Mazaher translates to orange blossom, a fragrant essence often found sprinkled on gourmet Arabic delicacies. It is also the name of Trade Center Dubai’s newest Lebanese restaurant, and I had the pleasure of being invited for Iftar there last week.
The restaurant interiors are delightfully bright, chirpy and bistro-style. With Parisian-style cafe seating, potted plants and arched doorways, Mazaher is every bit the quintessential boutique-style cafe.
What I really liked at Mazaher was the fact that the table had already been laid out with a comprehensive selection of hot and cold mezze. Great for when you’re fasting and just want to delve in!
Some of my favorites from the table were the meat-filled pasties, the cheese sambousak, the very fresh, vibrant Fattoush salad and the Arabic cheese dip with deep-fried crispy pita bread croutons.
When I break my fast, I have always found I reach out for fluids more than food. I have been to a long list of Iftars this season, and one thing that perturbs me is when there isn’t sufficient drinks on the table. A great looking mocktail just doesn’t cut it at that point in time. Thankfully at Mazaher they get the fasting psyche perfectly well, and have chilled bottles of water on the table, and servers walking around who keep offering refills on the various juices and Ramadan drinks that are included with the Iftar package.
After delving into the mezze spread on our table, we got to order our main-course. I asked for the Mixed Grill Platter, and it proved to be a very large, generous portion, easily sufficient for two!
The dessert counter caught my eye as soon as I walked in. It looks so delightfully colourful, and I was like a toddler in a candy shop.
At Mazaher, they have a giant shawarma grill in the dessert section, but instead of meat it has a rainbow of nougat-filled halawa! We got to carve off generous slices, and each flavour was delicious in its own right.
Mazaher has proved to be an exquisite choice for authentic Lebanese cuisine. I really enjoyed my Iftar spread here. Everything was beautifully fresh and delicious, and I loved the chic and casual ambience.
The Iftar at Mazaher costs AED 135 per head, and includes a free flow of select juices and soft drinks. Mazaher is located on the Ground Floor of Convention Tower (Trade Center, Dubai). Call 04 3555533 for details.
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