restaurant review

Zafran Reloaded

I was invited to do a review on Zafran at Mirdiff City Center over a year ago, and have been raving about them ever since. This week, I had the pleasure of attending yet another bloggers’ meet-up organised by the lovely Monica Kapila from doindubai.com

Zafran is ‘saffron’ on an Arabesque tongue. Saffron, the most prized of spices, the sacred color of sadhus, and a shade that takes up a third of the Indian flag, is the inspiration behind this trendy contemporary Indian restaurant. The last time I was at Zafran, the interiors were a vibrantly bright shade of saffron, and the ambiance was made to look all the more exotic with carved elephants and ethnic prints.

The Zafran chain has now had a major facelift. The colour scheme has shifted to more somber hues of greys,off-white and hints of peacock blue. This new look is more in tune with the ‘contemporary bistro’ concept that the restaurant claims to be.

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Weekend Buffet at Silk Route (Arabian Courtyard & Spa)

“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?

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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).

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Blue Sapphire Chinese Restaurant (JLT, Dubai)

Hidden in a quiet nook of Jumeirah Lake Towers I is a neon-blue lit restaurant serving up a smorgasbord of Indo-Chinese delicacies. Blue Sapphire is managed by the very debonair Mr. John, who like the cuisine of the restaurant, has an Indo-Chinese background. Chinese by ethnicity, Mr. John grew up in the Eastern Indian state of Calcutta and is now proudly heading the kitchen of Blue Sapphire.

Blue Sapphire Indo Chinese restaurant JLT Dubai review by The Tezzy Files UAE Food Blogger (1)

 

The glistening play of light on the vividly blue waters of JLT gave inspiration for the restaurant’s name, and apart from the stark blue lighting (which played havoc with my camera), the interiors are clean, simple and sparsely decorated with Chinese memorabilia.

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Introducing Kyo Cafe & Lounge (Golden Mile 1, The Palm Dubai)

Kyo translates to ‘entertainment’ in Japanese, and that is exactly what this stylishly chic new eatery on Golden Mile 1 (The Palm, Dubai) is setting up to do. Kyo Cafe & Lounge will open up to the public around 25th August, yet I had the privilege of being invited for a pre-menu tasting early this week.

Kyo Lounge and Bar Golden Mile The Palm Dubai Japanese restaurant review by The Tezzy Files Dubai Food nd Lifestyle Blogger (5)

Created and conceptualized by a highly enterprising Egyptian management, with a kitchen headed by a French chef, Kyo serves up an unabashedly authentic Japanese fare. Multi-cultural much?! Welcome to Dubai Habibi!

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Manga Sushi: Modern Day Japanese Cuisine & Pop Culture

Named after the much-loved Japanese animation character, Manga Sushi is a spectacular world of its own. With a cherry blossom tree right at the front, a graffiti wall, Origami lighting and waitresses dressed up Japanese school-girl style (high socks and all), walking into this restaurant is like relishing a slice of Eastern pop culture that is so strikingly different from the hustle bustle of Dubai Mall that surrounds it.

Manga Sushi The Dubai Mall review by The Tezzy Files Dubai Food Blogger (4)

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Iftar at Jodhpur – Royal Dining: Nostalgia in Every Bite

About a week ago, I had the pleasure of being invited for Iftar at Jodhpur – Royal Dining, one of Dubai’s newest Indian fine-dining establishments. This was my very first visit to Jodhpur, and I was really looking forward to it. I have seen beautiful images across social media, and was especially intrigued by their Chaat Macaroons. Will all their dishes be just as innovative? What was their take on Iftar? Jodhpur proved to be a delightful take on classic Indian cuisine with a few global inspirations thrown in, and I had a very memorable experience.

Located in Murooj Rotana (Downtown Dubai), the clean, welcoming exteriors look deceptively modern. Walking indoors, the mind is transported to another world. The turquoise walls and gilded mirrors have all the makings of an enchanted castle, tucked away in the story books of exotic India.

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‘Punjabi Food Festival’ at Antique Bazaar (Four Points by Sheraton, Bur Dubai)

Antique Bazaar is an experience in itself. Apart from the delicious lineup of very popular Indian dishes the restaurant has to offer, the interiors have the look and feel of a bygone palatial courtyard, complete with intricately hand-carved furnishings and portraits of mythical royalty.

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Book at table around 9 pm any day of the week, and you are in for a visual treat. Antique Bazaar has its very own band of Bollywood singers and dancers who keep diners entertained with a whole array of old and new numbers, and even take on song requests.

Antique Bazaar 4 points by Sheraton Bur Dubai review of the Punjabi food festival by The Tezzy Files UAE food and lifestyle blogger (47)

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Somvaar Bazaar at Chor Bazaar (Movenpick, Ibn Battuta Gate)

Every ‘Somvaar‘ (Hindi for Monday), the entrance of Chor Bazaar restaurant at Ibn Battuta Gate transforms into a quaint little Indian marketplace. There is a stall showcasing an array of trinkets, Indian shawls and mirror-worked totes but these are just for show. This ‘bazaar’ is an elaborate buffet, a feast of ‘all you can eat’ delicacies from different corners of India.

Priced at AED 125 per person (or AED 225 with house beverages), the Somvaar Bazaar at Chor Bazaar is a great deal for quality food, set in a five-star ambience.

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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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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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