We continue our quest to find the best fast-breakers in town
Choices
Let's face it. We are two weeks into Ramadan and the Iftar spreads in most restaurants are beginning to taste alike.
Though the element of monotony creeping into the evening feasts is inevitable, the restaurant Choices at Al Bustan Rotana attempts to buck the trend by setting up a grill station and serving succulent chicken, lamb and hammour kebabs straight from the oven.
Be warned, the contemporary décor and the crooning of Beatles hardly screams "authentic Arabic experience", the continental fare peppered with Middle Eastern delicacies is worth a try and is a good stop for business person on the go.
Location: Choices, Al Bustan Rotana, Near Airport Road, Dubai, 04-2820000
Cost: Dh145
Highlights: The grill station and Sushi counter.
Mizaan
Iftar at the Monarch Hotel is taste of all things Arabian. From a spicy lentil soup to start off your meal, to Arabic biryani and umm ali dessert, the Mizaan has made an effort to serve dishes that remind you of mum's cooking.
A must is the meltingly tender roast lamb, which comes with every condiment you can imagine. Many of the dishes, however, are rather spicy and are not for the palate that can't take the heat.
Location: Mizaan, The Monarch, Shaikh Zayed Road, 04-5018888
Price: Dh165
Highlight: Rounding off your substantial meal with a double apple shisha in a tent on the rooftop of the hotel.
Zaatar W Zeit
It makes perfect sense that a budget eatery like Zaatar W Zeit would join in the Iftar festivities as well — they are a Lebanese themed chain after all. And besides, one can't dine on massive buffets every night.
So for a no-nonsense Iftar (they serve bottomless soda) head to Zaatar W Zeit. Nicely tangy fatoush salad, a choice between rosto, soujouk or djeij for main course (the last one is a chicken wrap I would recommend) and, of course, fries, are rounded off by a selection of simple deserts. Straighforward and nice.
Location: Outlets around Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah, 800-922827
Price: Dh48
Highlight: The price and friendly service.
QD's
Qd's has a sure-footed appeal and if you're in the mood for some mellow entertainment along with sumptuous Arabic fare, then this place is a must go.
The open-aired restaurant's evocative setting is found on the banks of the Creek with dhows chugging past along the glimmering waterway.
You can pass the time playing chess, backgammon or dominoes for hours, sipping lime-mint drink and listening to a rickety Arabic stereo.
Since the restaurant only offers a special Ramadan à la carte menu, we opted for sheesh taouk. Three skewers of deliciously crisp chicken arrived with saffron rice and a colourful grilled salad of tomato and onion.
Pleasantly gratified to sink my teeth into something simply heavenly, I ordered marinated Arabic King fish. I didn't have room for dessert but there was plenty on offer, from baklawa to kunafa nabulsi.
Location: Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club. 04-2956000
Price: A la carte menu
Highlight: Playing games while devouring sheesh taouk and Arabic king fish.
Persia Persia
Repelled at the sight of hummus? Can't swallow another mouthful of fatoush? Persia Persia offers welcomed respite from those who have suffered from an overload of Arabic delicacies this Ramadan.
Specialising in Iranian cuisine, the generous buffet offers a slew of unusual dishes that will not be found at other Iftar banquets.
Your only requirement is to be adventurous, especially for those new to an Iranian menu who will have trouble deciphering what's actually in the seabzaminy (chopped chicken, potato, egg, pickle, cucumber with cream and mayonnaise) and the haleam –e bogaiamon (a rich soup).
Location: Persia Persia, Wafi Pyramids, Wafi.
04-3453044
Price: Dh150
Highlight: A dynamic menu that departs from the typical Iftar fare.
Ippos Lounge
A real homely experi-ence is guaranteed. Country house surroundings and being slightly too far for the hotel crowd, mean it can literally be an Iftar for two.
The set menu comes à la carte and not from a mass produced buffet. Generous portions of fresh mezze including non-standard offerings like makdous and mohammara leave little room for the wide selection of grilled meats and shwarma, let alone the delicious deserts. Lounge on the sofas, order two meals and eat for four people. Unbeatable value and a real hidden gem.
Location: Ippos Lounge, Dubai Polo and Equestrian Club, near Arabian Ranches.
04-3618111
Price: Dh160
Highlight: Makdous
Mosaico
Head down to Mosaico for a pleasant Iftar dining experience, which starts straight away with a delicious array of dates and apricots laid out on your table.
Pick from an exciting range of fruit juices including jellab (date juice), kamurdin (an orange and mango tasting juice), karcade (a herby blackcurrant juice), buttermilk, orange and pineapple juice.
If that isn't enough to wet your appetite, sample from a delicious range of wholesome soups, succulent lamb, a salad bar, mixed meats and general buffet dishes.
However, it is with the desserts that this place really comes into a league of its own; beautifully made umm ali, Arabic sweets and best of all, the blackberry mouse, complete with delightful white chocolate swirl. When you finish you meal, you can pop outside the restaurant onto the terrace bar, where for just Dh50 extra, you can relax with a shisha late into the evening.
Location: Mosaico, ground floor, Emirates Towers, 04-3198088
Price: Dh190.
Highlight: Who would have thought fruit juice could be so exciting?
Promenade
Romancing with olives and pinenuts, melted mozzarella and ratatouille, the Iftar buffet at Promenade, Four Points Sheraton Bur Dubai, embedded itself in Indian and Arabic cuisine.
From ful medames — a delicious dip made of cooked fava beans, to chicken tikka masala, which always carries favour with the crowds. The rest of the menu included mutton biryani, grilled lamb chops, dawood pasha, paneer jalfrezi, sautéed liver, chicken biryani and dozens of regular such as baba ghanoush and tabouleh.
My attention was captured by the intriguingly named hammour harra — a hearty slab of fish, delicately flavoured with chilli and garlic. Desserts are possibly the best you might eat — a seriously irresistible umm ali, made of pastry cooked in milk and cream with nuts, was heaven.
Location: Promendade, Four Points Sheraton, Bur Dubai. 04-3977444
Price: Dh79
Highlight: Umm ali is a must try.
