• Haveli, Imperial Suites
• Table for Four
• Blue Elephant Restaurant
• Der Keller
• Goldilocks Restaurant
• Rajvada
• Antique Bazaar
• Capri Grill
• Al Qasr Lebanese Restaurant
• Thattukada

Matwali taange, Bheja hatela, Aawara Jhinga Rangeela Kabab, Chikna Paneer, Machalti Machli, Tapori Tikka... interested in meeting these badmaash mumbaiyaa tapori's here in Dubai? If the answer is yesssss" to ajaao Bur Dubai ke ek tharakte nukkad par jahaan lagela hai apun ka des ka ek Mela." Nahi nahi apun majak nahi kar rahela hai bhai log, ekdumich serioz hai. Apun ki jubaan pe yakeen nahi aata to aake Ambassador hotel me dekh lo.

Think of Mela and immediately a scene filled with, numerous vendors, interesting chatpata food, exciting rides, performing artists, a sea of smiling people be it kids, adults youngsters or the tapori's and immensely hectic activity comes to our mind. Mela is synonymous with happiness and laughter... The fun, the festivity and the entire neighbourhood is lit up with gaiety and colours.

Feeling nostalgic? Cheer up, we have reason for you to smile... In India normally mela's have a season they come usually with a festival or to mark the beginning of a season. But Ambassador in Dubai has decided to offer us a fare throughout the season... Interesting? Well this, dear friends, is just the beginning. Read on and discover the treasure-trove of entertainment hospitality and delicious food Mela has on offer for you and it's my promise that you'll be driving there before you even finish reading this review.

As we reached the lobby, Mr Kamlesh the -------- greeted us while he led us to Mela. Why did he choose Mela as his restaurant's name? Before he could reply, we were out of the lift and the beautiful mural on the wall said almost all. A collage made out of thousands of tiny artifacts and bangles tinkled heralding in the atmosphere of colour and celebration.

Walk in and you see an ambience that gives you a immediate high, tables set with colourful cutlery, beautiful murals and cheerful paintings on the wall with hospitable hosts and hostesses all around. A look around mesmerises you and keeps you just looking around. "These fabulous collection of handicrafts and artifacts reflecting the rich heritage of India are collected and kept for you to look at, admire and add to it... while you relish your food," says Mr Kamlesh. Add to it? All that one has to do is follow the theme Mela has for the month and bring in a curio from home to keep in Mela for a month. If your artifact is appealing and is selected, you win a dinner for two at Mela. Isn't that interesting?

Looking up at the ceiling one sees the beautiful paintings depicting scenes from rural India, the beauty about these are that they are lit from the back which gives them a real look. It was Mr Lulla, the Managing Partner of Astoria and Ambassador, who was the person behind this concept of using unique and enthrallingly different lights to create a captivating effect. Not even the walls have been spared the artists brush - Kamal an artist from India was flown specially in to decorate the walls and his caricatures makes one see a little bit of oneself on the walls.

In the middle of the restaurant there is a huge stage and a dance floor, which we learnt will host shows of talented and famous artists from India who will be coming every month to add glamour to the regular live band that will play there.

Dancers from Europe will give you a taste of their culture and introduce you to the grace and style of flamingo, salsa and various dances... an experience that can be cherished by the young and the adults alike.

Talking about the young ones, a trip to Mela on a Friday after 11.00 is going to be any child's dream come true. Starting with stepping on to the foyer where they will find tamboo's for choodi waali, a palmist, henna lady, a face painter and many more of the kind, the kid's are going to get so engrossed in playing antakshari, musical chairs, chess, caroms etc. that they will end up wishing if only a Friday had more hours than the other days.

And you thought I would be reviewing food! Guys, mela has paid as much attention to their food as to their ambience and entertainment, their menu is dedicated just to the starters. Besides this we have the wonder barman Narayan preparing ravishing cocktails and mocktails for you. We tried his peach and gauva Mela eKhaas and were swept off the floor in every sense of the phrase.

