IHOP Restaurant, Dubai - Simple food done well

Not often, but every now and again, I have a deep urge to clog my arteries and send my blood sugar levels through the roof with some good old fashioned fast food. The first delicious bite sends you into a glutinous heaven as you feel your heart rate start to climb. My weakness would definitely be pancakes. They are just little fluffy pillows of goodness (drenched in sweet sugary deliciousness) - how could they be anything but wonderful? So when an IHOP Restaurant (which stands for International House of PANCAKES!) opened within a stones throw of where we live, I knew I was in trouble. It was only a question of 'when', not 'if'. But would their pancakes live up to my high standards established from years of market research?

We arrived mid morning on the weekend and the wait for an outside table was already nudging the 30 minute mark - annoying to some perhaps, but a good sign to us. We settled on eating inside to skip the wait and occupied one of the cozy booths. Almost instantly we had been presented with menus and our drinks orders were taken. We noticed straight away that this place had less of a fast food feel and more like a cute diner atmosphere where we we felt welcomed, comfortable and not pressured to get in and out quickly. Coffees ordered, it was time to peruse the large (physically large and long in content) menu to decide which horrifically calorific combination of grease and sugar I was going to subject my stomach to....

Sometimes too much choice is not better...its just too much choice. While the IHOP menu borders on novel length, we managed to settle on 2 different types of pancakes (the cinnamon/caramel and the strawberry cheesecake), a fry up with eggs, bacon (beef bacon of course being in the middle east) and hashbrown and a Pot Roast melt sandwich. The problem with too much choice is not enough stomach space to match our greedy brains...but we gave it our best shot.

The place was packed so we settled back and sipped on our average-at-best coffees (sorry...minus points there) and were prepared for a decent wait. Hats off to IHOP because within 15 minutes our food arrived and, shock horror, the food all came out at once and was fresh and piping hot. This should never be taken for granted because it is a standard of service that is actually quite uncommon in our experience!

The eggs were cooking perfectly, the bacon crispy and the hash brown, though unusual in appearance, was light and crispy. The sandwich melt also got two thumbs up - the bread was fresh and lightly toasted, the meat had been slow cooked to perfection with a delicious salty gravy and was nicely 'balanced' with two sliced of cheese. Having finished our mains, it was time for desert. The pancakes were warm and fluffy, if not just the slightest bit dry and needed the extra syrup we requested. The cinnamon pancakes scored a higher rating - with the rich cinnamon really coming through in each bite. The strawberry cheesecake flavour just didn't come through enough for our liking, but they were still delicious and were gobbled down enthusiastically.

RECOMMENDED

Would we recommend IHOP? Sure. If you are after a little breakfast indulgence, why not. The food was good, did what it said it was going to do and the service was efficient and friendly. I'm sure that sitting outside on the JBR walk munching away on any one of their 100 breakfast combinations would be a lovely way to spend a morning. I don't feel the need to run back next weekend - I think that was enough salt and sugar to see me through to until next year! But well done IHOP - you have done well what many before you have done so badly.



The bill (for 2):
1 x Pot Roast Melt Sandwich - 39 Dhs
1 x Plate of 2 Strawberry Cheesecake Pancakes - 25 Dhs
1 x Breakfast Combo (eggs etc and 2 cinnamon pancakes) - 39 Dhs
1 x Pot of Coffee - 14 Dhs
1 x Latte - 14 Dhs
TOTAL: 131 Dhs (Approx. US$35)

Restaurant address: Jumeirah Beach Residence (at the Bahar Apartments)

for exact locations of all reviewed restaurants, take a look at our map.







 

Karachi Darbar, Lahbab - HIghway Cafeteria, Middle Eastern Style

One good thing about the Middle East is that even roadside diners on dusty highways have something interesting on their menus. The Lahbab branch of the Karachi Darbar Pakistani restaurant chain is one example. The chain has a reasonably good reputation in Dubai for offering good value Indian and Pakistani staple dishes at all times of day. There is a vast stretch of dirt between the highway and the restaurant, which gives trucks plenty of space to pull over. There were quite a few 18 wheelers parked outside this place, which is usually a pretty good sign of cheap and cheerful dining nearby.

The frontage of the restaurant is colourful and clean, and the interior is basic without appearing barren. The patterned tiles on the walls and floor help to liven up the place, and the red & gold chairs looked like they were plucked straight out of a 19th century opera theater.

I ordered a mutton biryani, since it was midday, so it would definitely be fresh. It arrived at the table within a couple of minutes, along with a bunch of friends including curry sauce, some raw vegetables and a mint-yoghurt sauce called raita.

Fun fact about biryani is that is is typically served with the lumps of meat hidden underneath the pile of rice. So when you are served it looks just like you have a giant plate of yellowish rice in front of you. The visual presentation of the dish might not be the best, but the method ensures that the meat stays hot and moist underneath the fluffy, insulating layer of rice.

