“Silk Route was an ancient network of trade routes that for centuries were central to cultural interaction through regions of the Asian continent connecting the West and East from China to the Mediterranean Sea.” – Wikipedia.

These legendary routes, set ablaze by none other than Marco Polo himself, was probably the beginnings of the East blending into the West. Apart from the lucrative trade of besotted silks, the West got introduced to the magic of noodles (and the Italians unabashedly turned it into pasta!). It also took heady mix of spices from the subcontinent to far reaching places and local dishes. The story is fascinating! And what better name can an Asian restaurant ask for than to be christened Silk Route?

Located in one of Dubai’s oldest hotels, Silk Route has built a reputation for its delicious fare of Chinese and Thai dishes, and if you are looking to go out for dinner with the family this long weekend, I have great news!

Weekend Bargain Dinner Alert! Every Thursday and Friday, Silk Route spreads out an elaborate ‘all you can eat’ buffet for as little as AED 99 per head (with soft-drinks) and AED 179 per head (with alcohol).

Taking the demographics of the locality into consideration (Meena Bazar is afterall a mini India!), the buffet takes its diners on a culinary journey of the Far East as well as offering quite a number of well-loved dishes of the Indian subcontinent.

We started off with the salad spread. From continental combinations and Arabic dips to Thai favorites including Glass Noodle Salad and Spicy Beef Salad, there is something here for everyone. If you love seafood salad, they even have a section of ice-rinsed prawns, calamari and crab. Just mix these up as you like with dressings of your choice!

They even had Chinese Soy Boiled Eggs! The boiled eggs take on a delicate hue of brown owing to the soya sauce, and this in turn gives each bite a salty aftertaste without the need for additional seasoning.

My personal favorites from the salad section was the Glass Noodle Salad and Spicy Beef Salad, both explosively spicy and heady with their individual hit of exotic flavors.

The weekend buffet menu at Silk Route is changed on a weekly basis, and when I dined here last weekend, the majority of the dishes on offer were Indian. Not that I am complaining! I have to admit I was expecting more Thai and Chinese dishes, but one of my absolutely favorite dishes from the night was the fiery hot Indian Mutton Curry with Potato, which took me back to the comfort food from my mother’s kitchen.

From the Chinese section, the buffet included stir-fried noodles which my daughter loved, and these perfectly steamed, flavorful Chicken Dimsums that melted in the mouth.

Being a huge fan of Thai cuisine, I scanned the mains section for a Thai dish and found the Thai Yellow Curry. Sadly this didn’t live up to my expectations and was a little bland for my liking. Thank goodness for the Indian Mutton Curry!

If you are watching your calories, the buffet also includes steamed fish. I was so engrossed in that Mutton Curry that I never got a chance to try it.

Like the rest of the buffet, the dessert section is also very multicultural. From continental cakes and pastries to rich, milky Indian kheer and fresh cuts of fruit and wobbly jellies, you are bound to find something here to satisfy your sweet-tooth!

I found a Thai Tapioca dessert featuring mini tapioca balls suspended in sweetened coconut cream and topped with ripe mango. Absolutely loved it, and went for seconds!

By the end of the meal, we were literally in a foodie comma! This is when the staff recommended we have some coffee. Here’s my smiley cup of cappuccino, a perfect ending to a gastronomic meal!

If you go for the alcoholic package, you can keep the merriment alive to the late hours of the night with an endless flow of wines, draught beer and other select spirits. Once the temperatures cool down a little, you can even choose to sit out at the terrace and enjoy the scenic views of the Dubai Museum, a lesser seen sight of a bygone era.

Silk Route is located in Arabian Courtyard & Spa (Al Fahidi Street, Bur Dubai opposite Dubai Museum). The weekend buffet runs every Thursday and Friday, and costs AED 99 per person with soft drinks. You can upgrade to the unlimited alcohol package for AED 179 a head. What a bargain! Call 04 351 9111 to book a table today.