Walking into the souk at Madinat Jumeirah, we knew we were in Dubai: it was hot, it was Arabian and it was striking. So moments later, on entering The Rivington Bar and Grill, we were disorientated to find ourselves in what looked like a chic London eatery.
As the sister restaurant of The Rivington Grill Souk Al Bahar, you’d expect it to pack quality and simplicity in the two most important areas: décor and dishes. And EW can confirm that it doesn’t disappoint.
FOOD
Each course was as consistently mouth-watering as the last. Yes, the food is simple, but with topnotch ingredients there’s no need to mess around. Everything at The Rivington oozes quality, which is great news if you’re a steak lover.
Melt-in-you-mouth-deliciousness came in the form of medium to rare medallions of sirloin. Served with hand-cut chunky chips (and we mean chunky), the Black Angus was enough to pause dinnertime conversation for the duration of the main course.
If, when you visit, you find yourself indulging on the hearty range of savory dishes, be sure to keep enough room to satisfy your sweet tooth. We went for the special – a chocolate jaffa pot topped with ice cream. It was gooey, chocolaty and, most likely, full of everything a dietitian disapproves of – just the way we like it.
DÉCOR
Mirroring its foodie ethos, The Rivington has unpretentious style covered. White tablecloths shouldn’t work alongside neon signs reading things like ‘Live Love Laugh’, but due to the minimalist design and smart, streamline interior, they do.
This is chilled out sophistication at its finest.
AMBIENCE
When we first sat down, it was bright and airy (probably due to the fact our reservation was at 6pm). But as our food arrived the lights lowered and the atmosphere became more intimate.
The vibe was relaxed, and our waiter was always on hand to top up our glasses. Attentive, yet not over-attentive – perfect for a casual occasion as well as something a little bit more special.
GO FOR
Brit pub cuisine with a touch of Dubai indulgence.
BEST FOR
Did we recommend the steak enough? Well, just in case, we recommend the steak…
THE DETAILS
Rivington Bar & Grill | Souk Madinat Jumeirah | (04) 3666464