The mutton in my biryani was great. So soft that it was clear the meat had been slowly cooking for over 3 hours. It fell off the bone with only hardly any effort, and didnt have too much bad fat attached to it. The rice was good, with a modest quantity of the required herbs and whole spices added for flavour.

The curry sauce tasted mostly of tomato, with almost no spice heat, but it worked well with the rice, adding moisture and some richness. The raita was watery, which was a sign that the sauce had been watered down, as a cost saving measure, which is a common practice in the more budget indian and pakistani places in Dubai. But again, the mild flavour added to the overall dish, giving a fresh mint flavour to the rice.

The table water was free, since it was from the tap. It isn't going to kill you, as long as you don't have too much in one sitting. The drawback for me was that my poor glass had more chips in it than your average casino, which meant I had to be extremely careful when trying to take a sip.

I ordered a chai tea after the meal, since it's always nice to finish with something a bit sweet. Luckily it was served in a styrofoam cup, so I didnt have to worry about cutting my face off. It was piping hot, sweet and had that nice smell of cardomom to it which is what makes chai so good to begin with.

AVERAGE

Karachi Darbar in Lahbab is not going to be the place you want to seek out specifically for a meal. It is however a very acceptable option for a simple and affordable lunch if you happen to be passing by. Each component of a dish is not best in it's class, but the sum of those parts equals something that you cant help but enjoy. 

The bill (for 1):
1 x Mutton Biryani - 10 Dhs
1 x Chai Tea - 1 Dhs

TOTAL: 11 Dhs (Approx. US$3)

Restaurant address: about 100 metres past the Lahbab roundabout, on the Dubai-Hatta Road. Its on your left, heading towards Oman. for the exact location, take a look at our map.

Mogador Restaurant, Dubai - You win some, you lose some

The Lamb Tagine at Mogador Restaurant, Dubai Marina

Moroccan is one of those cuisines that I know very little about, having never traveled to Morocco nor been to many Moroccan restaurants. So when we saw a positive review about a Moroccan restaurant in Dubai Marina I was both intrigued and excited to try something a little different. There was only one thing to do - get together a group of willing test subjects and venture off into the unknown with an open mind and empty stomach.

Mogador, located towards the northern end of Dubai Marina, is in a fantastic setting. It is right in the middle of all the restaurant action and at this time of year when the weather is perfect to sit outside, the area was buzzing when we arrived in the early evening. Our large group sat outside so we had the perfect vantage spot to take in the comings and goings, all set against the beautiful back drop of the lit up Dubai Marina.

The menu surprised me slightly, with a heavy lean towards seafood dishes, but it also had a couple of well known dishes such as the Lamb or Chicken Tagine. The ordering process bordered on a Monty Python like experience with language barriers, dishes being available and then unavailable and the waiter suddenly disappearing after only having taken half the orders from the table. Then we waited....and waited and waited. Over an hour later our dishes arrived with little explanation as to why they were so delayed (while we were a group of 10, there was only one other table so it wasn't exactly rush hour).

Aside from the slow service, the food was disappointing for a variety of reasons. Those that stuck with the tagine reported that the meat was moist and well seasoned but that it was accompanied by vegetables that had been cooked within an inch of their lives, such that they had been drained of any  flavour. At 64 Dhs for the tagine, the serving size was very small and most of our male guests left knowing that a second dinner would be needed within an hour. I had the 1/2 Chicken Grilled Mauritian style. Although the flavour was 'nice', it was less a chicken, and more a spatchcock based on its size and was accompanied by french fries of all things! I also shared an entree of Squid in Herbs. What a bizarre dish! While the squid was reasonably soft and tender, it was coated in a sauce that resembled tinned pasta sauce and was accompanied by rice and tartar sauce!!! A combination of flavours and textures that simply did not work.

Not wanting to be unduly harsh, some of the guests were not dissatisfied with their meals, however, the majority (myself included) thought that the food lacked either in size or flavour, was expensive for what it was and was generally not worth the 1 hour wait.

NOT RECOMMENDED

Unfortunately this is the risk you take when trying a new place (and also the risk you run when you rely on another persons review). You win some and you lose some. Food is also so personal and, granted, restaurants do have good and bad nights. So although this is a thumbs down from me, don't take my word as gospel. Another night, a different order, you just never know....but I will leave that to someone else to experiment with.

The bill (for 2 - although we were 10, I will just set out what my Partner and I had):
1 x Squid in Herbs - 37 Dhs
1 x Lamb Tagine - 64Dhs
1 x 1/2 Chicken Grilled - 42 Dhs
Mineral Water - 11 Dhs

TOTAL: 154 Dhs (about US$40)

Restaurant address: Marina Walk (Trident Building) #6, Dubai

for exact locations of all reviewed restaurants, take a look at our map.

