Restaurants
Head to Shiba if you love Asian food, but can’t decide between Indian, Chinese, Japanese or Thai. The fusion menu contains popular dishes from all the cuisines, giving you the chance to try plenty of different flavours as you move through the courses. Try Thai Satay and Chinese Peking Duck as an appetiser before moving onto an Indian curry for the main, and finishing with Japanese Fruit Tempura for a dessert. The elegant decor will also impress. Telephone +971 [0] 4 381 3111 Email meydanrestaurantreservations@meydanhotels.com
Located in the Amwaj Rotana hotel and named after the Italian word for red, Rosso serves up well-executed Italian and Mediterranean fare to an eager crowd nightly. Grab a seat in the crimson-walled dining room or on the al fresco patio overlooking the Arabian Sea, and enjoy dishes like homemade black squid ink tagliolini pasta served with grilled lobster, seafood-topped pizza, and traditional veal osso buco served with saffron risotto. Telephone +971 [0] 4 428 3088 Email fb.amwaj@rotana.com
China Grill, the restaurant which prides itself as a trendsetter in eclectic Asian-inspired world cuisine, pairs the culinary ingenuity of world-class chefs with atmospheres crafted by internationally renowned designers. Bring in the year at China Grill’s Friday Toy Brunch in Dubai, bringing together decadence and fun with a fourteen-course Asian inspired meal. +971 4 511 7333
Zheng He is named after the Chinese nautical explorer and diplomat of the Ming dynasty whose expeditions made him an icon in the history of imperial China. As such, you’ll find a menu that features classics with a contemporary twist. While feasting on plates of steaming dim sum, watch the resident duck master in action, cutting up a whole duck for your table and presenting it with rice paper pancakes and condiments for you and your dining companions to help yourselves. +971 4 366 5866
Hakkasan, located in the iconic Jumeriah Emirates Towers, serves fare that incorporates traditional techniques using fresh local ingredients with contemporary dishes that retain the essence of conventional Cantonese cuisine. It is certainly hard to restrain from the roasted silver cod and crispy duck salad amid rustic wooden pavilions, lush exotic greenery and the Michelin-star chain’s signature oak latticing. The Hakka Brunch, which takes place every Friday, features an expansive selection of dishes: steamed, fried and baked dim sum, delicate Peking duck and handcrafted desserts and homemade sorbets. +971 4 384 8484
Shang Palace offers the taste of traditional Cantonese cuisine, a mystical Far Eastern ambiance and Chinese hospitality in the heart of Dubai. Specialty fare includes Yum Cha, acclaimed Beijing Duck, Codfish with grapes and orange sauce, and an extensive list of fragrant teas and authentic beverages. The restaurant has been known to pull out all the stops during Chinese New Year with celebratory special set menus, traditional lion dances and of course, the auspicious red envelopes containing cash prizes and complimentary stays at the hotel. + 971 4 405 2703
The Dubai outpost of a renowned NYC brand, Catch is stylish seafood at its best. Retaining the contemporary American vibe, the space matches industrial-luxe décor with an eclectic menu – ranging from innovative sushi (foie gras eel roll, anyone?) to king fish tacos. Signature dishes include crispy whole snapper with peppers and oyster mushrooms, and the DXB sushi roll – tuna, crab, avocado, wasabi, yuzu and kosho mayo. Meat-lovers are well catered for, and indulgent desserts such as the s’more pizza are worth leaving tummy space for. With a buzzing vibe, Catch ticks all the boxes for a swish night…
Take a drive to the suburban haven of Arabian Ranches and visit the aptly named neighbourhood haunt, Ranches Restaurant & Bar. You’ll be served unpretentious fare in comfortable surroundings in a golf lounge/restaurant, with a focus on traditional British dishes. Hang out on the outdoor terrace during the winter and you’ll get a more intimate dining experience overlooking the course. Tuesday is a popular quiz night and there are themed buffets during the week. Telephone +971 [0] 4 360 7935 Email Restaurant@arabianranchesgolf.ae
