Urth Caffe, Angeleno options in Dubai.

Although I’m trying to be as keto (low carb) as possible, sometimes a girl’s gotta eat.  And sometimes, if I plan my schedule correctly, I can kill two birds with one stone.  Case in point, a trip to the newly opened Urth Caffe at CityWalk Dubai for a review (why the extra ‘f’ in cafe, I will never know), while at the same time treating a new contact to a lovely breakfast.

Until I was canceled on, most unprofessionally, the hour before.

(For the record, in my world, ‘I don’t have the car’ is not a valid excuse in a city with heaps of taxis, Careem, and Uber.)

I digress.

Thus, not wanting to cancel on an arranged PR meal (I rarely, if ever, flake once something has been arranged), I put out a call to a few friends in the area but was unable to find a partner for my meal.  Never mind, the GM and I ended up having a great chat.

As with many a venue in the area, Urth Caffe has both an inside and outside entrance (with the exterior sure to have people lined up for the outdoor patio once the weather has cooled down those final few degrees).  The interior is not reinventing anything, but appropriately ‘California chic,’ with natural materials, lots of natural lighting, and a large display case full of yummy treats.

For the record, I feel that I dined at either one of the original Los Angeles locations (Pasadena or Melrose both seem likely) in the early aughts, however, it’s been a while since I’ve been acquainted with this particular brand.  Perusing the extensive breakfast menu (really, it’s what they are known for), I decided on the signature Cottage Cakes, an outstanding deal at AED41, and the less carb-y Veggie Omelette, AED?? (your favorite reviewer forgot to take a picture of the entire menu).  While I could’ve ordered a coffee or fresh juice, coming off of a late night, I decided to stick with water (and even noticed a large jug of local water – which I presume/hope – was free).  The Cottage Cakes, buttermilk pancakes topped with bananas, fresh whipped cream, honey butter, and sweet crumbles, was so dense that I barely managed a quarter serving by myself.  Really, if you’re looking for something to split, this signature dish would be an excellent place to start.  Although I ordered it mainly for photographic purposes, the Omelette was also oversized and a good mix of cheese, eggs, and veggies (and was served with a small salad and sourdough — really, you can’t ask for much more).

Even amidst a busy restaurant, service was attentive, and nary an eyebrow was lifted when I asked to have (most of) my meal packed up, which was done so with no trouble at all.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

Friday mornings are for pancakes… 🥞 The order of signature Cottage Cakes from @urthcaffedubai are easily worth sharing with a friend. Have you checked out this new cafe yet?

A post shared by Courtney Brandt (@atozaatar) on Nov 1, 2018 at 7:46pm PDT

Let’s also not forget that Citywalk is absolutely FULL of cafes already (I’ve been to both Izu Bakery and Demoiselle by Galvin, if you’d like to read more).  I’m not going to judge the market research that went into opening at this location (sources tell me a DIFC property is also in the works), however, given the ‘new’ factor, something was going right, as the restaurant was nearing capacity on a random Tuesday morning.  However, I think a repeat visit in six to eight months would be interesting.

Would I go back to Urth Caffe?  Yes, if I was in the neighborhood.  I don’t think it’s worth journeying from say, JVC, but the team is off to a great start, and, as mentioned, the serving sizes and value for money are quite impressive.

Who is Urth Caffe best for?  Angelenos looking for a taste of home.  Jumeirah Janes.  Anyone who likes an extensive breakfast menu (including gluten-free and healthier items mixed in with some carb-y goodness).

What’s your favorite restaurant in CityWalk?

A to Za’atar was a guest of Urth Caffe.  Opinions are my own, just ask my husband.