Dubai’s dining scene is more eclectic than ever, with what seems like a new restaurant opening its doors each month. MOJEH unveils the top four new hotspots that need to be on your radar…
The Theater Dubai
If great food, exquisite interiors and immersive entertainment sound like your idea of a dream Friday night then add The Theater Dubai to your list. Set to change the face of nightlife in the Middle East, Lebanese-Armenian musician, composer and pianist Guy Manoukian is the man curating the venue’s incredible line-up of shows, which will see artists flown in from all over the world, including vocalists and aerial dancers from Vegas. What’s more, with a stage stretching all the way into the audience, every seat in the house offers spectacular views.
Its international restaurant menu looks to be just as impressive, with starters including the likes of Beluga and Oscietra caviar along with a warm selection of chef’s special handmade beef gyoza served with smoked onion purée. Seafood connoisseurs can try the lobster linguini – luscious poached lobster cooked in fragrant lobster stock - while for meat eaters, the signature slow-cooked Wagyu tomahawk with shaved truffle is a must-try. Guests can also explore the multiple bars across the venue, including a special retro style speakeasy, and a 3C – Cigar, Caviar and Cognac Bar.
Isola
If you can’t get to Italy any time soon then this charming eatery in Jumeirah Islands Clubhouse looks set to be the next best thing. Devoted to the culinary traditions of Sicily, Sardinia and Capri, Isola Ristorante celebrates stripped-down, coastal Italian cooking complete with jade lounges, calming deck views of a streaming ravine, a marble-white bar and floral aesthetics.
A restaurant open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, expect modern classics like la parmigiana di melanzane (eggplant parmigiana), orata alla griglia (grilled sea bream with Sicilian dressing), Scaloppine di vitello al limone (veal sirloin with a zesty lemon sauce) and spaghetti alle vongole e bottarga (spaghetti with clams and and Sardinian bottarga), all cooked to al dente perfection. Not forgetting dessert, save room for the timeless, coffee-flavoured heritage favourite tiramisu, which promises a real treat for the tastebuds. Whipped up by Chef Francesco Bagnato and team, his signature approach of blending Mediterranean and Italian ingredients ticks all the right boxes.
Carna by Dario Cecchini
Carnivores, rejoice. There’s a new upscale steakhouse in town and there’s an award-winning eighth-generation butcher at the helm. Brainchild of Dario Cecchini, who hails from the village of Panzano in the Chianti region of Tuscany and boasts more than 43 years’ experience as a butcher, Carna’s menu highlights prime and supreme cuts of the finest meat and steaks with a focus on natural, fresh ingredients. Signature dishes include Cecchini’s household specialties such as the ‘Chianti Sushi’ - his personal take on a tartare that places the unrivalled cut of bed centre stage along with his very own olive oil – as well as bistecca alla fiorentina, a porterhouse dish that initially propelled Dario Cecchini to much recognition and fame. The bollito cart, a cart of boiled meat that is served tableside also comes highly-recommended. Non meat-eaters can enjoy a selection of fresh seafood such as shucked oysters, King Crab and shellfish tower, all washed down by an exquisite drinks menu. Celebrating in style? Be sure to book its private dining room for an extra-special experience.
La Casa Del Tango
Combining classic Argentinian cuisine, award-winning cocktails and world class tango performers, DIFC’s latest restaurant is more than just a restaurant – it’s a bar, dance studio, live entertainment venue and boutique all rolled into one. At its helm is Legendary tango dancer Enrique Macana, and guests can expect performances from Argentinian World Tango Champions, authentic Argentinian cuisine, eclectic cocktails and live music to get you in the dancing mood, plus a host of fun surprises along the way too.
