Bustling Leila is a lively spot to break your fast in a cosy Lebanese-style setting. This is an iftar for lovers of Arabic food, far removed from the city’s huge Ramadan tents with their vast multicultural buffets of dishes from across the world – you won’t find British fish and chips or Goan fish curries on this menu.
Here, the Beirut café chain stays faithful to its roots, with a small selection of à la carte Arabic dishes that chefs have clearly practised to perfection. Break your fast on juicy dates, figs and apricots before waiters bring you tasty lentil soup or chicken broth. Next, tuck into a selection of cold mezze, including hummus, fatoush and warm, pillowy bread by the basketload.
Main courses present the choice between the dish of the day, which on our visit was the delightfully light and tasty ‘fish Beiruithye’ with khas o jozz salad, or the requisite Arabic mixed grill, which was generally good, though the beef was a little overcooked.
The ‘ghazal Beirut’ dessert – ice cream covered in strands of sugar – might only appeal to those with a (very) sweet tooth, otherwise skip dessert and instead settle your full stomach with Leila’s very refreshing mint tea or Arabic coffees.
Service is welcoming and helpful at the Downtown branch of the restaurant – there is another outlet in Mirdif. Big eaters will delight as waiters cannot seem to pile enough plates of food onto the small tables, and it’s never too long before a fresh drink is brought to your table – great for those who are fasting.
But non-smokers be warned: expect cigarettes and shisha to be lit up in the restaurant’s atrium area before you have made it to the mezze course.
The vintage décor at Leila , which means ‘night’ in Arabic, is charming and colourful, right down to the budgerigar chirping cheerfully from its wicker cage in the entrance area.
Leila is a little slice of Lebanon café culture and is a busy and intimate iftar that provides a perfect alternative to the big, brash buffets of the city’s huge hotels.
Where: Downtown Dubai, Mirdif City Centre
Timings: Downtown: Sunset to 3am (Iftar 7pm to 8.30pm), Mirdif: Sunset to mall close (Iftar 7pm to 8.30pm)
Price: Dh130 per person
