When I wanted to gnaw at the bones

Dubai From Oudh Metha road behind Lamcy Plaza to The Walk at JBR and now Downtown Dubai, Barbecue Delights’ growth in Dubai has been no less fascinating than the grub it offers.

Their newest flagship casual dining restaurant has an elegant, urban feel that you would rarely find in Pakistani eating joints elsewhere in Dubai.

The well-intentioned air of sophistication and European-style decor seem to have rubbed off on their cuisine too. Purists may not like it. But in hindsight it’s meant to be that way because this particular outlet doesn’t usually cater to palates used to truly spicy fare.

I noticed that almost all tables were occupied by Europeans. I don’t know about them, but I found some dishes too bland for my liking. The mutton seekh kebab (minced lamb mixed with ginger, onion and garlic) for instance, didn’t even come remotely close to the kakori kebabs I grew up on when meat was cheap back home.

Thankfully, the lamp chops (Dh55 for five chops) made up for the tenderness and juicy moistness missing from the kebabs. Served with garlic sauce and Arabic bread, the chops tasted so good I wanted to gnaw at the bones once the meat was gone.

Up next was Royal Kabuli pulao (Dh35), a traditional Afghan delicacy consisting of steamed rice and lamb topped with sliced carrots, almonds and raisins. Cooked to perfection in a broth-like sauce that gave the rice a distinct golden-brown colour, it was quickly polished off with plenty of approving nods from my partner, photograher Pankaj Sharma.

The vegetarian dishes didn’t disappoint either, most notably Banjan Borani (Dh23), the tangy, garlic-laced yoghurt contrasting agreeably with the steamed tomato sauce and tender eggplant slices. We rounded up the meal with shahi tukde (Dh 18), a traditional rich dessert consisting of bread soaked in sweet coriander milk and seasoned with saffron cashews, almonds and pistachios. Frankly speaking it was a letdown as I have sampled better versions, not just at other restaurants but at Barbecue Delight’s very own Oud Metha branch.

That said, it was a good experience overall. If you are looking to impress someone with a nice meal in stunning locations, wander around the Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Boluevard on your way back from Dubai Mall and pretend to accidentally discover this place.

We went for a la carte, but you could try their dinner buffet which is available only on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays and costs Dh75 per head. For those looking for a traditional breakfast comprising nihari, choley, halwa puri and qeema paya, the restaurant offers a Friday buffet between 9am and noon. At just Dh50 it’s a steal.

Details:

Meal for two: Around Dh150

Location: 1 Clarens Building, Mohommad Bin Rashid Boulevard (formerly Emaar Boulevard)

Contact: 04-434 3443