We're not sure why, but the act of choosing your dinner at Amwaj feels a little like falling down the rabbit hole after Alice and winding up in delectation Wonderland. Hmmm, we can explain... honest!
With the menu divided up into eight sections, selecting from the likes of Dressed Up, Ocean Freights, Grande Finale and Hot & Liquid, left us half expecting to shrink with the imaginatively titled, The Babes, grow with the Kubbe, be forced to battle La Meduse and go all Mad Hatter for the Hats Off. Luckily, the food is completely frabjous.
Perched on the mezzanine second floor of that Sheikh Zayed Road staple, the Shangri-La, Amwaj is doing something a little different to what goes on in other hotel eateries - they're daring to have a bit of fun with their food. Begin by selecting your starter from a trio of mini menus - Dressed Up, Hot & Liquid, and Salads - where La Tartine of aged goat's cheese crottin, tomato confit and honey dressing stays just the right side of overpowering and the Saint Jack of diver scallops, Ceviche of Gulf red snapper, and the La Meduse of cured sea bass are all testament to the delights to be found in our local waters, with regionally sourced produce a passion and priority in the Amwaj kitchen that's presided over by Sardinian chef, Marcello Mereu.
When it comes to mains, the fruits de mer are the standout stars, with Batter-fried red snapper, Poached hammour, Squid pasta, and Pan-seared salmon (which, when ordered by someone else will give you total food envy!) all putting in an appearance, along with well-selected accompaniments that include Mushroom risotto, Mashed potato and an amazing Garlic spinach with olive oil that's H.E.A.V.Y on the garlic. And the meat options, oops, sorry, we mean From The Land options are for big, man-size appetites, with the Veal chop, Big boy (Angus beef fillet) and Lamb chops with smoked eggplant tapenade all strolling up to the table, sitting down, looking you straight in the eye and saying, ‘Hey you, let's eat!'
Desserts (Grande Finales) are nicely varied, with Apple tart à la mode and the Kubbe chocolate dome absolutely delicious, while the To-Mo of anise-poached Roma tomato, walnut and buffalo mozzarella basil ice cream one of the most Jabberwocky inventions we've ever come across!
Need to know
Restaurant Amwaj
Location 2nd floor, Shangri-La, Dubai
Tel 04 343 8888
Tasty trio: Seafood
Finz
Location Beach Rotana, Abu Dhabi
Tel 02 697 9000
Situated at the end of a picture-perfect jetty, overlooking the sea, Finz is the ideal location for a seafood restaurant. The menu is a fruit de mer fan’s idea of heaven, with everything from classic lobster dishes worth splashing out on, to sea bass cooked in the traditional salt crust – basically, if it’s from the ocean, this menu will have it covered. Take our advice and try the Finz signature Tandoori cooked fish, it’s a step away from the standard seafood cooking style and well worth a try – you can thank us for the heads up later.
Pierchic
Location Al Qasr Hotel, Madinat Jumeirah, Dubai
Tel 04 366 6730
The romantic first date-worthy stroll along the pier will put you in the perfect mood to enjoy some of the finest seafood the region has to offer. Whereas other restaurants can focus on one aspect of dining and service and trip up on the rest, Pierchic does it all. Every detail is expertly attended to, from the melt-in-your-mouth tuna to the divine chocolate fondant for dessert, all to be enjoyed in this picturesque location over the Gulf’s gorgeous azure waters.
Ossiano
Location Atlantis The Palm, Dubai
Tel 04 426 2626
The dramatic staircase entrance to Ossiano is the first indication of the luxury that you’re about to enjoy as you descend, before you even get a look at the menu or a whiff of the food. To get the most out of this elegant restaurant, we recommend opting for the varied
tasting menu. The array of carefully selected bite-sized dishes will leave you feeling like you’ve experienced the very best that the sea, and the triple Michelin-starred chef, Santi Santamaria, both have to offer.
- By Farah Andrews
