Gelato Mio

Gelato Mio is a British gelato brand that was brought to Dubai by two of my dear friends. Having lived in London for some time, I already knew of the brand and the city's high standards when it comes to anything to do with dessert.

It is located at a kiosk in Dubai Outlet Mall. It may seem some distance away, though really I find it a good excuse to go somewhere different than the usual malls I seem to spend every weekend at. It's a good place to do some shopping either way; you might just find something that you otherwise couldn't because it was out of stock anywhere else. 

Gelato Mio by far has the best quality gelato I've had in Dubai. The texture is just right; it's creamy but not heavy, and it's cold but not frozen. When you go to a gelato place where the server has to fight with the container in order to get a scoop, you know it's not right. This is not the case with Gelato Mio. Another thing that I like is that like in London, the gelato is heaped onto the cup with a spatula-type spoon, not with a round scoop. This makes a difference; though the cups are small, the actual amount is really quite generous.

My friend and I went for 2 medium-sized cups. Out of old habit, I chose to mix two of my favourite flavours, which are Strawberry and Biscotti. I tend to prefer fruity flavours when it comes to gelato, it's just more fresh and vibrant. In either case the two did not disappoint; I finished my cup with much enjoyment. My friend went for Tiramisu and Hazelnut. The Hazelnut I think was the best of all the 4 flavours we tried, it reminded me of nutella, and of course anything to do with nutella is instantly a winner. The Tiramisu was good too, though I would have liked the flavour to be a bit stronger. It could be that we did not choose the right two flavours to mix; if you visit, I would strongly suggest a mix of something fruity with something creamy, like I did.

I've been as often as I could to visit the kiosk, and honestly I would go even more often if it was closer to me. But it's worth the trip when I do go; since having Gelato Mio I tend to avoid the other gelato places in Dubai, the quality is just nowhere near. Plus with the benefit of generous portions, I am happy with the price too.

Tom & Serg

Ahhhhh, Dubai. You never cease to amaze me.

And so, I discovered my new favourite weekend lunch spot. It is different, it is vibrant, it is delicious, it's fun, it's great to take some friends there, and really great to nurse a long Thursday or Friday night. The amazing thing about this place is that I saw virtually no marketing or advertising for it, it seems to have been popularised entirely by word of mouth - now that really says something.

Tom & Serg - describing itself as "hailing itself from Melbourne's cafe culture" - is just unusual enough, just delicious enough to fit right into Dubai's diverse culture. The cafe is easy to find on Sheikh Zayed road and has lots of parking. But beware - it is only open for breakfast and lunch, so you have to be there before 4.

When I visited, the place was packed. But it was the good kind of busy - people were chatting, eating, laughing, waiters were running around, food was cooking; I liked the vibe. It is a huge open space and reminded me so much of London. The staff is very friendly and I couldn't help but feel excited.

I started myself off with the Tom & Serg Double Burger (of course), and this comes with a side order of chips and garlic aioli. Literally cannot say enough good things about it. The bun is soft and fluffy, the patty is fresh and juicy, and the cheese just perfect. The extra great thing about is their special sauce that they use in their burgers, it's slightly acidic and adds a great depth of flavour to an already delicious burger. The chips are also really good, hot and crispy. But oh, the aioli. Let me tell you about that aioli. It is absolutely scrumptious, and that innocent-looking white sauce may well be the sole reason for you to visit this place (if the other reasons are not enough!)

I couldn't help but feel curious about the dessert, and upon the complete annihilation of my burger, I decided to go for the 7layer (aka Slayer) cake, accompanied by the Magic Coffee. Those two were again winners. The pastry had a complex flavour to it, hints of lemon, nuts, and other distinct tastes. The coffee too was really good, rich but not too strong and I finished it with pleasure.

So if you could not tell already, I highly recommend this place. It is great. It is also not too expensive, for a change for Dubai. There is parking always available. The staff is helpful, the service fast, and the atmosphere great. Please visit and enjoy.

The Bill:

- 1 Magic (AED 15)

- 1 Slayer (7layer) Cake (AED 22)

- 1 Tom & Serg Double Burger (AED 49)

For a total of: AED 86

(No, seriously, where else can we get such quality food for these prices?!)

