With chefs that have fed the cream of Hollywood, a cosy-yet-elegant setting and food that lives up to the hype, OKKU’s non-cringey Valentine’s menu is romance for grown ups.
Décor
Dark glamour with an Oriental slant. Black wood, atmospheric (read: ultra-flattering) lighting, fairylight curtains and a glossy, well-stocked bar backed by a mesmerising UV-lit jellyfish aquarium.
Ambience
Polished and luxurious but intimate and relaxed nonetheless.
Food
There’s a reason OKKU has been the recipient of countless awards; its unparalleled Japanese fare. It’s a big claim in a town where culinary quality is about as top-notch as it gets, but OKKU’s exceptional ingredients and clever flavour combinations makes it stand head and shoulders above so many others.
The Valentine’s menu (a hearty five-course beast) comprised everything from North Atlantic lobster salad to truffle-infused seared scallops that you will certainly not want to share, the prescribed niceties of Valentine’s Day seeming farcical as soon as you put one in your mouth. The food kept on coming (and coming – a warning, make sure you’re hungry); soft shell crab maki, an extremely generous basket of sushi, ribeye robata and miso black cod. For those among you who can’t stand cheesiness on V-Day, the sole and subtle nod to it was the heart-shaped chocolate mousse that arrived at the end. Always good to know if you’d like to go out to celebrate, but would hate to spend it ducking from pink balloons and an overzealous jazz saxophonist.
Why Bother
If you like Japanese, it really doesn’t get much better.
Go For
The cocktails and the avocado volcano that arrives, smothered in impressive-looking flames, on a salt base. Utterly delicious.
Details
OKKU | The H Hotel | One Sheikh Zayed Road | (04) 5018777
Valentine’s Sumptuous Tasting Experience available on 14th February, priced at Dhs890 per couple.
