It’s been awhile since I’ve dined at Bord Eau<\/a>.\u00a0 If memory serves, the last time I was there was with\u00a0an Entertainer coupon for a buy one get one offer for the Hubs and myself.\u00a0 Fast forward three years and I was happy to host a dear friend for a meal at this intimate French bistro.\u00a0 Both of us recalled dining at the venue, but our memories were neither good or bad (not a particularly good sign for a restaurant).\u00a0 Located at the Shangri-La Qaryat al Beri (of which<\/a> I’ve had my issues<\/a>…), the restaurant is set directly off the usually bustling lobby.\u00a0 Once inside, the noise disappears, and visitors are left with stunning\u00a0views of the Sheikh Zayed Mosque.\u00a0 Tables are spread quite far apart, such that there is privacy (unless the sound is turned off and then it’s awkward for everyone).<\/p>\n For our visit, although I had initially been interested in the limited edition Truffle menu, instead, we dined on the Zomato set menu.\u00a0 That is, a selection of three starters, a choice of three mains, and dessert.\u00a0 The dinner also comes with a divine bread and dip selection (complete with fresh butter). At AED199, this offers significant value for money, and an excellent way to try out the restaurant.\u00a0 As my dining partner has a seafood allergy, we still had plenty to choose from on the list of appetizers, including a number of\u00a0French options, lest anyone be disappointed.\u00a0 In the end, we ordered\u00a0Lobster Bisque<\/em>, Beef Croquettes<\/em>, Foie Gras Terrine<\/em>, and were also served up Mushroom Pie<\/em>.\u00a0 I’ll be upfront and mention the presentation of these dishes was not what I was expecting.\u00a0 That is, I was reminded more of tapas than I was of French plating.\u00a0 After speaking with Chef Jimmy, who is Portuguese, my dining partner and I guessed that he was infusing a bit of his home experience into the dishes.\u00a0 As for the tastes?\u00a0 While I wanted the bisque to be a bit creamier, it did deliver on lobster flavors.\u00a0 And while Foie is still not my favorite dish, it was equal parts luxurious and tart — the stewed fruit added a nice amount of sweetness — and served in small portions, which I appreciated.\u00a0 The mushroom pie was a win for both of us.\u00a0 Once again constructed in bite-sized pieces, they were an excellent taste of comfort food.\u00a0 Who doesn’t like a flaky crust?\u00a0 Overall, I enjoyed the selection, and while diners could undoubtedly enjoy dishes on their own, I think they were intended to be shared.<\/p>\n For our mains, we chose the Wild Mushroom Creamy Rice <\/i>and\u00a0Grilled Free-Range Chicken<\/em> and because the restaurant was generous enough to indulge us, we were also served the Local Black Sea Bream<\/em>.\u00a0 On a (much appreciated) slower pace, we were first given the Rice, which was hands down one of the best vegetarian dishes I’ve had in the country.\u00a0 Deceptively simple, but delivering at every level — texture, depth of flavor, and presentation — I would not hesitate to order this again.\u00a0 In fact, it was a close tie between the rice and chicken, which was presented in sections. Served with two kind of sauce and grilled lettuce, we loved the crispy skin and tender protein.\u00a0 Unfortunately, while beautiful to look at, the Sea Bream was a bit of a distant choice, a bit too bland for me.<\/p>\n Dessert involved some drama in the form of melting chocolate balls (restaurants here do love a bit of flare, do they not?) and some petit fours to finish things out.<\/p>\n Service was a real treat here as well.\u00a0 We instantly connected with our server, who took the initiative at multiple points during the meal, even going so far as to clue us in to an excellently priced Sauvignon Blanc.\u00a0 Take note, general managers, encouraging or allowing servers to appropriately interact with guests (none of this ‘ma’am sir’ stuff) makes people feel welcome (and more inclined to return).<\/p>\n <\/p>\n\n