With skyscrapers as far as the eye can see, neat neighbourhoods, architectural marvels and the Arabian Gulf stretching out to the horizon, it is easy to understand why restaurants in Dubai often boast spectacular views. However, have you ever dined at a restaurant where you could see all the aforementioned sights at once? Enter: City Social. Brought to the region by celebrity chef Jason Atherton, City Social is one of multiple dining concepts in the three-storey City Social House at Grosvenor House in Dubai Marina. The interiors are approachable, elegant and reminiscent of an upscale brasserie; MOJEH encourages wandering through the restaurant to explore the space. There are tucked-away private terraces ideal for a romantic celebration, a chef's table to view the inner workings of the kitchen and plenty of dining areas to choose from. The expansive restaurant is surrounded by panoramic windows, allowing diners unobstructed views of the city below; City Social hands-down secures the title for Best City Views in Dubai.
Tear your eyes away from the views for a moment and cast them onto a menu of contemporary British fare, with a twist. The menu is heavily influenced by Jason Atherton's adoration of Japanese cuisine, therefore you will find British classics reinterpreted using Japanese ingredients. Case in point? Sea bass sashimi with apple oroshi and fennel salad, dubbed "Fish and Chips." There are dishes leaning on the more traditional side for the *ahem* less adventurous eaters, which are equally delicious. Wild mushroom ragout with parmesan and a gently toasted garlic brioche sits well alongside the aged beef tartare topped with egg jam and miso mayonnaise.
Perusing the menu allows the mind to wander, pondering how ingredients could be seamlessly blended without losing the essence of either cuisine. Lamb rack with teriyaki and miso aubergine? Dover sole with seaweed butter? Both, obviously, are executed perfectly, with the former succulent and enveloped in the sticky sauce, the latter delicate and zingy, thanks to an additional splash of Japanese citrus.
Another stand-out from the main course offering is the wood-fired Madagascan prawn with yuzu and sea urchin butter, which eats well alongside the starter salad of avocado, daikon and nashi pear salad dressed in sesame. For dessert, put your palette to the test and order the "ice cream game" which entails tasting five disguised ice creams in order to correctly guess the flavours. The pink lady apple tarte tartin is - you guessed it - tart, yet warming for a winter's evening on the City Social terrace.
After indulging, head upstairs to the Japan-inspired speakeasy 7Tales for a well-deserved nightcap. Book now
