For those who love a bit of fancy French fare in an even fancier setting, it’s worth knowing about Al Muntaha in the Burj Al Arab.
Decor
Think Nineties meets Noughties. The carpet’s a little old fashioned, but it is quickly forgotten when you clock the beautifully decked-out tables and somewhat retro blue and green mood lighting. The dimly lit room gives the venue a warm feel, contrasting perfectly against the twinkling backdrop of Dubai at night (and you can’t beat those floor-to-ceiling windows for a priceless view).
Ambience
The whole venue screams relaxed sophistication. From the atmospheric lighting to the swankily dressed crowd, the restaurant gives off a real feel of what you’d expect from one of the world’s most iconic seven-star hotels.
The staff are of a similar calibre – smart, polite, knowledgeable and incredibly good at what they do. From first being greeted at the door to the final mouthful of our desserts, we felt well and truly taken care of.
Low background music is enough to maintain the hubbub, but never enough to be noticeable.
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Food
Here, Al Muntaha has it nailed. The menu manages to stay elegant without being too confusing as to know what it is you’re eating. We highly recommend the hand-dived scallops as an appetiser, and the terrine de foie gras with raspberry-poached pears and crispy rice tuille was to die for.
For the main course, we went for the wagyu fillet – which was unlike any other we’ve tried. Our knives sank through it like butter. It’s slightly more expensive, but seemed to be well worth the extra dirhams. Each mouthful was to be savoured.
The dessert menu, while not as extensive, still offered up a variety of choices to cater to everyone’s tastes. Expect dishes along the lines of iced strawberry marshmallows and wild strawberry purée with coconut emulsion and granite.
Portion-wise, the restaurant has it spot on. There’s just enough room to squeeze in all three courses without feeling like you need to spend the next few days on a treadmill.
Why bother?
The restaurant serves up incredible food, and similarly incredible views. It’s a great spot for a romantic dinner (if you’ve got the cash, that is) in a relaxed, cosmopolitan aura.
Go for?
Great food, great service, great setting.
Details
27th floor, Burj Al Arab, Jumeirah Road. Tel: (04) 3017600. jumeirah.com. Dhs1,600 to Dhs2,00 for a three course meal for two.
Images: Jumeirah
