Delightfully Delicious Dim Sum

Step outside the hustle and bustle of Festival City shopping mall and take a stroll along the water's edge. Tucked away from the other cafes is a cosy Chinese restaurant specialising in sumptuous dim sum dumplings.

It's a welcome surprise to discover a restaurant with such an intimate ambience among the busy mall-attached chain outlets. Velvet seating, plush cushions, pebbled flooring and sweeping curtains all do their part to make up the romantic setting. But the real treat is the food.

Diners can pick from a wide selection of dim sums either steamed or fried. Varieties include: prawn crushed peanut and coriander dumplings; shredded duck dumplings with plumb sauce; chicken wasabi and mushroom dumplings; and sweet chilli and vegetable glass rolls.

Just minutes after ordering, our selection arrived: prawn crushed peanut and coriander dumplings. Inside the dumpling case, a rich burst of succulent flavour awaited fresh crunchy prawns accompanied by a gentle peanut and refreshing coriander taste.

The various dim sums arrived stacked in delightful wicker baskets. Inside the baskets, were a selection of delightfully prepared treats sitting on a palm leaf.

Get your creative juices flowing for the second choice of main course. Mix and match your dish noodles, fillings and sauce flavour and you're away.

I had yellow egg noodles with chicken breast topping and Thai sauce. The dish was accompanied by crunchy asparagus and baby sweetcorn. The creamy albeit slightly heavy Thai sauce had a pleasant kick a mouthful of spice was complemented with succulent flavour that fabulous classic Thai green curry taste.

Fun dining experience

Every aspect of this restaurant is beautifully thought out. It's a fun dining experience with pleasant discoveries awaiting you if only you're curious enough to delve in.

Sitting on every table was a delightful little scroll, which upon opening reveals a delicious array of teas. But the real treat is discovered only after ordering. A selection of fine leaves, buds and sprigs are presented at your table and mixed with hot water and hey presto! A magnificent blossoming of colours and shapes takes place before your very eyes. What a pleasure to see winter turn to spring inside your teapot.

If you're after a fun drink, opt for a colourful mocktail. Choices range from a Steam Sum Mojito a delightful blend of fresh mint, peppermint syrup, fresh lime, ginseng and soda to a Steamy Mary fresh tomato juice, Tabasco, salt, black pepper, Worchester sauce and fresh lemon juice. My choice was Vanilla Lips — fresh strawberries, fresh cream, vanilla syrup, strawberry syrup and fresh grape juice a real burst of dessert-worthy sweetness.

For my actual dessert, I ordered an upside down pineapple cake a light fluffy sponge base with baked and caramelised slice of soft and sweet pineapple on top. Accompanying it was a refreshing coconut ice cream and delicious butterscotch sauce. A perfect touch of sweetness to round up a beautiful meal.

This would be a great place to come to on a first date or a pleasant night out with friends. The atmosphere is cosy, warming and romantic with a friendly and relaxing ambience. But the service is the real treat attentive but not too pushy all served with a smile.

And the cost? A mere Dh215 for a three-course meal for two. A bargain and atmospheric night out all rolled into one. Who could ask for more?