Iftar review: Majlis, Ritz-Carlton

For those who like to try a little bit of everything at dinner, the Ritz-Carlton Majlis iftar in DIFC will leave your head spinning with options. Let’s face it — the place has everything from falafel waffles (hummus, sweet potato and tahini cream toppings) to Arabic sushi (shawarma and kebab fillings).

At first glance, you wouldn’t think that the traditional spot has anything offbeat to offer. The designated iftar ballroom is dimly-lit and dauntingly large. The tables are set up to surround the buffet, which sits in the centre of the room, from both sides. Stepping inside this place, it feels like a cross between a business conference and a wedding hall.

But once you get past the somewhat stiff atmosphere and relax into your seat, the room turns on its charm with live oud players, the thump of Arabic ice cream being made fresh and the happy chatter of a packed space.

Food-wise, you won’t know where to start. There’s your soup station, your salad bar and your olive/antipasto section. There’s your spicy saj shawarma rolls and your deep-fried appetizers, including cheese sambusek and spinach fatayer. There’s a pasta station, a seafood station and of course, the usual meaty ouzi trays.

That’s not even the half of it.

Amongst other hot food offerings, you can grab your fill of rice, Thai chicken stir fry, spiced sujuk and a flavourful (vegetarian) eggplant stew. There’s even a fountain of laban (yoghurt) where you can dip your kebbeh, and a stand where you can get fatet hummus (a bread, chickpea and yogurt dish) made in front of you.

Your sweet tooth will have plenty to choose from, too. Bite-sized macarons (perfect for someone who’s already had too much to eat), kunafa, katayef, vanilla mohalabia, chocolate tarts and banoffee pudding were all delicious choices. A cute twist was the integration of candy — gummy bears, jelly beans and chocolate that you could scoop into your plate, particularly popular amongst kids.

Speaking of kids, the Majlis, despite its initial formal feel, has sufficient breathing room for children to move around without feeling stuck or stifled. As for the adults — no promises on breathing room after making three rounds of the buffet.

The details

Location: Majlis at DIFC Ritz-Carlton

Price: Dh215