Tal Al Amar: A Feast of Lebanese Traditions

Located on the 47th floor of Emirates Grand Hotel with panoramic views of the Dubai skyline, Tal Al Amar is a hidden gem for authentic Lebanese cuisine at very reasonable rates.

Tal Al Amar lebanese restaurant dubai review arabic authentic food (1)

Tal Al Amar lebanese restaurant dubai review arabic authentic food (2)

Tal Al Amar lebanese restaurant dubai review arabic authentic food (3)

Tal Al Amar lebanese restaurant dubai review arabic authentic food (4)

We had the pleasure of being invited for a tasting in late January, and were very impressed with the variety of dishes on offer.

We started off our meal with a soulfully thick, moreish lentil soup. It was accompanied with crisp, deep-fried pita bread. A squeeze of lemon added a light, zesty refresher to every spoonful. This was a great start to a winter’s meal.

Tal Al Amar lebanese restaurant dubai review arabic authentic food (7)

As were sipping into the last morsels of soup, the table was quickly cleared and filled up with a huge spread of appetizers.

We had freshly made hummus (Arabic chickpea dip) and Moutabel (Arabic smoked eggplant dip) with hot, puffed up khubz (pita bread) that was served right out of the oven.

Tal Al Amar lebanese restaurant dubai review arabic authentic food (19)

Tal Al Amar lebanese restaurant dubai review arabic authentic food (15)

Tal Al Amar lebanese restaurant dubai review arabic authentic food (16)

And then there was the salads, absolutely fresh and full of authentic Mediterranean flavors. I am divided over my favorite Arabic salad. I love the combination of fresh parsley and bulghar in Tabouleh, and the crisp bread sprinkled with summak (a tart Arabic spice mix) makes me crave for Fatoush. At Tal Al Amar, we had both on the table. So refreshingly delicious, and healthy to boot!

Tal Al Amar lebanese restaurant dubai review arabic authentic food (9)

Tal Al Amar lebanese restaurant dubai review arabic authentic food (8)

We were also served a platter of freshly cut salad, and this went deliciously well with the hummus and moutabel.

Tal Al Amar lebanese restaurant dubai review arabic authentic food (10)

Stuffed Vine Leaves are one of my favorite Mediterranean appetizers. I love the combination of the tart outer layer combined with the savory rice filling within.

Tal Al Amar lebanese restaurant dubai review arabic authentic food (17)

At Tal Al Amar, we were also served a platter of Green Beans. The string beans have been tossed in olive oil, and is served in a slow-cooked tomato broth. This is a dish I have not tried in the past, and really enjoyed it with the freshly baked khubz.

Tal Al Amar lebanese restaurant dubai review arabic authentic food (14)

Below is a platter of mixed pastries. These have all been made from scratch in the kitchen of Tal Al Amar. Some have a meaty filling, others have cheese.

Tal Al Amar lebanese restaurant dubai review arabic authentic food (22)

To accompany our meal, we sipped on fresh juices, made to order in-house. No bottled concoctions here!

Tal Al Amar lebanese restaurant dubai review arabic authentic food (5)

For our main-course, the table was heaving with a whole selection of Lebanese delicacies.

Tal Al Amar lebanese restaurant dubai review arabic authentic food (6) — An assortment of freshly baked breads

Tal Al Amar lebanese restaurant dubai review arabic authentic food (25) — Grilled Chicken Kebabs

Tal Al Amar lebanese restaurant dubai review arabic authentic food (24) — My absolutely favorite kebab platter at Tal Al Amar; these meaty kebabs have been drenched in a very flavorful, mildly spiced tomato gravy.

Tal Al Amar lebanese restaurant dubai review arabic authentic food (23) — A mixed platter of grilled meat and chicken kebabs

Tal Al Amar lebanese restaurant dubai review arabic authentic food (18) — I loved having the garlic-laden spinach on the side. The deep-fried onion makes it all the more tasteful.

Tal Al Amar lebanese restaurant dubai review arabic authentic food (21) — Sausage lovers alert: the Makanek at Tal Al Amar is to die for. Brimming with an authentic spice mix, these traditional Arabic sausages are a decadent treat not to be missed.

Tal Al Amar lebanese restaurant dubai review arabic authentic food (20) — Kebab Istanbul is a rich, flavorful dish of spicy fried liver.

Tal Al Amar lebanese restaurant dubai review arabic authentic food (11) — Arabic pickles on the sidesh.

Tal Al Amar lebanese restaurant dubai review arabic authentic food (13) — Yet another one of my favorite dishes at Tal Al Amar is this Fish Tajin, grilled fish served in a thick, rich white sauce with copious amounts of deep-fried onion and pine-nuts.

The food at Tal Al Amar is fresh and flavorful, and given the pocket-friendly pricing, you really do get tempted to try a wide variety. After this gastronomic main-course, we were really very full. And then came our round of desserts!

Tal Al Amar lebanese restaurant dubai review arabic authentic food (32) — A traditional Lebanese Rice Pudding accentuated with sprinkles of cinnamon powder.

Tal Al Amar lebanese restaurant dubai review arabic authentic food (33) — Mahalabiya, a much-loved traditional Arabic custard laced with the essence of rosewater.

Tal Al Amar lebanese restaurant dubai review arabic authentic food (34) — Osmalieh, a crunchy, sweet Arabic dessert made of vermicelli and piped with fresh cream.

Tal Al Amar lebanese restaurant dubai review arabic authentic food (30) — A platter of assorted Baklava.

Tal Al Amar lebanese restaurant dubai review arabic authentic food (29) — Chocolate pastries, and a line of very moreish, crunchy Almond Cookies.

Tal Al Amar lebanese restaurant dubai review arabic authentic food (31) — Dried fruit platter.

Tal Al Amar lebanese restaurant dubai review arabic authentic food (28) — Just look at how generously large the fruit platter is at Tal Al Amar!

Pity we couldn’t do justice to all this yumminess on our table. The portions at Tal Al Amar are generously huge. We had to wash down all that goodness with hot cups of tea.

Tal Al Amar lebanese restaurant dubai review arabic authentic food (27)

I had the pleasure of meeting the man behind all the magic, Chef Mohammed Ahmed himself. Hailing from Egypt, Chef Mohammed has been cooking up authentic Lebanese delicacies in well-renouned kitchens around the UAE for nearly two decades now. Interestingly, he is yet to visit Lebanon!

Tal Al Amar lebanese restaurant dubai review arabic authentic food (26)

Tal Al Amar is located on the 47th floor of Emirates Grand Hotel (Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai). With panoramic views of the Dubai skyline, and a feast of authentic Lebanese dishes at very reasonable rates, Tal Al Amar is a must-try for Arabic food lovers. For more information and table bookings, give them a call on 04 323 0000.