Atlantis The Royal has continued to attract worldwide attention since its star-studded opening earlier this year and its spectacular array of restaurants by world-renowned chefs has foodies around the globe keen to pay our sandy shores a visit. Representing the region at Atlantis The Royal is Ariana’s Persian Kitchen, a family-friendly gem overlooking the property’s Instagram-famous fountains.
Brought to Dubai by multi-award-winning celebrity chef, author and TV host Ariana Bundy, Ariana’s Persian Kitchen serves elevated Persian fare in an airy, candy-coloured setting that is both energetic and elegant. Modelled after the architecture of her own home in Kashan, Iran, arched ceilings are adorned with intricate moulding and grand chandeliers while furniture of lime, turquoise and lilac are illuminated by sunshine flooding in from floor-to-ceiling windows. Commanding attention at the restaurant’s centre are a charcoal grill and a fire-pit tandoor, where fluffy, fresh bread emerges in steady streams.
As with all Middle Eastern cuisine, the menu at Ariana’s Persian Kitchen is designed for sharing and is inspired by Ariana’s own family recipes and childhood memories. The menu infuses flavours and fragrances of the region - think: rose, saffron, herbaceous plants and pistachio - throughout the modernised cuisine. Start the evening by breaking bread and swiping it through the Lighvan feta board - a creamy, whipped dip sprinkled with spices and nuts. Opt for the refreshing watermelon and lighvan cheese salad from the salad offerings, where cubes of plump watermelon offset meatier flavours, as well as tangy, lamb-and-rice-stuffed vine leaves and moreish lamb sambuseh from the hot mezze selection, the latter of which are delicately crisp, light and generously filled.
Moving onto mains, the hearty, shareable dishes are in-keeping with Ariana’s ‘clean’ approach to cuisine, which means indulging in multiple mains won’t leave you feeling lethargic. Knowledgeable waiters will guide you towards the restaurant’s signature dishes, which include Ghormeh Sabzi, a fragrant, five-herb meat stew often regarded as Iran’s national dish. The lamb stew is also a stand-out thanks to fall-off-the-bone meat doused in a rich, flavourful sauce. Non-meat eaters are catered to as well; the juicy sea bream is washed in Persian rosewater, as per tradition, and served atop jewelled rice and finished with a gold leaf for good measure.
What would a Persian feast be without kebabs? Succulent and simple, you can’t go wrong whether you opt for chicken, lamb or the vegan-friendly Impossible kebab.
Desserts reflect the optimistic, feminine energy of the restaurant and come sprinkled with pastel petals, pomegranate and pistachio. Don’t leave without ordering the Baghlava Qazvini, bite-sized baklava parcels filled with nuts and spices and drizzled with syrup, which offer a whimsical take on tradition. If you have room, indulge in the pistachio ice cream-filled wafer sandwiches and the fragrant profiteroles.
Ariana’s Persian Kitchen flawlessly fuses meaty, indulgent flavours with fragrant florals and spices, lightening tradition without compromising its essence. A fine-dining restaurant without the pretentiousness, the inviting atmosphere and time-honoured cuisine guarantees a second visit. Just ask frequent visitor His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashed Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai. Book now