Tadka daal, Fish achaari, Shaahi naan, Dil fareb Murg, Kulchas, Mutton Mughlai, the desi caramel with nuts in it and kaaju soufle, the meal we had in Mela can be summarised in just one sentence "pet to bhar gaya par neeyat nahi bhari."

(Courtesy :Telelife on GoDubai).
(Table of Four- Ambassador Hotel, Tel : 00 9714 3939444)

The decor, the service and the food... everything about this restaurant makes the visit a memorable one. The restaurant has taken a special care to bring out a Thai ambience. The lush greenery, traditional huts, waterfalls, streams... everything adds to the overall ambience. The many and various candle-lit dining areas are cleverly divided by thick vegetation while walkways and bridges lead you through oriental water gardens. The impression is one of tropical dining al fresco. The waiters are dressed in brightly coloured traditional costume, flitting in and out of the jungle like Technicolor parakeets. And to further ensure the complete Thai feeling, the restaurant name has its Royal flag colour and its national animal (elephant), on it.

When you arrive at The Blue Elephant there's a reception committee waiting you with hands pressed together, warm smiles and bows. With the country known for its exotic fruit variety, the menu has a comprehensive list of fresh juices, mocktails and cocktails. On the occasion of the restaurant's anniversary, there was a special promotional lunch/dinner menu (for AED 60). A point to note is that if you are new to Thai cuisine, its best to go for the Royal Thai Banquet menu.

This offers the opportunity to try different popular dishes, all of which are on the menu card. Priced at AED 105, you get six starters, six mains and three accompaniments, so it's well worth the money. Veterans of Thai cuisine will probably want to try out some of the lesser-known dishes. The restaurant also offers a selection of vegetarian dishes. The Blue Elephant guides one to the spice content of the different dishes available. The dish is relatively mild if the rating is one elephant. Two elephants indicate that the dish is moderately spicy, and if there are three elephants it is extremely hot. So I decided to start off the meal with the paper prawn starter, which was 'yummy' with a plum sauce. Of the other starters (including the ubiquitous chicken satay), the Dim Sim was particularly good with a delicious filling of chicken, shrimp and crab. The soy sauce was thick and rich and a million miles away from the stuff you buy in the supermarket. The food was beautifully presented on lovely plates with a plain white glaze and splashes of abstract oriental blue.

One of the memorable main courses was the Fruits de mer phuket, a delight from the sea, featuring a concoction of prawns,  scallops, squid and mussels in oyster sauce, which arrived in little terracotta pots on a lighted mini stove. Established favourites like green chicken curry, chillied lamb and duck curry were well executed with clearly differentiated sauces. The grilled lobster was a slight disappointment as it got over as fast as it came to the table, flavoured vibrantly and presented beautifully. The Phad Thai, noodles with eggs, shrimp and peanuts, was particularly tasty, with stir fried vegetables in an aromatic sauce. The Star of Siam, a dish of perfectly cut and presented fruit served with different puddings and the Kankum Thai, a selection of Thai desserts presented in banana leaf pockets was nothing short of superb and was a lovely finale to a good meal.

The impeccable service would not be undeserved. The staff, not only charming and attentive, was also well versed in the history and culture of the restaurant. The Blue Elephant is a dining experience not to be missed. For fans of Thai food, I strongly recommend the Blue Elephant, as the food is highly refined and delicious. It is worth noting that the Blue Elephant also has restaurants in London, Brussels, Copenhagen, Paris, New Delhi and Beirut.

