Iftar of the day: Qasr Al Sultan, Rixos The Palm

After a surprisingly lengthy, albeit scenic trip along Palm Jumeirah’s crescent to reach Rixos The Palm, I was more than ready to tuck into one of Dubai’s most talked-about iftars.

The door staff welcomed me with similar readiness, their attentive and friendly nature immediately evident. Perhaps I was fooled by the ordinary exterior of the marquee, but being guided into the main dining area brought an immense shock to the senses: middle eastern chandeliers, fairly sizeable palm trees and silk curtains gathered to create an atmosphere not unlike any thickly-walled Ottoman palace.

This air of authentic Arabian opulence was charmingly contrasted by the view of Dubai Marina’s modern skyline – a sight I could have enjoyed a wee while longer had the sun permitted.

But as the sun descended, the fully-decked buffet beckoned, with its bounteous offerings of traditional Arabic fare infused with Turkish and Ottoman flavours. Having grazed on the dried apricots, dates and prunes already on my table, I headed to the soup station, where I opted for the chicken and orzo variety.

A ladle’s scrape at the bottom of the pot seemed to set off alarm bells for the staff, who replenished the popular broth with striking punctuality. I came to understand why the soup needed such hasty restocking upon my first taste: the potage is sure to whet the appetite of any hungry faster.

I would have leaped straight out of my chair to fetch my next course, but the limited space, caused by the cramming of one or two too many tables in the room, made for some awkward chair traffic with the my fellow diners. After negotiating my way to the salad bar, I was left slightly disillusioned; while I am the first to confess my relationship with salad is less than harmonious, the selection before me didn’t stray far from what one would expect at any Iftar buffet (although if you’re looking for something unapologetically traditional, you won’t be disappointed).

The mains certainly lifted my spirits, however, with the cauldron of lamb ouzi leading the pack of beautifully prepared dishes. If you wish for seconds (which is more than likely with this excellent selection) I would advise you act quickly before the extremely vigilant wait staff pinch your plate. The many plates I had were washed down with a “special Ramadan juice” that I similarly couldn’t get enough of.

Suppressing the temptation of a final plateful of main course, I strategically decided to save room for dessert, in particular the “world famous” Turkish Maras ice cream, many cones of which had been brandished by the excitable children present.

The joy of having ice cream served to me by a man wielding a hybrid shovel-scoop overshadowed the fact that the ice cream itself was a little tough for my taste.

Traditional Arabic desserts were also on offer, though having been on display since the canon fired their freshness had unfortunately dwindled by the time I came round to sampling them.

All in all, the iftar buffet at Rixos The Palm is certainly a feast fit for a King (or, indeed, a Sultan). Kids are also kept content, with local TV show favourite Freej making an appearance on the numerous screens, and of course enough Turkish ice cream to satisfy any child. 

Call: 04-4575454
Price: Dh175 per person, including water and Ramadan drinks
Don’t miss: Chicken and orzo soup, lamb ouzi, Turkish Maras ice cream, simply for the novelty.

Adam Melone is an intern at Gulf News