During my two month stay in Dubai last summer, I realised that so much more had happened to the city’s dining scene then when I last enjoyed it almost a decade ago. I also realised how the quality of dining out in this glitzy Gulf megalopolis was a cut above the rest- so many restaurants outdid themselves in their menu, plating, taste, ambiance even freshness of ingredients. Culinary presentation, like the nature of the city, was like a passionate performance – if it wasn’t bells and whistles galore, it needed to have Vogue approved style.

I didn’t even try any of the Michelin star restaurants. It was mainly just the generic weekend type venue for some of our friends here and to me, it was already something to write home about. These were some of my favourite dishes in three different restaurants ,and I’ll make a beeline for them in every return.

Clay, Bluewater

This Japanese Peruvian outfit is located in Bluewater Island, the latter of which describes itself as a ‘vibrant lifestyle destination featuring distinctive residential, retail, hospitality and entertainment options’. It’s essentially yet another man made island teeming with eateries and shops, this time overlooking the JBR beach.

Clay had almost a glam nightclub vibe with Oriental lanterns, dimmed lights and wall to ceiling glass windows on one side of its space to showcase the sea view. Not all the dishes were unforgettable to the palate but it was presented with astonishing flamboyance, including a sushi set in a ferris wheel.

The miso brûlée was accompanied with merengue and mango spheres, caramel and chica morada caviar. All very exotic sounding, splendidly presented and most importantly delicious to taste.

The wheel was memorable mainly because of the ostentatious delivery. It’s a selection of nigiris all delicately perched on a ferris wheel and one of the instagram highlights in their menu. The assortment of sushis included bluefin tuna, salmon, scallops, caviar and black tortilla oil. Here’s a video to capture its true regalia.

Eat Greek salad and taramasalat 

I’ve tasted quite a lot of taramasalata in my lifetime and I can honestly say the one served up at Eat Greek, with fresh watermelon salad and rocket leaves, and warm pitta bread, is the bees knees after a long swim at the beach on JBR. The restaurant itself has got a lovely lively casual nautical rhythm, and makes you just want to slink into a corner window seat and tuck into fresh healthy recipes the whole afternoon.

My affection for this meal is also strongly persuaded by the whole memory of having first enjoyed it – hot hot hot 40 degrees summer, cool blue gulf water, warm grainy sand, and just the adrenalin of life around you at the promenade. Bodies jostling at the beach, tourists looking for a seat in the beachfront restaurants, people out in the sun ready to just ease into their weekend. And all this coming in after almost two years of on and off lockdowns back home. I felt free, alive, and savouring every morsel of food into my mouth.

Al Safadi’s mohamera 

Al Safadi in The Pointe was one of the first restaurants I tried on this trip, and I swear I could feel my attraction and love for Dubai expand in my heart as I took my first few bites of the mohamera. While not a food connoisseur by any means, my affection for any city I visit is strongly linked to whether I love eating there. And this, this specific dish, sealed the deal for me. I never stopped thinking about it after that and kept begging to return (which I did thrice more in that trip). Mohamera is a Syrian dip made of red pepper, walnut, roasted nuts, and smoked paprika. Sadaf’s mohamera was my first introduction to it – a little smoky, crunchy, spicy and comforting. When mixed with bread or vegetables it feels like I can never be sad in life again. The restaurant’s location- yet another ‘vibrant lifestyle destination’ this time situated in The Palm with a section facing the man made lake and it’s ongoing water fountain show – makes for an entertaining weekend of fun.

Final words

These are just the tip of the iceberg for memorable meals in Dubai. The city is heaving with endless possibilities- from the 14 Michelin starred restaurants to the hot, tasty kebab kiosks in Deira, and everything in between thriving in multiple ‘lifestyle’ outfits and shopping malls. In 2022, I visited and ate out in six countries and apart from one dish (spicy fermented sucuk sausage in an Armenian restaurant in Erbil), all my best and diverse eating memories are in this city. Hoping for another run of exploration here in the near future.