Madeleine Cafe & Boulangerie

When did Dubai suddenly become so crowded with people?? Somehow that Thursday nearly half of Dubai had the same exact thought, at the exact same time... "Wouldn't it be great to go watch the Dubai Fountain??". Watching the fountain from the ground floor was absolutely impossible with the amount of people there was.  Looking up hoping to find a safe haven to hide and watch from, our eyes were mesmerized by the glowing lights of the Madeleine Cafe & Boulangerie  sign.  The sign was a sign, it was teasing us with its perfect location and view as if saying, "could you do any better than this??", and with that sensual French accent, how could we resist?

The interior is one that is quite typical of a French Cafe with its wooden chairs, tiled floors and hanging pictures. It's warm and quiet atmosphere was welcomed with open arms by everyone at the table. As expected the view was brilliant, the French speaking sign did not disappoint.  After watching the fountain twice we had had enough and were ready to start eating.  Two salads, the Nicoise Salad and the Provencale, and a plate of Escargot were ordered for appetizers and a combination of the Salmon Fillet, the Polet Roti and a Burger were ordered for the main courses. Taking a moment to look around  I noticed that it was quite full... full could only mean one thing right?? right?!

Warm bread was hand delivered to us in small baskets, the smell making our tummies rumble with anticipation. There were smiles around the table as the bread took its position, I grabbed a piece ready to place it on my plate when I noticed ... no plate. I looked up to find the same confused look on everyone's faces. One minute passed, two minutes passed... five minutes passed and no plates were presented. After having already divulged the bread we asked for some plates and the waiter looked confused as if it was something new to him having to need a plate to eat ones food on. We had to ask twice before we had any sort of plates.

The bread had vanished, now for the appetizers. Traditionally, the appetizers are served before the main course - to do their job and apetize. Unfortunately,  our main courses arrived first, and we were half way through our dinner before we even saw our salads. The dish I chose was a simple burger, I never really know what to choose at a French restaurant, so safe was the way I decided to go. It was your typical burger, except there was no special sauce, no fresh and delicious bun, something you could probably get at any burger joint.  I quite liked it anyways, it was light and satisfied my hunger. I didn't get the chance to fully enjoy our appetizers because I was stuffed from my main course. I did manage to put a bit of the Nicoise Salad on my plate but it wasn't something I felt I needed to have more of. The rest of the table seemed to have mixed feelings about their food, they liked what they ate but it did not leave a lasting impression. Ordering the bill was quite a tiring ordeal, none of the waiters seemed to be interested in getting it for us - they would just nod from a distance and continue on with whatever they were doing. We had to order the bill three times and had to wait fifteen minutes to get it back. Never saw a group of people less excited about getting paid.

In conclusion, I do not think I would be coming back except maybe to enjoy its location and spacious outdoor area while watching the fountain and trying out their desserts and pastries. 

The Bill per person : Around 150 AED.

Bentoya

And so I headed off for a Japanese lunch at Bentoya, a little Japanese place hidden on the main area of Sheikh Zayed Road. I hadn't heard of this place before, but upon telling my friends about it I realised that it is actually quite well known. If you've clicked on the link you'll find that it takes you to a very basic-looking site with minimal information. Looks good so far, if it ends up being one of those small, authentic places where the staff barely speak English.

We ordered a bunch of different things to try, and while we waited I sipped on my fresh lemon soda, which was a good thirst quencher. The food didn't take too long and soon enough we were munching on some Ebi Tempura. The texture was just right, crunchy on the outside and tender on the inside, and the sauce going with it matched perfectly. My only criticism was that the shrimp was a little bland, but maybe I'm being overly critical.

The sushi all came at the same time. Their salmon sashimi portions are quite big (9 pieces per plate), which is perfect for sharing. Most importantly, it was just the right size and also really fresh and tasty. From the rolls we had the Ten Chili Roll, the Soft Shell Crab Roll and the Crunchy California Maki. The Ten Chili was a definite win, reminding me of Sumo's Crunchy Crazy. So far so good. The Soft Shell Crab was also a positive, and though the Crunchy California had a good taste, I found the rolls themselves a bit too big. On the other hand, the portions themselves are generous and again I found it's a great place to go for sharing.

