Dubai: Catch Mo’s if you can. This all-day casual family dining restaurant in Jumeirah’s newly opened City Walk makes a dish for almost every American craving thanks to all-American recipes that come with a real twist.
From continental breakfast to salads, bespoke burgers to hearty hot and cold sandwiches and signature entrees, Mo’s guilty pleasures by a bustling fountain square over breakfast, lunch or dinner can really be irresistible.
I had been there once before with my mates at work for a quick burger lunch, but this time it was an elaborate dinner that began with two thick, frothy milk shakes – a Nutella shake (Dh35) and date shake (Dh32). The date, a local favourite of course and one of Mo’s signature creations, was topped with cinnamon and tasted great, but it paled in comparison to the other one. If five scoops of vanilla ice cream and Nutella won’t make it heavenly enough for you, then I assure you the whiff of toasted chopped hazelnuts on top surely will. If not for anything else, you should drop in to Mo’s just for a jug of this divine drink.
A lot of good eating awaited us following the shakes. Queso fundiddo (Dh42) – or flamed cheese in Spanish – was the first dish to land on our table. Made of hot molten Velveeta cheese and Turkey chorizo (a type of Spanish sausage), it tasted delightful with subtle chunks of the chorizo in it. Served in a small, shallow casserole with nachos and soft tortilla, it’s an appetizer worth every fils.
Next up was the BBQ chicken salad (Dh59) made of crispy onion rings, avocado, grilled corn, black beans and “pico de gallo” (also called salsa fresca) – a fresh salad made from chopped tomato, white onion and chillies. All intricately stacked up as in a roulette board, this health-infused dish tasted as great as it looked. The small chunks of chicken in barbecue sauce added all the zing.
The star of the evening, however, was their chicken pot pie (Dh75). A delectably baked semi-thick gravy of chicken and vegetables (mostly broccoli) coated by a crispy puff pastry, it was a dish full of indulgence from crust to core, albeit slightly peppery.
We were not done yet as our Filipina waitress Aira got us a giant open faced turkey sandwich (Dh79). Two things that made it yet another gustatory delight were the bread and the caramelised brown Thanksgiving turkey gravy. The veal bacon and turkey salami on the toasty, cranberry sunflower bread soaked in an amazing caramelised Thanksgiving turkey gravy made it a delightfully meaty affair. The bread, I was told, is baked specially for Mo’s, and this particular sandwich everyday.
The four types of cakes – a chocolate decadence, a brownie, a honey and a carrot cake – are also freshly baked and I was told it’s one of their specialities. So I couldn’t resist digging into their Brownie a la Mo’s (Dh39) for that perfect ending made of a warm chocolate chunk brownie topped with vanilla ice cream, whipped cream, toasted almonds and chocolate syrup. If nothing else, the softness of the brownie will tell you why it’s different from the others. As an afternoon indulgence there’s a 50 per cent discount on the desserts, Sunday-Wednesday, 3-7pm.
Details:
Meal for two: Dh250-Dh300
Location: Citywalk, Dubai
Timing: Monday-Sunday 8am-12am
Bookings: 04-344 3305
We recommend: Nutella Shake, Queso fundiddo, Chicken Pot Pie, Open faced turkey sandwich, Brownie a la Mo’s