BU QTAIR Restaurant, Dubai - AKA the Fish Shack

Perhaps not everyone in Dubai has been to what is affectionately referred to as the 'fish shack', but most will have heard of its name said in hushed, reverent tones around the office water cooler. It is not in a glitzy mall and you won't find it in any restaurant directory for Dubai (I am not sure it has even made it into the Dubai Lonely Planet Book). There are no menus and you will be sitting on plastic stools and eating off paper plates. But do you know what, it might just be the best meal you could possibly have in Dubai for USD$10 a head!


What this 'shack' lacks in glitz and glamour it makes up for in producing simple, no fuss, fantastic seafood. People from all backgrounds and pay grades sit outside with their feet in the sand, eating with their hands with fiery curry sauce dripping down their chins. And they all LOVE it. It is one of the few places in Dubai that I can take a guest knowing that it will consistently produce a great experience and top food. No small honour indeed!


This time round I was in a group of 3 and we ordered a Hamour the size of your arm (although I believe they often have different fish depending on the catch of the day) and a sizable stack of paratha (flaky indian bread). When you arrive you enter the shack,line up behind the counter, where you will simply select your fish of choice (the only type of 'fishing' that I enjoy) and 10-15 minutes later it emerges from the oil cauldron in all its glory. Despite being deep fried, the fish was not over oily. Instead the marinated spicy outside was deliciously crisp while the perfectly white meat inside was soft and moist. They serve the fish with a spicy fishy curry (watch out for those small bones) and a plate of vegetables which features predominantly raw cabbage and onion - i know this doesn't sound particularly appetizing but the sharpness and crunch of the vegetables combined with the soft fish and fluffy paratha are a match made in culinary heaven. The curry and vegetables are refillable for free, so don't hold back.

In my opinion the prawns (also deep fried) are too oily, unable to handle the cooking process with the same grace as the fish.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

As the weather gets cooler, this place gets busier so unless you are happy to wait 30 minutes for a table and chair, get there early. Go with an empty stomach, wear your most casual comfortable clothes and be prepared to have one of the finest dining experiences in Dubai without the pomp and ceremony that often accompanies Dubai dining experiences.

The bill (for 3):
1 x BIG Fish
9 x Paratha
3 x Chai Tea
3 x soft drinks
1 x Big bottle of water 

TOTAL: Dhs 115 (US$ 31)
(price of the fish varies based on weight, and we arent sure on the price breakdown above, since we were handed a bit of paper with the total written on it)

Restaurant address: 4D Street - Jumeira - Dubai

for exact locations of all reviewed restaurants, take a look at our map.

Fiesta Bistro - It's what's on the inside that counts

There is a lot to be said for presentation. Well presented eateries can justifiably charge more for their food, since 'atmosphere' is an asset, and therefore has value. All that atmosphere doesn't guarantee that the food you end up with is any good mind you. The point of this blog is to find the most interesting food out there, without letting the vibe of a destination sway our judgement too much.

So the other morning while in Karama, next to a bus stop, outside a supermarket, we stopped in at the Fiesta Bistro for a quick breakfast. We resisted engaging in any of the advertised buffett options, such as all you can eat soup and a sandwiche for only 25 dirhams. I couldn't think of anything worse than filling up on soup, so it was an easy decision.

We ordered a Turkish coffee, a latte, a blueberry muffin and the exciting sounding 'breakfast pizza'. The coffees were fresh and hot, but the turkish coffee was poured and the pot was immediately confiscated, which was a shame. The muffin was a little dry, which was surprising considering it was early in the morning, so there should be no reason for it to be that way.

I was starting to worry that Fiesta Bistro was just another forgettable little food shack... And then my breakfast pizza arrived. Chicken sausage, turkey bacon , two types of cheese and shallots all built over a very freshly made pizza base, with an egg cracked underneath all the toppings. The base was still puffed up from it's recent trip to the oven, and the cheeses had melted into the egg in the best way possible. A full breakfast, handheld. Genius. All for the same price as the soup buffet. Why wasn't the breakfast pizza on the chalkboard of daily specials?

So as I sat there enjoying this dish of early morning creativity, I didnt mind that the location of the place wasn't the best, or that the atmosphere of the place was cheap and a little stale.

AVERAGE

I suppose the lesson is that you really cant judge a book by it's cover, or a restaurant by the terrible things it puts on it's specials board.

The bill (for two): 
1 x Latte - Dhs 13
1 x Turkish Coffee - Dhs 10
1 x Blueberry Muffin - Dhs 12
1 x Breakfast Pizza - Dhs 25




TOTAL: Dhs 60 (Approx. US$16)


Restaurant address:Next door to Spinneys Supermarket, on the main road, about 200 metres from Karama Metro Station.

for exact locations of all reviewed restaurants, take a look at our map.