Overall my experience was really positive, it's not too expensive and you get quality sushi. It's a nice little place to visit now and then.

The Bill (for 2):

- Ebi Tempura (AED 58)
- Ten Chili Roll (AED 26)
- Soft Shell Crab Roll (AED 35)
- Crunchy California Maki (AED 32)
- Salmon Sashimi (AED 52)
- Soft Drinks (AED 6)
- Fresh Lemon Soda (AED 10)

Total : AED 219

Y by Yabani

As far as Citywalk goes, I'm a fan. I love open-air malls (though ask me again when it's summer) and it's a charming little area with greenery, a fountain and a bunch of unconventional shops and restaurants.

There seems to be an Asian theme going on here, as the majority of the restaurants currently open are of that variety, including Pei Wei (managed by PF Chang's), Noodle House and the one I'm about to review - Y by Yabani.

Now there are two types of Japanese restaurants: the super-fancy, extremely high quality places like Zuma and Okku, and the cheaper, usual kind of sushi places that can be quite good in their own right, like Sumo. Yabani would be more of the latter, though I got the impression that it tries to be a bit of the former.

Upon being seated I was immediately mystified by two separate menus, one the good old-fashioned paper sort, and the other on an iPad. Not a big fan of this techy business, but maybe I'm just old. The two menus are also not the same; each has items that the other doesn't. Hmmm.

I ordered my typical spicy edamame, and together with the rest of the group we had a selection of starters and different types of sushi. After repeatedly being offered their "Head over Hills" salad, we finally gave in and ordered it, though I'm not sure why we had to say no to it 3 times.

Anyway, I sipped on my minted lemonade as we waited (fresh and delicious), and so our food started coming in. The edamame was great, though there's really not much that can wrong there; the beans really speak for themselves. This was followed by some salmon sashimi, the seaweed salad, and the aforementioned "Head over Hills". I am unhappy to report that my sashimi contained a bone and unfortunately this ruined the rest of the salmon; really an unforgivable blunder there. On the other hand, the seaweed salad was light and refreshing; the typical type of dish you would think of when it comes to Japanese salads. Sadly, the "Head over Hills" impression was not to be, as frankly the presentation was quite unappetizing and the salad itself did not really taste of anything. Not recommended, and an underwhelming start to the dinner overall.

Next came a selection of different types of sushi: I was particularly excited for the Shake Izuzukuri - this was basically the same as salmon sashimi, but with a spicy sauce and some garnish. It was alright, I didn't particularly love but I didn't hate it either. Next came the rolls: Yabani Dragon (crispy shrimp, avocado), Crazy (crabstick, veggies, tobiko, tempura crisp), Crazy Avocado and Crazy Shrimp. There's this new fad of adding something that looks like coleslaw on top of sushi rolls. I am not a fan. And though my friends very much enjoyed their rolls, I personally found them to be bland and the texture too soft. But to each their own.

Personally, I may be coming back to this restaurant purely due to its location, the food is not something I would recommend. If the objective is sushi, there are many other better (and cheaper) options in Dubai.

Margherita

Wondering the pavements of JBR trying to decide what to have for dinner, we were pleasantly surprised when we came across this new little Italian restaurant right opposite Bauhaus called Margherita. Its warm and inviting atmosphere beckoned us to come in. We were lucky to even find a spot; it was completely occupied inside and outside giving Napoletana and La Dolce Vita a run for their money.

The waiters were extremely friendly, helpful and quite patient with us as we decided what we were going to eat. Looking at the menu it looked intriguing, it was in the form of a short book and had a few empty pages here and there allowing for customers to write comments, draw or even jot down a recipe or two.

We ordered three appetizers, Grilled calamari, Burrata cheese and a Bruschetta. The grilled calamari and the Bruschetta were pleasant enough, nothing I would order again. The Burrata on the other hand was divine with a side of salad and tomatoes that complemented it very well.