(Courtesy :Telelife on GoDubai).
(Blue Elephant Restaurant - Al Bustan Rotana, Tel : 00 9714 2820000)

Der Keller, a real down home-style German restaurant - one of eighteen - at the Jumeirah Beach Hotel. The fact that it is probably Dubai's only restaurant that has been set up in praise of authentic German cuisine is only part of the attraction. The true lure comes from the ambience a perfect setting to enjoy truly spectacular fare from Germany. This is the handiwork of Chef Frank Mussehl, a native of Koln, on the Rhine. Chef Mussehl's sojourn to Der Keller actually began in Berlin, where he apprenticed at the Schweizer Hof, before he moved to St. Moritz in Switzerland before he eventually moved to work for Lufthansa for twelve years. Then he started his own restaurant, but soon the wanderlust grabbed a hold of him. This is a significant fact, as Chef Mussehl sold his property with the express intention of travelling by road around the world. Of course this did not happen! The Jumeirah Beach Hotel hired him to start Der Keller, which menu he has designed to mirror his own penchant for itinerant travel. That, plus the fact that Chef Mussehl is, at heart, a true German, who obviously believes in serving famous German food, with down-home panache!

This is why you can find yourself agonising over whether you will sample Schnitzel, Bismarck Herring, the famous Nuernberger Rostbratwuerstchen mit Sauerkraut or Rotter Schnapper... and, of course, Apfelstrudel. It will not be easy, but take heart. For whatever you decide to go with, you leave Der Keller with a feeling of spectacular satiation!

Let me try to make it easy. Start with Geraucherte Entenbruststreifen auf gemischten Blattsalaten mit Manovinegrette (salad of smoked duck breast and mesclun lettuce tossed in mango vinaigrette). Then take on a bowl of Schwammerlsuppe (mushroom cream soup). Then dive straight into the main course and sample the divine Lachsfilet an Limetten-Kartoffelpuree mit Tomaten-Olivevinegrette (fresh salmon medallion with potatoes mashed in with lime and bathed in tomato-olive vinaigrette) with Spatzle (egg noodles on the side). To top that, order yourself a Quarkstrudel mit Aprikosen und Mandelsauce (cream cheese strudel with apricots and almond sauce)!

You will, I can assure you, soon be back at the door to Der Keller, saying the magic word, 'Gemuetlichkeit'... Oh, you will be back for more!

(Courtesy :Telelife on GoDubai).
(Der Keller, Jumeirah Beach Hotel, Tel : 00 9714 4068739)

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Forget the hot pot of porridge...
Let's sneak in and have some 'Goldilocks chicken specialities' instead!

Goldilocks restaurant located in Karama features some of the very best of chicken dishes. Thai, Chinese, Indonesian, Filipino... pray and thou shall be served the cuisine of thy choice. This is the place where the gourmet dreams of sampling exotic food. With meticulous serving and bona fide smiles, Ajay Talwar, the restaurant manager, accompanied by his team ensures that you are comfortably seated and even helps you to choose what to eat.

We started off with something to 'wet the whistle' and the fresh mango juice proved to be a lip-smacker. This was followed by a Thai Salad, the Som Thum Thai which is a traditional papaya Thai salad with mushroom, corn and peanuts, all underscoring the fact why food is the rai·son d'être for many in life. The Chinese Drums of Heaven is an exceptional accompaniment with drinks and the Thai Pud Kratiem Kai, a fried chicken dish with garlic and pepper garnishing is a powerful punch to the taste buds. The party-inclined have their choices too. The large aesthetically and tastefully decorated party hall has been set aside to hold private parties and if you are going en famille, the Internet corner will keep your kids busy while you devour the exquisite food. There is the 'take your pick' corner with Hammour, Crabs and Lobsters, waiting to be chosen on one end whereas at the other end is the pastry corner with wide variety of cakes, each tempting the palate and defeating the grit to count calories. Adjoining this is the cocktail area with comfortable barstools. Finally a word about the décor... The restaurant is spacious with cane furniture and overhead swinging illuminations. The cool interiors with authentic adornments from Thailand, Indonesia, Philippines and Mainland China add to the 'feel' and flavour of the place. An open area, outside the restaurant, is indeed a delight, especially during the early months of winter. Goldilocks, I believe, is one of the finest restaurants in Dubai. Whether it's the best or the second best, you are certainly not going to regret for paying a visit.

