Dubai did not slow down over the summer, with new restaurants adding distinctive flavours to the dining scene
Fans of 21 Grams should head down to the latest venture from the team: piehaus at Alserkal Avenue. Located within the edgy and artsy streets of the avenue, this cosy bakery-café has introduced a space dedicated to its famous phyllo pies, with the soul you’d recognise from the flagship restaurant. Plus, you can also watch the bakers stretching and proofing the dough in the corner before indulging in your meal under a massive moon hanging from the ceiling. The Wagyu pastrami pie is definitely a winner, with the flavours of the beef rising to the fore. Fans of the 21 Grams menu will recognise the goat cheese, bacon, honey and thyme pie – and never fear, it’s still unforgettable. For dessert, we’d definitely recommend you save space for the caramel tahina pie – it’s not tremendously sweet, but adds a rich ending to the experience. We only wish we could try more! With both savoury and sweet varieties, fans of the flaky, golden pies will find something to suit them.
Char, located at Nad Al Sheba Mall, is the latest concept from the team behind Around the Block. After 2pm, the concept transforms into a grill venue where it’s all about cooking over a live fire. The interiors in the ground floor space are minimalistic and moody, just adding to the atmosphere. The menu is comprehensive, with the dishes showing influences from the Arab world, Turkey and Iran. If you’re a carbs fan, start your meal with the pillowy frena bread (traditionally from Morocco) topped with Parmesan cheese. There are plenty of options to choose from among the starters including the lobster arayes and the Wagyu toast, but the mains are the star. A standout is the Wagyu loomi tikka, marinated to melting perfection, while the side of smashed batata harra with charcoal toum is a must-order.
We return to Alserkal Avenue, this time to visit The Growhouse by One Life, the latest venture by the team behind One Life. Spread across two floors, the venue houses a café on the ground floor and the farm on the first, with green foliage peeking through the glass windows above. The food – as with the mothership spots in D3 and Jumeirah Village Circle – is the real deal. And we’ve got to shout about the dough. Hear us out: it’s proofed beautifully with every bite being a delight. We see this in the burrata on puffy pizza dough, where lightness pairs with indulgence through the layers of balsamic and basil pesto layered over the cheese. The ‘Chillaboudit’ pizza follows suit, topped with pepperoni, veal sausage and caramelised onions – the latter lending a hint of sweetnes. The imparator köfte paired with za’atar and garlic-strained yoghurt was a satisfying dish. Dessert sealed the deal, with the ‘taramisu’ a sure winner. You can taste the layers of coffee and biscuit, softened by mascarpone. Even better, The Growhouse will soon offer workshops on growing your own veggies and herbs, shaping up to become a real community hub.