As usual I was the last one to order, I finally decided to take a risk and try out a plate called Crespolini which is basically like an Italian Burrito. A crepe filled with spinach and cheese and submerged in Parmesan sauce. The plate itself looked quite appetizing, but unfortunately I was not a big fan of the taste. It was overloaded with spinach and did not have too much flavor. On a positive note, after eating such a plate one would assume that being able to breathe was not an option, but actually it was quite light and not heavy at all. 

Even though my experience was not the best, I am sure that I will be back very soon for the Burrata and to try out other dishes. I would recommend the Pizzas (Bresaola and the Bianca Salmone), they were quite a hit on our table, and the grilled chicken (Polleto Alla Griglia).If you do end up trying the restaurant you will be in for a little treat, they have tombola where you have the chance of winning a free dish. While we were there a table of 21 people won, you could be next.

The Bill ( For 5):

Grilled Calamari (AED 69)

Burrata Cheese (AED 120)

Bruschetta Classica (AED 38)

Pizza Bresaola (AED 70)

Pizza Bianca Salmone (AED79)

Crespolini (AED 67)

Polleto Alla Griglia x2 (AED 98 each)

Minted Lemon (AED 22)

Diet Pepsi (AED 14)

7 UP (AED 14)

Water (AED 20)

Total: AED 709 (Around 150 DHS per person)

Turkish Village

Being a fan of Turkish food I have been meaning to try out Turkish Village for quite some time. Unfortunately, due to its overwhelming popularity every time we would call to reserve a table during the weekend we were told that it was completely full. Taking the opportunity of being off on a weekday we decided to try it out. 

The restaurant is strategically located on Beach Road close to places visited regularly, like Spinney's and Fridays, allowing it to be spotted easily. It provides the option of indoor and outdoor seating with a terrace on each floor. We opted to sit outside on the ground floor since the weather was nice. With anticipation and an empty stomach we all grabbed the menu and started skimming through. It was refreshing to have a menu that was completely visual and had a picture of each dish that was offered. The options were mouth watering making it harder for us to choose. 

We ordered a couple of appetizers and three main courses to share. While waiting we were offered a basket of bread with a sampler of dips. The bread was just as expected, delicious, reminding me of my bread eating days in Istanbul. First came the appetisers: Gavurdagi Salad (Almonds, Tomato and cucumber), Semizotu Yogurt (Yogurt and Purslane), Taze Zahter Salata (Fresh Zaatar Salad) and Istanbul Borek (Cheese Stuffed Pastry). Even though the plates were quite small and probably not enough for a group of 5 people they were full of flavor and were eaten in a matter of minutes. The real winners, for me, were the Semizotu Yogurt and the Istanbul Borek, I am a lover of anything dairy and practically ate both plates all on my own.

Next came the Konya Etli Ekmek  (a very long piece of Lahm B3ajeen) and the Kirsik Pide (Mixed flat bread). The Konya Etli Ekmek seemed to be a very popular plate since each table had a minimum of one. It definitely did not disappoint, try it with some lemon or laban and enjoy. The Kirsik Pide had something for everyone, I personally tried the Lahm B3ajeen portion and it was even better than the Konya Etli Ekmek.

Finally, two plates of mixed grill found their way to our table. They were beautifully garnished and presented. Taking a few minutes to admire the plate, we finally dug in. The grilled meat and the chicken were cooked and seasoned beautifully, unfortunately the Kabab did not impress. 

After having been disappointed with the food in Istanbul I was happy to have finally had some Turkish food that I could boast about and try again. When visiting, one should take some time to pass by the gift shop for some Turkish delights and Simit bread. Overall all, I would highly recommend trying this restaurant out,
my advice would be to book a table on the roof to avoid the hustle and bustle of Beach Road.  

The Bill ( For 5):

Gavurdagi Salad (AED 20)

Taze Zahter Salata (AED 18)

Istanbul Borek (AED 20)

Semizotu Yogurt (AED 20)

Konya Etli Ekmek (AED75)

Kirsik Pide (AED 60)

Mixed Grillx2 (AED 110 each)

Diet Cola (AED 7)

Spritex2 (AED 14)

Water (AED 12)

Simit Bread x2 (AED 10 each)

Box of Turksih Delight (AED 40)

Total: AED 526 (Around 100 DHS per person)