We’re in full brunching season, and Dubai’s restaurants are doing what they can to attract customers away from the classic free-flow buffets at Al Qasr and Bubblicious. Will they succeed? If you’re looking to break away from the brunch monotony (a phrase only applicable here, we are sure) take a look at these brand-spanking new options.
If it’s sun, sea and seafood you’re after, The Ritz-Carlton, Dubai is singing your siren song with their #noshoesneeded beach barbecue every Saturday from 1-4pm. Held at the hotel’s new casual beachside outlet Palm Grill — which they say is the only restaurant directly on the sand in JBR. It’s open for lunch and dinner (a live ‘island style band’ plays during Thursday and Friday evenings, 6-9pm) but it’s the Saturday BBQ with unlimited food that caught our eye. Eat at wooden tables on the deck, or on a beach blanket on the sand. Appetizers are served in buckets (citrus-poached prawns, ceviche mixto or smoked chicken wings) and a buffet has grilled meats and seafood, grilled whole fish, salmon and prawn skewers, whole baby lamb, BBQ chicken and Wagyu beef hotdogs. Desserts in sweet jars include brownies and blondies, campfire pies finished on the BBQ. From Dh250-380; call 04-3186150.
If you’re that person that takes more than their fair share of duck rolls at brunch, just head straight to the Beijing Duck brunch at the newly refurbished Zheng He’s at the Mina A’Salam, where it’s all about the roast duck. Their “resident duck-master”, Andy Yin, oversees the brunch serving pretty much every kind of Chinese duck dish you’d want to eat: Peking duck wraps; duck liver siew mai in chilli sauce; steamed duck bao; hot and sour duck soup; crispy fried duck fillet marinated in lemon sauce; smoked duck breast in black pepper sauce and more. Don’t like duck? There are also seafood dishes. For dessert? Duck egg creme brulee, mango coconut egg, double-chocolate egg financiers and Chinese layer cakes with ducks egg custard. Every Friday, noon-4pm, Dh395-495; call 04-4323232.
