Jumeirah Restaurant Week kicks off on May 23, with a range of high-end and casual restaurants offering meals at a fraction of the usual price. If you can’t decide where to go, let the Emirates Woman team be your guide.
Features Writer, Sarah Garden: The Rivington Grill, Souk Al Bahar
Gastro pub delux, The Rivington Grill, is a favourite of ours here at Emirates Woman. With two choices of venue, either the Madinat Jumeirah or Souk Al Bahar, it’s possible to refuel in diverse surroundings with both situated outside famous landmarks. With a terrace overlooking the impressive fountain show, and the Burj Khalifa towering overhead, The Rivington Grill Souk Al Bahar is ideal for a romantic evenings and impressing visitors to the city.
Décor
Fresh and simple, much like its menu, the restaurant is kitted out with modern furnishings and a few fun touches. We recommend booking a table on the terrace (if it’s not too hot), or at least having a drink outside. Sitting slap bang in front of the Burj Khalifa means that every half an hour diners are treated to a spectacular show.
Food
The perfect choice for fussy eaters and food lovers alike, The Rivington Grill offers a menu of simple, yet expertly cooked food. Roasted scallops with cauliflower puree are one of the favourite starters on the menu for good reason. As one of the top steak restaurants in the city, we opted for a 200g fillet steak for the main event, which was as succulent and tender as ever.
Why Bother?
British taste with Arabian flare.
Go For
Quality ingredients in an impressive setting.
The Details
The Rivington Grill | Souk Al Bahar | (04) 4230903
Fashion & Beauty Assistant, Carmel Gill: Alta Badia
Perched on level 50 of the legendary Jumeirah Emirates Towers hotel and home to Michelin star Chef, Claudio Melis, Alta Badia is the home of honest Italian cooking with a creative twist.
Décor
Definitely one of the most fashionable addresses in the city, Alta Badia is ultra-stylish with a chic minimal white and black décor and spectacular panoramic views of downtown Dubai.
Food
Just as trendy as the décor, the menu is suitably swank. We began with a welcoming dish of purple potato crisps accompanied by a tomato consommé followed by an amuse bouche of sweet potato and salad. To start we opted for the chilled roasted veal with tuna sauce, celery and sweet paprika, which was extremely rich but delicious. For the main, the braised beef cheek was cooked to perfection and not too fatty while the truffle mashed potatoes were simply out of this world. Our favourite part of the menu definitely had to be the chocolate caramel lava cake and Grand Marnier ice cream.
Why Bother?
A trendy address with a creative take on the traditional Italian menu.
Go For
The stunning views of the Dubai coastline, and a relaxed atmosphere.
The Details
Alta Badia | Jumeirah Emirates Towers | (04) 3198771
Style Editor, Jade Sprowson: The Ivy
The Ivy is a little slice of Britain in the desert.
Décor
Dark panelled walls, candlelit tables, fresh red roses and crisp white tablecloths make for an intimate and quintessentially British setting.
Food
The impressive set-menu offers everything from hot broccoli and blue cheese soup, to corn-fed chicken with peas and truffle mash. But the dishes that tempted our taste buds were the crispy duck salad complimented by juicy watermelon cubes and topped with chilli cashew nuts for some extra zing. For the main course, we opted for Thai-baked sea bream scattered with chillies, edamame beans and spring onions served with sticky white rice. The light fish dish ensured that we left enough room for the bountiful blueberry pie: crispy on the outside warm and tasty on the inside, served with a healthy (think large, not slim line) topping of crème fraîche ice cream.
Why Bother?
The setting is classy but not intimidatingly so, making this the perfect place for a mid-week dinner without having to make too much style effort. And the live singer/ pianist adds a little something extra that a lot of Dubai restaurants lack.
Go For
A superb dinner three-course dinner that won’t overwhelm your taste buds but will certainly impress.
The Details
The Ivy | Emirates Towers | (04) 43198767
Senior Editorial Assistant, Cecilia Dsouza: Toscana
Whether you’re looking to sit under the stars while you dine, take in the grand views of the Burj Al Arab, relax by the waterfront or just enjoy the comfort of sumptuous Italian delights, Toscana in Souk Madinat Jumeirah is perfect.
Décor
With hard wood tables and chairs it has a homely vibe. Try to get a seat on the outdoor terrace for maximum advantage of the location.
Food
Authentic Italian food made with the freshest ingredients – think pasta, antipasta, risotto, salads and pizzas. We began with the bruchetta al pomodoro and pollo affumicato al carciofi (smoked chicken with goat’s cheese, artichoke, honey-mustard dressing with pine nuts). Though the bruschetta could have done with a little more flavour, the salad was divine. The spinach ravioli and grilled chicken breast that followed were a savory treat. But, as they say, the best was saved for last. The tiramisu is an assault, of the best kind, on the taste buds.
Why Bother?
Ideal for families and a group of friends. Children have a lot to keep them busy and Chef Mohammed even lets them make their own pizza base.
Go For
A night out with friends and family.
The Details
Toscana | Souk Madinat Jumeirah | (04) 3666730
