Category Archive: Restaurants

Aubaine: London’s Provencally French Bistro, Now in Dubai

Aubaine, a popular London-born French restaurant and boulangerie, has made its debut in the Dubai foodie scene this December. Taking up a prime location at the main entrance of The Dubai Mall itself, this is the restaurant’s very first international stint (having opened 10 successful chains in its home turf, London so far).

‘Aubaine‘ is French for ‘treat’, and I was really looking forward to my lunch there last weekend, especially after getting glimpses of their fabulous lineup of sweet treats on social media!

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Punjabi By Nature (‘Pet Vich Balle Balle’)

Does good food make you happy? Like really, really happy? Chances are you are Punjabi by Nature! I had the pleasure of being invited to this spunky little joint near Lamcy Plaza a few weeks ago, and loved their quirky decor just as much as the decadent, authentically Punjabi grub that we got served.

Punjabi by Nature review by The Tezzy Files Dubai Food Blogger (3)

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Iftar Preview at Warwick Hotel, Dubai

Ramadan, the holy month of fasting observed by Muslims the world over, is set to commence from the 6th of June this year. I love the charms of living in the UAE during this beautiful month. Office hours are shortened, malls are open till early dawn, and a whole list of enticing Iftar and Suhoor buffets make for the perfect excuse to catch up with friends and family over delicious, Arabesque meals.

Warwick Iftar Ramadan 2016 (2)

I was invited to an Iftar preview at Warwick Hotel, Sheikh Zayed Road – Dubai. Bayty, the all-day dining restaurant at Warwick, gets a makeover reminiscent of the Arabian Nights. With festive Ramadan lanterns lit at every corner, the Arabesque setting boasts of an elaborate buffet featuring Mediterranean favorites.

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A ‘Fumastic’ Start to Ramadan

I am a huge fan of Fume, the quirky neighbourhood eatery with dishes as innovative as their zany menu names. I’ve been to their branch in Pier 7 a number of times (click here to read my very first Fume post, and here for a recent family brunch post), and recently got invited for an Iftar preview at Fume, Manzil Downtown Dubai.

This was my very first visit to Fume, Manzil Downtown Dubai. This branch is on the ground floor of Manzil Downtown, and has a patio boasting of spectacular views of the Burj Khalifa. Two long tables were reserved for the media, and we had a lovely time dining alfresco, cooled by the cooing breeze of the giant heavy-duty fans in the background.

Given the eclectic nature of the brand, I was curious to see if Fume could pull off something as soberly traditional as Iftar. The restaurant has created a set menu for Iftar, and although the dishes stay true to the traditional Arabesque flavours of the month, each and every treat has been given a signature ‘Fumastic’ twist.

Ramadan Table

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Grand Barbeque: A Pocket-Friendly Feast

A couple of weeks ago, I received an email inviting me to Grand Barbeque. The name rang a bell, and then I remembered driving past the place ever so often on the way to Jumeirah Beach Road.

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Located on Al Mina Road (bang opposite Ramada Jumeirah), the bright and inviting colours of the restaurant facade look every bit a dining experience for the family. The interiors are well-lit, clean and spacious, and despite being a Friday night where most of the tables were brimming with diners, the staff were ever smiling and went out of their way to make us feel comfortable.

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Siraj: Emirati Cuisine with a Contemporary Twist

Siraj, the authentically Emirati restaurant with a contemporary twist, is the latest addition to the list of dining places at Souk Al Bahar (Downtown Dubai). I’ve passed its premises on a number of occasions, and the stunning interiors make me take a second peek every time.

Siraj 1

The restaurant interiors pay tribute to the UAE, with seven distinct arches representing each Emirate. A flock of golden horses are suspended in mid-air, and the artistic vibes of Siraj is all at once Arabesque yet stylishly new-age. The most striking feature of the restaurant is the cursive calligraphy, flowing across the walls and the bar-stools. These are stanzas of poetry that were composed by the ruler of Dubai, HH Sheikh Mohammed himself.

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Barjeel Al Arab: An Enchantingly Emirati Dinner by the Creek

As we sat by the terrace, surrounded by a hauntingly beautiful Emirati past, I contemplated on how the chaos of city life managed to look so serene from this angle. At this vantage point, the stark lights of the city halo into a rainbow of colours, and enchantingly spill onto the vivid dark waters of the Deira Creek.

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Mazina Superhero Brunch (The Address Hotel, Dubai Marina)

Just a week after I wrote a post entitled ‘3 Weekend Brunches Your Kids Will Love‘, we found ourselves at the Mazina Superhero Brunch at The Address Marina (Dubai), and I think this one definitely tops that list! Centrally located with a sprawling space extending to both indoor and outdoor seating, Mazina takes on the avatar of superheroes every Saturday between 12 noon to 3.30 pm.

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Lebanese Feasting at Grand Cafe Boulevard

The word ‘cafe‘ is getting a major face-lift in the Dubai foodie scene. From what one would presume to be a simplistic setting for catching up over cups of coffee and a pretty pastry, you have the likes of Indian import Farzi Cafe offering a lineup of much talked about molecular gastronomy treats, and then I had the pleasure of dining at Grand Cafe Boulevard, a Lebanese fine-dining cafe that treats its guests like royalty.

Grand Cafe Boulevard Dubai review by The Tezzy Files UAE food and lifestyle blogger Lebanese Levantine fine dining restaurant (39)

Where else in the world do they roll out a red carpet for guests entering a cafe? This was the VIP welcome we received at Grand Cafe Boulevard! The cafe is located diagonally opposite The Address Downtown Dubai, and you need to drive up the Dubai Mall Fashion Parking ramp to get to the valet service offered right outside the red carpet.

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