Variety was the name of the game at the new Hyatt Regency Dubai Creek Heights restaurant, Sufra.
A massive tray of lamb ouzi was propped up like a prize pony in the middle of the buffet, situated right next to a salad and labneh bar, but the glimmering rice dish was hardly the highlight of the night. In a show of underdog greatness, it was the smaller dishes that came out on top, such as the plate of zaatar saj and miniature, individually-wrapped shawarma sandwiches — a mouth-watering mix of smoky chicken, chargrilled lamb and zesty onion — that was tucked away in the corner.
As you might have guessed, Sufra boasts a mostly Middle Eastern menu, with a splash of Indian in the form of prawn biryani. This involved all the fried favourites, like kebbeh and cheese sambosek. Funnily enough, the decor was at odds with the cuisine: a sparse and spacious room with a green-beige colour scheme, dotted with decorative shelves and jars, instantly set itself apart from the reds and golds of oft-congested majlis-style buffets.
For those more veggie inclined, there was the usual host of hummous, moutabel, lentil, couscous and even foul, but for grill lovers, shish tawouk skewers, meat kebab and slices of fish were cooked to perfection right in front of you. Watermelon juice, orange juice and amr-al-din were some of the refreshing options to help wash the meal down.
Sufra is a cosy mid-sized spot, feeling more homely than intimidating. The service was friendly and consistent. Waiters were quick to help pour your lentil or celeriac soup and came around with baskets of fresh Arabic bread and saj. The chef even made a quick appearance, weaving through the tightly-packed tables — one setback of having a smaller space — to see how everyone was getting on.
One criticism would be that things weren’t labelled as clearly as they could have been. Though each section had a list of menu items propped up beside it, dishes weren’t individually labelled, which would have made for easier dining.
Dessert was a charming treat to finish the night off with, including a melt-in-your-mouth sponge fruit cake, more traditional kunafa and cups of mohalabia, and a whole slew of vanilla, chocolate, strawberry, mango and pistachio ice creams to choose from.
If you’re feeling a bit drained or heavy after eating all that, do yourself a favour and follow in my footstops: grab yourself a coffee and give yourself some time to digest before heading home.
The details
Where: Sufra at the Hyatt Regency Dubai Creek Heights
Price: Dh160
Timings: Sunset untill 9pm
Call: 04-5531272
