Ammon News - AMMONNEWS - Iftar is the meal that breaks the fast during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. The United Arab Emirates is home to restaurants that deserve at least one of your iftars. Here are our favorite choices for you to consider in the last 10 days of Ramadan.
1. Ewaan – The Palace, Old Town, Downtown Dubai
Ewaan is one of the few places where dishes from different cuisines sit next to each other in harmony rather than in an awkward collision. The choices are abundant but not overwhelming.
Expect an array of Middle Eastern and Asian favorites, with a live cooking station serving up fried calamari, shrimp, pasta, and whatever the chef has chosen to bestow upon fasters that day.
A must-eat is the lobster thermidor. A creamy concoction of lobster meat and vegetables is placed inside the shell and sealed with a layer of cheese. If not spotted in the buffet, ask one of the friendly chefs behind the counter about it.
The dessert station also deserves a mention, including saffron macaroons, decadent crepes, and a large selection of meticulous pastries, cakes and sorbet.
Tip: Call a few days in advance to guarantee a table on their gorgeous terrace overlooking their pool and the Down Town Dubai lake.
Price: AED 230
2. Mayrig, Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Boulevard
The set menu at Mayrig, which serves Armenian cuisine, allows one to savor as many items as possible while guaranteeing space for its delicious desserts.
The appetizer round, which is the same every day, is far more exciting than the main course, including lentil kibbeh served with a vinaigrette, and muhammara (a sweet walnut and chilli paste). Then comes hummus, and the star appetizer: spicy potatoes.
Among the appetizers is a different take on kibbeh. Instead of burghul (cracked wheat) to make the outer layer of the fried meat dumpling, Mayrig uses a rice mash as a pocket to fry the minced beef in.
The main shortcoming of the set menu is that diners can choose from only two mains picked by the chef that day, which may or may not appeal to many.
The spinach and rice were not as exciting as the grilled kebab with sour cherries, or the minced meat dumplings with tomato and yoghurt.
The dessert round will satisfy the warm-dessert enthusiasts and ice-cream aficionados.
Price: AED 140
3. Kalha, Al-Majaz, Sharjah
Kalha, located in the scenic emirate of Sharjah, offers an iftar where meats take a back seat and the region’s iconic vegetarian dishes take center stage.
There are a few basics that must be on any table at Kalha, including golden, crispy falafel stuffed with caramelized onions sautéed in sumac, and fattet hummus: bread, hummus, yoghurt, olive oil and toasted pine nuts.
Kalha has also mastered musakhan, an iconic Palestinian dish of chicken roasted in a sumac rub and placed on top of a bed of thick bread, similar to naan, and smothered with sweet onions caramelized in sumac.
The dish is finished in the oven where the bread gets a little crispy while preserving the juices from the onions and chicken. Musakhan is finished off with a generous amount of toasted pine nuts and parsley.
The staff are friendly - do not be surprised if they do not break their fast until they have made sure you have everything you need.
Tip: Dessert options are not abundant at Kalha, but the kanafe at Feras’s Sweets on nearby Al-Khan road is worth your time.
Price: AED 40-50
4. Rule the Roast at Tom and Serg, Al-Quoz, Dubai
Tom and Serg has quickly become a Dubai favorite. During Ramadan, it hosts the Rule the Roast iftar.
For AED 100, diners will enjoy a selection of Black Angus rib eye, roast chicken with rosemary salt and stuffing, and Australian roast lamb.
Alongside the meats are a range of trimmings such as fluffy Yorkshire pudding, roast pumpkin and cauliflower cheese. The gravies are also worth your attention.
Bread and butter pudding and a warm apple pie will seal the deal.
Tip: Tom and Serg’s version of scrambled eggs on toast is addictive.
Price: AED 100 without dessert
5. Anise, Dubai Festival City Intercontinental
High ceilings, several stations and odd interiors will make for a truly memorable iftar. With all the live cooking stations, iftar at Anise is an adventure.
We advise that you screen what they have to offer and make a plan, because many things deserve your attention.
The people behind the menu understand that their wide selection of tantalizing food can be a challenge, so they have come up with a system where diners give chefs behind the stations a card with their table number on it. Once your customized order is complete, a chef will bring it to your table.
Mixed grill from the Levant, Italian pastas, a teppanyaki station and a sushi bar are just some of the things on offer.
Tip: Try the Anise Friday brunch with a view of the Creek.
Price: AED 215
*Al Arabiya
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