(Courtesy :Telelife on GoDubai).
(Goldilocks Restaurant, Karama, Tel : 00 9714 3963666)

A small down to earth restaurant with a typical North Indian (Rajasthani) cusine. It also has a very cosy atmosphere and a very traditional Rajasthani interior. With chairs made of cane, the plates, spoons, glasses and rest of the cutlery are of copper, the trend of the Maharajas of those times..! and a very good service and hospitable management. Now giving a brief opinion of the food, well the food cooked in pure Ghee reminds one of his own mothers food back home in India. With the taste so good a person like me who's calorie conscious forgot what it is like to have a controlled diet..! One of their specialities being "DAL BHATI", a dish prepared by dipping the Bhati in the Dal..! So whether it is a full meal (thali), a plain dal, vegetable, rice order or an Indian fast food like the Idli-dosa, Pani puri etc. Rajvada, with its peaceful Indian ambience and authentic Rajasthani cusine is the ultimate hangout for an Indian cusine freak...!

(Rajvada, Opp. Bur Juman Centre, Next to Pizza Hut, Tel : 00 9714 3968070)

I recently visited the very much unknown "Antique Bazaar" in the newly rebranded Four Points Sheraton on the Bank Street Bur Dubai. We arrived without a reservation and found the place full. The restaurant staff were most helpful in accommodating us. Once inside we were delighted to see the array of antique furniture and the rustic ambience of the place. The highlight of the evening was our table. Both the table and chairs were made of silver. The food was very tasty and nicely presented. We left the restaurant happy and satisfied. Possibly the best Indian restaurant in Dubai!

The feast began with a sizzling kebab platter which consisted of five different types accompanied by homemade pickles and three different chutneys. Salads and papads were served at the table with the compliments of the chef. For the main course we had a lamb dish which was recommended by the waiter called "Dhaba Meat" which he explained was very popular in the highway restaurants in India. My husband is partial to chicken and he was recommended "chicken purdeha". The chicken was served in a very traditional brass pot sealed with a dough lid. For dessert I had vanilla ice cream but my husband had Gajjar Halwa which he claims was delicious, even after it was explained that it was a grated carrot pudding.

(Antique Bazaar, Four Points Sheraton, Tel : 00 9714 3977444)

Capri Grill is a cosy little Italian joint - classy but does not make you feel too common. It is tasteful and comfy! The food is delicious, absolutely finger-licking! When my friends asked me to come over to the Hilton Trade Apartments and dine at the Italian restaurant, I was quite sure it was a practical joke...an unknown place. Was I pleasantly surprised! I will definitely recommend this restaurant to all families, girlfriends wanting to catch up, and generally all of you out there! Well the menu has the regular Italian favourites: Pasta, Pizza and Lasagne. I went for the Penne with Tomato sauce and dipped into the chicken lasagne, a friend had ordered - quite sumptous! Definitely recommended. Everything was fresh from the oven. The service was good. As for the decor -- well the interesting part is that the tables are made of chariot wheels I think or horse-cart wheels. Very nice ambience.

(Capri Grill, Hilton Trade Apartments, Tel : 00 9714 3314505)

William E. Cross, Florida, USA. says, "An Al Qasr dining experience is truly an experience in excellence. Having lived in Dubai the majority of last year, it was my favorite evening destination. As a traveller throughout much of the world and a resident of the Palm Beach area which is a noted restaurant locale, few restaurants have ever left such a lasting impression as Al Qasr. I look forward to a return visit."

Iena Kashyap, Dubai resident and a banker by profession says,
"My favourite place is the Al Qasr , Lebanese Restaurant, at the Dubai Marine Beach Club. This place has ample seating capacity, lovely ambience, good service and an impeccable collection of Arabic Mezze. Very often, there's hardly any place left in the stomach for the main course. There is a lady who sits in the corner and makes thin, hot and huge Arabic Breads - the breads are a treat to the eyes as well as to the stomach. Try it... "

(Al Qasr, Dubai Marine Beach Club, Tel : 00 9714 3048101)