It’s a bit annoying when you walk towards the opposite end of your destination for the evening in extreme humidity – yes, even if it’s my fault (I walked two Metro stations in the wrong direction) – but thankfully, Bayty managed to assuage my irritation almost immediately. Warm and inviting, I was made to feel like a VIP as I settled in for what I hoped would be an evening of memorable eating.
The ambience: A tent of sorts tempts you as you enter, where flopping down to enjoy an assortment of dates, juices and other bites feels absolutely divine (small things please me so). The apricots in particular were delicious, and in all, everything looked just right – cosy wooden interiors, soft lights, numerous counters filled with food and nice seating.
What we loved: The freshly grilled beef kebabs. The salt and lemony tang had such a fantastic kick, I ended up filling myself mostly with these. I sometimes get anxious about meat that gets chewy or isn’t cooked to the right texture and consistency all through, but these were just brilliant. The other kebabs – chicken and lamb – were all right, although the lamb seekh was quite good too. In desserts, the regional sweetmeats were made in-house as opposed to being ordered in and were perfect to round off an evening of decadence.
What we hated: The lentil soup. It’s one of my go-to comfort foods, but instead of being light, airy, lemony and citrusy, which infuses the soup with amazing freshness, this one was thick, low on salt and flavour and unappealing.
The verdict: Great for the meats and sweets, but what more would one want?
The details: Iftar at Bayty, Warwick Hotel Dubai is priced at Dh165 with drinks. Call 04 506 9600 for reservations.
