Iftar reviews in hotels, I’ve done a few (hundred). But never before have I had the opportunity to visit Dubai’s most recognisable hotel to see how they end the fast. If you’re looking to treat friends and family to an iftar they’ll remember for years to come, it’s one to consider.
The two-storey Al Falak Ballroom, high above Jumeirah in the top floors of the hotel, is a new venue for iftar this year. Yes, you read that right — this is a ballroom with two sections. An upper level mezzanine overlooking the ballroom and its huge chandelier (of course) has floor-to-ceiling windows, around which utterly charming majlis-style seating has been arranged. It’s the place to start your iftar, gazing over the city as the sun sets, and taking a date from the selection in front of you. Waiters serve some unique mocktails too, giving you a break from the jellab. I loved the tangy raspberry-based Eastern Delight, with apple and lime juice, rosewater and topped with sparkling date. The Arabian Mojito is a twist on the usually minty drink with zataar leaves, lemon, ginger and that sparkling date.
Move to the ballroom to start the meal proper, to the sounds of live Arabic music, a drinks seller calling out his wares, and the occasional pounding of the mastic ice cream man in his cart, which will probably send any children present into paroxysms of delight. To add to the magic, there are ice sculptures around the room.
There is a vast selection of dishes to try, from the classics you’d expect — lentil or harira soup, shawarma, saj bread with cheese or zaatar, ouzi, katayef — as well as some creative uses of familiar ingredients. I was impressed with the cold starter counter, which featured all your favourite mezze, including a standout mohammara (a spicy pepper and walnut dip) and an unusual dish of yoghurt and bulgur called kashki that was at once creamy and crunchy. But also: seafood salad with dates and pickled vegetables (seafood lovers will be very happy here, by the way, with a large chilled seafood counter and smoked fish, as well as hot whole roasted fish). Other new (to me) offerings were lentil salad with cumin and sunflower seeds, and sliced chicken salad with fried vegetables and tahini. All recognisable flavours, but arranged differently, which when you are eating them every day is a nice touch.
For international flavours, there’s the likes of spiced fish with coconut, avocado, mango and edamame; or sesame tuna with dill, cucumber and mooli salad, finished with wasabi.
If you’re there with kids, there are some comfort-food options that should appeal to them, like a tomato spaghetti or a creamy lamb in yoghurt sauce. The mixed grill didn’t knock my socks off; head for the stews instead, which take in dishes from around the region, from Syrian bamieh bel laham (veal with okra) to Iranian chicken fasnjoun and Lebanese vegetable moussaka. Iftar at the Burj is also a way to try some local dishes, which I am happy to see more and more of on buffet menus these days. Harrees, a pounded dish of chicken and wheat with a rather gluey texture (that’s typical) is an experience, if nothing else; do have the classic vegetable salouna and prawns majbous, though.
Dessert will bring joy to young and old, with hot cheese kunafa, a muhalabieh (milk pudding) of camel’s milk, seven kinds of date and that sticky mastic ice cream topped with pistachio. I also loved that on the night I went, the sliced fruit platter had mango — a rarity, but then you’d expect those rarities to make an appearance at the Burj Al Arab. The Turkish delight is in a corner of the dessert station; don’t miss it.
