This elegant but relaxed spot has been a tabloid! iftar favourite from the start, and with good reason: the selection is sizable but not overwhelming, fresh and tasty, and contains some dishes you may not find at an average hotel buffet.
Case in point: something I can only describe as Arabic ravioli — parcels of toothsome pasta filled with spiced meat and served in a creamy, tangy yoghurt sauce that just cried out for seconds (it’s called shish barak).
Also getting the thumbs up was a spicy, fragrant prawn curry — giving families with diverse tastes plenty of choice. There are all the standards too, of course, including a frequently restocked pile of steaming saj bread filled with cheese (dangerous!), lamb ouzi (super silky — no dry bites here) and plenty of fresh cold mezze, such as green beans in tomato sauce, a piquant mohammara (red pepper and walnut dip) and beetroot mouttabel.
Those looking for continental cuisine will find braised beef, vegetables, dals and to start, smoked fish and salads.
There’s a vast traditional dessert section, with a kunafa nablusi so buttery you can smell it a mile away, and a large variety of dates.
It’s all in a light and airy setting with a few Arabic touches such as tablecloths and boxes of dried fruit on the table, and would suit families as well as those looking to impress with a business iftar.
Location: Next to Wafi Mall, Dubai. Call 04-3249888.
Price: Dh185, inclusive of soft drinks, Ramadan juices and water.
Hours: Sunset-9pm.
Don’t miss: Shish barak and dessert.
