Angelina to open at Yas Mall
Fans of the pretty chic French bakery in the capital can stay close to home with the opening of an outlet at Yas Mall. It’s the third in the UAE, following Dubai Mall and Mall of the Emirates. While it’s known for its thick, rich hot chocolate, Angelina also serves full French-cuisine meals for breakfast, lunch and dinner. It’s open Sunday-Wednesday, 9am-10pm (Thursday to Saturday, 9am-midnight.)
Fume is opening in Downtown Dubai
The hit independent Marina restaurant (in Pier 7) is getting a Downtown sister with two-floor, 200-seater licensed outlet at the newly renovated Manzil hotel. “Food nostalgia plays a huge role in our menu development; we wanted to create a casual, homely atmosphere but with a decidedly contemporary twist.
The 360º menu showcases flavours from around the world in order to offer something for everyone; served in a highly individualised setting with an engaging ambience,” said Joy Ghossoub, managing director at Fume brand owner and developer JAS Group. They smoke much of their own seafood and meats in-house.
Food festivals in RAK, Sharjah
The food festival activity moves from Dubai and Abu Dhabi to the Northern Emirates this month, starting with Ras Al Khaimah spring food festival at Al Hamra Village Marina Boardwalk on March 20, 5-10pm. It features a pizza workshop for kids and families, pop-up restaurants, live cooking stations, music and live entertainment and dance performances.
Cuisines include Emirati and Indian street, Asian, Italian, Japanese, and American cuisine from the likes of Shake Shack, Red Star Wok, Pesto Ristorante, and Fruffles. In Sharjah, things get a retro vibe from March 25-April 4 with a 1950s style festival in Heart of Sharjah. An old souq and a Bedouin majlis recreate Sharjah’s traditional areas preparing Bedouin food such as Al Qirs and Emirati coffee. There will also be folklore bands, children’s activities.
Retro Feasts opens at The Beach
What do you do if you’re a top UK chef running a popular pop-up restaurant in the heart of London? Open a brick-and-mortar restaurant in... Dubai. That should be proof enough of the UAE’s current pull on international chefs. Chef Luke Thomas has done just that, launching his casual British diner concept Retro Feasts at The Beach opposite JBR in Dubai Marina.
On the menu are items inspired by his childhood UK favourites — cheese toastie “with a twist”, prawn cocktail, spaghetti bolognaise and knickerbocker glory. Those memories aren’t too far in the past by the way — he’s Britain’s youngest head chef, owning his own restaurant since he was 18. Call 050-9874567.
A new Italian by Roberto Rella
Yep, that’s the guy that Roberto’s is apparently named after. The Italian restaurateur is now launching his own spot at the Radisson Royal Hotel, TRE — three in Italian — and he’s partnered with hotel builders ACICO Group. It’s due to open in April with a restaurant, lounge and bar, each on a different floor. The food focus is traditional Italian cuisine with a 49th floor crudo (seafood and shellfish) bar and tapas in the lounge.
Two new rooftop pool bars to check out
Let’s head to old Dubai for some new nightspots. Over at Hilton Dubai Creek, the Edge Pool Bar has opened on the hotel’s 14th floor for drinks and dinner with a DJ and a view over the Creek and beyond. On the menu: hot and cold mezze, grills and seafood, and you can also hire it for events. Opening at the Melia in Bur Dubai on April 1 is Estrellas Skyline Lounge, with an indoor restaurant serving Mediterranean, Indian and Arabic cuisines plus a pool lounge and a dance floor.
Maison Mathis open 24/7 at Dusit Thani
The Belgian brasserie — already popular in Arabian Ranches and Emirates Towers — is serving up all-day, all-night food for the hungry people of Shaikh Zayed Road. It’s got the same open kitchen and white-on-white interior as the other outlets, with homemade breads and pastries, organic coffees and teas, gourmet sandwiches, salads, quiches, soups and pastas and mains such as rotisserie chicken, fish and chips and grilled prawns; there’s also a bar; call 04-3598190.
Ripe is at Al Barari
The organic market with a side order of crafts is popping up at the green oasis development on March 19, next to the new Heart & Soul Spa, with 20 exhibitors alogside the market, selling arts and crafts, jewellery, activities for kids, clothes, F&B and a petting zoo. Find it at the showcase gardens, 2-6pm.
Egyptian patisserie Sale Sucre lands
It’s great to see new outlets coming from somewhere other than the West (that being said, we are super excited about the prospect of Five Guys burgers from the US, coming to Dubai Mall soon). New at Business Bay’s Avenue Mall is Egyptian patisserie Sucre Sale, the first branch outside the 17 stores in Cairo and Alexandria. Expect a mix of Middle Eastern desserts and French classics, including just-for-one portions called Monos. They also do custom cakes.
Burger Rebel gets a Souk Al Bahar location
The quirky burger joint from Wafi City is now also in the licensed Downtown Dubai foodie mall, serving their unique take on burgers, sliders and hot dogs (the likes of grilled camel meat, foie gras, and beef tongue, alongside your classic beef patties). The 93-seater venue with an outdoor terrace and bar area is due to open in mid-April, and yes, it’s also got the graffiti wall that made the original stand out. Sliders include duck confit with melted brie and fig sauce, sweet and sour pan-sauteed beef, and the Forestiere with a marinated grilled giant mushroom, spiced aioli and Provolone cheese. Everything, including the buns, is homemade. Go to burgerrebel.com
Busaba Eathai is here
The London-origin openings at The Beach continue: This time it’s Busaba Eathai, a communal dining Thai restaurant that’s been voted London’s favourite (it’s the brainchild of Chinese restaurant king Alan Yau, who also created Hakkasan and Wagamama). The two-floor outlet has an outdoor terrace and opens on March 19 with signature dishes such as Thai calamari with ginger and green peppercorn; Mussaman duck curry; chargrilled salmon fillet with coconut rice and baby spinach and sesame salad and citrus soy dressing. They also promise the classics, and plan more openings in the region with partner Al Mana Group.
Here’s what there is to eat at Box Park
There are so many openings there, we thought it would just be easier to give our foodie readers the list. Make some space in your loosest pants for: Big Smoke Burger (a Canadian hand-crafted burger joint that also serves poutine); Logma (modern Emirati cuisine); Bianca Mozzarella (mozzarella and burrata cheese made daily in-store, plus other Italian dishes); Studio Masr (Egyptian charcoal grill dishes); Just Salad (a New York quick salad brand with a mix-your-own concept with 75 toppings); Yogurtland; Grom (gelato made with ingredients from their organic farm in Piedmont, Italy); Operation Falafel.
