Dubai's Signature Restaurants
Dubai is without doubt the culinary capital of the Middle East. Not only is the sheer number of restaurants breathtaking, but the quality and elegance of the food in some establishments easily rivals (even outclasses) that of other modern cities. And with great culinary options come great chefs. The likes of Gordon Ramsay, Pierre Gagnaire, Richard Sandoval, and Nobu Matsuhisa have all set up restaurants in Dubai and brought with them rumors of possible Michelin Star ratings. Choosing the best restaurants here is no easy task, so we decided to do the legwork for you.
Ossiano, Palm Jumeirah
The aquarium is one of the major highlights of the restaurant and takes up an entire wall. The late three-Michelin-starred chef Santi Santamaria took this restaurant on as his first outside of Spain, and the menu is something else. Sadly, they won’t cook a shark for you, no matter how much you point at it.
Signature dish: Try the Prestige Tapas menu, consisting of 14 dishes that include scallops, shellfish and Santamaria’s own Middle East-inspired dish: lentils with foie gras melted over the top.
Armani Ristorante, Downtown Dubai
Located within the world’s tallest building, the Burj Khalifa, the hotel boasts a number of restaurants at the same level of quality as an Armani suit. Homemade pasta and bruschetta are par for the course, but where this eatery really excels is in its desserts, with each course as memorable in presentation as it is for taste -- just as you would expect from the man who inspires it all.
Signature dish: The nougat semifreddo. Sandwiched between thin sheets of white chocolate, stood up on its side, with a hole through the middle and a raspberry balanced on top is typical of the presentation here.
Indego By Vineet, Grosvenor House
Indego is the mastermind of the world’s only Michelin Star Indian chef, Vineet Bhatia, and his concept is Indian food and flavors with a contemporary look and texture. Dishes like the green-herb tandoori monkfish and spice-crusted sea bass are high-end twists on more familiar Indian food.
Signature dish: The chocolate-filled samosas for dessert are excellent, as is the rose-petal sandwich, served with steamed yogurt, red-currant jelly and roasted pistachio and mint ice cream.
Rhodes Mezzanine, Grosvenor House
The setting is minimalist white and the food is British classic with a high-end twist. Gary’s take on dishes such as herb-crusted lamb and bread-and-butter pudding are hard to beat, and you’ll be served scones with jam and clotted cream to finish even if you didn’t order them.
Signature dish: It has to be the white tomato soup. Everyone talks about it. It's made by skinning the tomato and adding lots of cream. It’s complimentary between courses, but unbelievable.
No. 6 At At.Mosphere, Downtown Dubai
The newest restaurant in the city is also the highest. In fact, it’s the highest restaurant in the world. Located on the 122nd floor of the Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest building since it opened last year, At.mosphere has its own dedicated entrance at the base, amazing views over the city and surprisingly unfussy but expertly prepared food. The food focuses on simple seafood and steak dishes. A bar to the side serves up pre- or post-dinner drinks, and it’s there you can wonder if it’s vertigo or a few too many that are making you feel giddy.
Signature dish: The Kobe beef and tenderloin are both fine choices, prepared in a charcoal oven that adds its own flavor.
Okku, Monarch Hotel
Okku's sleek black decor, moody lighting, DJ, and cocktails have made it one of the best and most vibrant nightspots in the city.
On the other hand, the sushi chefs peering out from behind the counter have also made their mark on the restaurant scene. Okku offers excellent, enjoyable Japanese food that is very reasonably priced.
Signature dish: The black cod is fantastic, with a caramelized, melt-in-your-mouth quality
Reflets Par Pierre Gagnaire, Dubai Festival City
Pierre Gagnaire’s Dubai restaurant really is something exceptional. The setting is extravagant and the staff is extremely knowledgeable about the food. This is no mean feat when you consider the number of tiny amuse-bouche-sized morsels on offer and the sheer complexity of each one. Every mouthful here is a sensation for the tastes, with no other restaurant in the city competing on this level. Some may consider it fussy, but the journey taking you via such ingredients as hare, lobster, veal, and black truffle is something to behold.
Signature dish: With the effort behind the food, it’s a crime not to go for anything other than the tasting menu. Expensive, but worth it.
La Petit Maison, DIFC
La Petite Maison is located in the city’s financial district.
The food is simple but done exceptionally well: beef carpaccio with prawns in olive oil and basil, foie gras with green beans,and truffle pasta and salt-baked filet of sea bass are particular highlights. And as an added twist, most of the staff are actually French (Western staff in restaurants are rarely seen in this city).
Signature dish: The French toast with spiced ice cream for dessert is a fantastic, indulgent creation, oozing butter, sugar and cinnamon.