Marea: New York arrives in Dubai.
Back in Dubai for a bit, I was more than happy to accept an invitation to lunch at Marea, which has long been on my list of restaurants to visit. For those who remember, Marea operates where Totora (RIP) used to be located. Marea has maintained the same upstairs/downstairs areas as before, although the installation of an elevator is a smart touch for anyone with mobility issues. There is a chic bar upstairs, and the downstairs remains the lounge (and where the toilets are located). The area now also includes a private dining room. Once seated, I opened the branded menu to have a look at the options. The business lunch is listed as AED125 for two courses (off of four different menu options — Crudo or Antipasti, Pasta or Secondi), and there is also an a la carte menu available. Seeing options from both we wanted to try, my…
Andes, contemporary Latin perfection at WTC.
Andes has been on my list for some months now. I’d been trying to find time to make my way near the Trade Center — which was finally made possible by a lunch reservation in late December. With everyone out of Dubai (holidays are the best), parking (underground, although valet is available) was easy, and with perfect mid-winter temperatures, I was happy to avail a seat on the outside terrace. South American is a cuisine I (admittedly) do not have as much experience with, but have (of course) enjoyed some of the previous offers in Dubai — Lima, and the spate of Peruvian restaurants we had two years ago (RIP Totora and Mayta, among many others). Although Andes is not licensed (a fact I think is a rather large misstep for reasons I’ll get into below), the plating of the food and overall ambiance place diners in an upscale dining…
Tresind Studio, an elevated fine dining experience.
Having visited the ‘old’ Tresind and recently dined at the revamped version (and having tested brunch and dinner Carnival by Tresind), I was delighted to be invited to the newly launched Tresind Studio. Due to a hectic schedule this month, I was relatively late to the mix, and, having seen other foodie friends visit, had been looking forward to our meal for weeks. Located in Nassima Tower, guests of Tresind Studio enter through the Tresind restaurant. Knowing the team at the bar (led by award-winning cocktail artist Sherine John) have an excellent selection to choose from, Hubs and I stopped first to enjoy a quick drink first. Now, before I go any further in this review, in my push to see Dubai recognized among the other top global dining destinations, my take on Tresind Studio is going to be more critical than I would with other restaurants in the UAE. I feel the…
Tresind Revisited.
When I first started this blog back in 2016, Tresind was one of the first ‘big’ fine dining experiences I had in Dubai (read my original review, here). I was struck by the creativity, which is also echoed in the sister restaurant, Carnival by Tresind, which not only takes gastronomy to new levels, but also frequently changes the entire menu. However, on some retrospection, I realized while the food at Tresind stood the test of time (mushroom chai, anyone?), the former experience did not. The too low ceilings, dated decor, and children screaming throughout the venue (even late on a Friday night) did not, in my opinion, equate to an authentic fine dining experience. Thus, I was excited to hear about the refurbishment and refresh for Tresind. Hubs and I, finally free from jet lag, chose a recent Saturday night to check out the new experience. Stepping off the elevator,…
The Experience by Reif Othman: Dubai’s original fine dining.
Let me start by admitting something to all of you; I had purposely been saving this venue for a special occasion. Knowing I was in for something unique, I specifically avoided dining at The Experience by Reif Othman until I had something suitable on the calendar. If Hubs’ 40th birthday wasn’t a good enough excuse, I’m not sure what else would qualify. Fortunately, having dined at Play and a few other outings with Chef Reif, I was able to send a message through Instagram and make the booking directly with him for our party of six. /humblebrag For those not acquainted with the restaurant, The Experience is located on the 37th floor of the H Hotel (home to Zahira, Play, and Moombai & Co., among other venues). Elevator doors open directly into a lobby that doubles as the smoking lounge. Through a set of paneled doors and passing the iconic signage,…
Quattro Passi: Viceroy Palm Jumeirah.
What’s a new property without a brand new restaurant? Continuing my exploration of Italian cuisine (this makes my 4th tasting in a month, perhaps I’ll be an expert by the time I depart for Rome next month…) in the UAE, I was happy to find a mid-week lunch spot at Quattro Passi located at the recently opened Viceroy Palm Jumeirah. The interior (both in the restaurant and the hotel) is chic, modern, and well appointed. When presented with the menu, after a quick review, the waiter suggested I might enjoy a degustation from the kitchen. Yes, please! And would I like a wine pairing to accompany the dishes? Yes, thank you! While I understand my scenario was provided because I was dining to review the venue (and therefore wanted to try as much of the menu as possible), I would encourage you to request something similar. The wait staff are all…
Sea Fu: A Tale of Seaweed Mashed Potatoes.
Having been to the absolute treat that was Coya, I made plans to return to the Four Seasons resort over the weekend. While first stopping into Hendrick’s for a pre-dinner cocktail (an option I would definitely recommend — they had me at ‘build your own Gin & Tonic’ — so many options!), we finished our bespoke drinks and walked down the grand lobby staircase to the beach level. Escorted to a golf cart (on a nicer night we would’ve been happy to walk), Sea Fu is clearly designed to take the best of the resort, namely views of the Arabian Gulf (now partially involving that ultimate standard of the Dubai skyline, construction). With high ceilings and lots of glass, you get the feeling of an almost Balinese style experience. Just me? OK cool. For those interested, there is an outdoor bar (which was a bit too warm for our visit,…