annual basis only) for a Friday night visit. In the 13+ years, I think this was actually our first visit to Le Royal Meridien Beach Hotel, which was clearly in the stages of the late late brunch crowd (yikes!). Turning right from the lobby on the ground floor is Indya, and once inside, color pops everywhere. My favorite feature had to be a giant…
The London Project, Bluewaters Dubai.
After some delays (damn you, cold), I finally managed to make it to The London Project, a newly opened endeavor at Bluewaters Dubai, the man-made island (where the Caesars Palace is located). To start, my Careem driver and I were a bit unsure of where exactly the drop off was for the restaurant and spoiler alert — there are no real indicators. As of now, the signage/wayfinding (at least near the London Project) leave something to be desired. I mention this because customers finding the restaurant is more or less the base level of the start of the experience… Anyway, in the shadow of the absolutely giant (and not functional) Dubai Ain, sits a series of food and beverage outlets, including The London Project. With its just opened sister restaurant, The London Slide (serving up burgers), I finally walked around to the marina side of the area to where the entrance…
Mama Zonia, lush life in Pier 7.
Lots to explore in Dubai this time of year, right? A recent Saturday night found us at the newly launched Mama Zonia. I’m going to admit, that my visits to Pier 7 have significantly dropped off, mostly because of (what else?) traffic to and from the location. I never had a chance to visit Cacti (the former version of Mama Zonia), so, really, I have nothing to compare the venue to (except the other restaurants I’ve visited located in Pier 7). Upon arrival, the interior is done in lush greens and bright jewel tones. There is a large bar/lounge area, which opens onto an exterior terrace (perfect for these temperate Dubai winter days). The interior is similar in style to Hotel Cartegena, and I imagine this will be a popular ladies night destination in a short amount of time. After reviewing the extensive cocktails menu, I’m happy with my selection,…
Carine: Emirates Golf Course and Chef Izu get it right.
Gang, I’m going to admit something. I went to the former version of Carine, back when it was Le Classique. I feel the statute of limitation is over, but wowzers that was a bad meal. When researching for this post, I went back to my notes and found a nearly 1,000-word e-mail of all the things I would change (and really, I don’t think there was much worth saving). While I’m always sad to see a restaurant fail, in this instance, I think it’s for the best, because now we have Carine, the latest offer from Chef Izu (who you might remember from my visit to Citywalk). The interior space, which used to be dark, closed off, and hopelessly dated is now completely refreshed. Unlike many – ! – a Dubai venue, this is the right size restaurant, not overly large, and not too imposing as to make diners feel…
The Fish House: Revisiting DFC.
We may or may not have already established that my first port of call in Dubai (circa 2007) was Dubai Festival City. Thus, I have an exceptional place in my heart for the entire property. Friendships that started at the golf club course, beautiful weddings attended, and discovering what expat life was all about during our weekly shop at Hyper Panda (or, as one friend used to affectionately call it, ‘Disco Panda’). Before I seriously got into fine dining, one of my finest UAE dining experiences at the now-shuttered Reflets, so I’m always curious to see what changes happen in the area. Thus, entering the Intercontinental Festival City for me comes with a greater expectation than most. Fortunately, I was immediately greeted by an airy and elevated space. Replacing what used to be the Bistro Madeline (?), the interior at The Fish House instantly appeals to my style — not overly fussy, with plenty…
An American expat in Weslodge’s court…
Canadian import Weslodge has been on my radar for awhile. While the timing wasn’t particularly ideal (I had just stuffed about a kilo of sushi in my face a few hours previously), when an invite came from a dear friend on Tuesday night, how was I to say no? Upon arrival to the JW Marriott Marquis (a special favorite of mine, given that it is the tallest hotel in the world, and I wrote a novel about a hotel), we were directed to the right side of the lobby and took the elevator to the 68th floor. Much like the Emirates Towers, the lift has a view onto SZR (great way to impress your out of town friends before even stepping in the restaurant). As the venue takes up the entirety of the floor, the doors open into a large lobby, where a hostess greets you. Now, here’s where things get…
Is Social by Heinz Beck worth the schlep? Mostly no.
The Dubai Restaurant Week 2016 is almost finished and we were able to enjoy 2 exceptional meals. Calling an audible on Wednesday night, I decided for a booking at Social by Heinz Beck on Thursday night. Traffic on the Palm is currently a terrific disaster, so we arrived nearly 45 minutes late for the booking (which they were kind enough to hold for us — we were not the only ones in the situation). I tried to reach the restaurant to advise them, but was not able to get through (also frustrating). Reservations? Made through the ReserveOut function (which was quite easy to use – there were two seatings for the restaurant week tasting meals, 7:30 and 9:30). Ambiance? Very posh. This is the Waldorf, after all. Unfortunately, from the start, I was a bit disappointed at our seating. While not everyone can have the best table, I strongly believe we…