Almaz by Momo

Almaz by Momo is consistently in one of my top 5 restaurants in Dubai. Here's a few reasons why:

Entrance to the restaurant

1) Location, location, location. It's a great place to pop by after a tough day of shopping at the Mall of Emirates. You can come in, relax, and enjoy the food and great company. 

2) The atmosphere. I love the mood of the restaurant, with its colourful Arabic-style decor, comfortable seats and always some good beats playing in the background. Their selection on music is a type of modern Arabic mixed with some clubby beats. There is no confusion here about what type of restaurant this is, the message is clear.

3) Last but certainly not least, and definitely the most important - the food! It is really absolutely delicious. There is a nice variety of dishes, from the traditional tajines, couscous etc as well as some lebanese appetisers such as fattoush, as well as general items like steak. If you come here you must order the Couscous Mechoui! It's not something you'll want to miss and the portion is great. We were a table of 4 and ordered the portion for 1 person (there is also the option to order for 2). It comes with lamb shoulder, which is divine, just melt-in-your-mouth soft and full of flavour. The couscous is a gentle and necessary accompaniment, and the veggies in their bullion provide the finishing touch of moisture and texture. This dish also comes with a small side of chickpeas with raisins and a spicy sauce - the latter is my favourite addition of flavour to an already wonderful dish.

Couscous Mechoui

Couscous Mechoui Continued

Starters- fattoush and cheese pastry

We also had ourselves some chicken tajine - the chicken was again tender and the dish was full of Moroccan flavour, with some sweetness to the sauce.

Chicken Tajine

Perhaps the only drawback may be that the service is not always at its best, though this almost nitpicking as it has only happened one or two times from the many occasions I visited. Be warned too that the restaurant is pricey - though I think it is very much worth it. It is best to visit for an occasion, and an indoor sheesha area will also serve any smokers wanting to also try out the food.

House of Curry

Indian food rotates in my top 3 of cuisines with Mexican and Japanese. The food is almost always full of flavour and tradition, you enjoy it immensely and you know what to expect. Garlic, coriander, spice, rich sauces and lentil - it can be a meal made of perfection.

House of Curry is a new place that opened up in Downtown in one of those little shacks on the boulevard. It's a charming place and easy to get to. It was empty when we visited, but I really hope that it gets popular enough soon, because this restaurant deserves it. 

I almost always order the same things whenever I go for Indian food. For the curries, I usually get some Butter Chicken for something creamy and flavourful, and Mutton Rogan Josh for the meat and something a little spicier. Both did not disappoint in this case, and the chicken was the winner of the two in this case. My only criticism of the mutton is that it contains bones, though really in all honesty I accept that all the flavour is in the bones. Still, if you like me don't really enjoy picking through bone I'd advise you to watch out for that. We did ask for the mutton to be spicy but we didn't find it to be particularly so.

The Tadka Daal, on the other hand, was a great compliment to the meal and provided the heat that was missing elsewhere. And, as always, I like to scoop everything up in my garlic naan, which did not disappoint and was just the right amount of garlic, butter and crispy. The mango lassi, too, gave a nice balance to the heat and helped extinguish the fire a little bit.

It's a nice little place and has a fair price. The service is friendly and the food is flavourful and plentiful. Obviously there are many other well-known Indian places that are far cheaper and more authentic (I'm not even going to mention Karama), but compared to its peers I think this place is great. The location helps too, and you could easily visit after some shopping and then head somewhere else to digest.

The bill:

- Mango Lassi: AED 22

- Mutton Rogan Josh: AED 60

- Butter Chicken: AED 55

- Tadka Daal: AED 35

- Garlic Naan: AED 8

- Plain White Rice: AED 25

For a total of: AED 205 for a group of 4, AED 52 each.

Miyabi Sushi and Bento

Hi, my name is Pauline and I am a sushi addict. It is crazy how addictive sushi can be, and as you can see, Dana and I are lovers of sushi and in the future a chunk of our reviews will probably be directed towards Japanese restaurants. Dubai seems to be flooded with Japanese restaurants but somehow there still doesn't seem to be enough. We are always looking for new places to try out and if ever you have any suggestions please do share with us we would love to try them out :)

I have been hearing rave reviews about Miyabi Sushi and Bento for quite some time now, so I figured why not give it a proper shot? It is tucked away in Media City in an office building making it slightly hard for customers to know about. My date has been living 5 minutes away for years now and has never heard of it. The place is quite cozy and spacious with a very friendly team of staff.

The menu features a paramount amount of options, the choices of sushi seem endless. We decided to be a bit adventurous and mix it up by trying out the more quirky looking options. We ordered: the 49er's, the Crunch California Roll and the Lion King Roll. Each one was beautifully plated and presented. The 49er's is a California Roll topped with some Salmon and a very thin slice of lemon. It tasted quite nice and flavorful, it was a simple option but simple sometimes goes a long way. Next was the Crunch California Roll, a California Roll topped with some shredded crabsticks, eggs and Tobiko. I always order sushi rolls very similar to this one, it is one of my favorites (especially at Scoozi). Having had high expectations I was slightly disappointed with this version which was too salty and too dry for my liking. The final dish was the Lion King Roll, which is a California Roll topped with cooked salmon and a hot sauce (california rolls seem to be the theme of the night I guess). The plate looks like there is a lot going on, and there is, but somehow all the elements come together and blend harmoniously, although I do recommend that you share it since it might be too much for one person. 

We also ordered a plate of Salmon Sashimi and Volcano Shrimp. The Sashimi tasted fresh and did not have a lingering taste of the sea. The Shrimp was a combination of the TNT dish at Manga Sushi and the Dynamite Shrimp at PFChangs, combining the best of both worlds but still somehow missing the mark.

Granted I have had sushi that is much more delicious and addictive but something about the overly friendly staff, the quiet and close location and the abundance of options gives me a feeling that I will probably be coming back for more. The Sake Don was definitely calling out to me, that is going to be next on my list for sure. 

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