Arabian Bites by Devanshi Mody
Featured Hotel in Tunisia
Dar Said
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Arabian Nights enchant. Arabian sites entrance. And Arabian bites are a gastronomic delight! The Middle East and North African restaurant razzmatazz can rival the finest anywhere in the world, even if they haven’t any Michelin Stars. But who needs Michelin Stars when in Arabia you have the stars and the moon?
Would you cross seven seas just to eat at a restaurant? Sup at any of the restaurants below and you’ll find yourself travelling back for seconds.
1. Dar El Jeld, Tunisia
Tunisia not on your itinerary? It’s worth going to Tunisia just to eat at Dar El Jeld. Tunisia’s most celebrated restaurant is arguably amongst the world’s best. This is where the cream of Tunisian society dines, as do The King of Spain, the Crown Prince of Japan, Gerard Depardieu and Jacques Chirac, whose comments about the appalling British cuisine almost caused a diplomatic disaster. The notoriously fastidious ex French premier’s repeated patronage attests to Dar El Jeld’s exceptional food.
The old converted Tunisois, or aristocratic home, is an exuberance of tasteful traditional Tunisian art and antiques set against a backdrop of original tiled walls. Courting the central courtyard are individually decorated dining enclaves all resplendent with period chandeliers and lavish furnishings. In a mesmerising candlelit ambiance, gastronomic Tunisian cuisine with a Frenchified twist is served.
Expect exquisitely fine cous cous and inconceivably rarefied North African cuisine. A special treat is the tray of delicately hand made local sweetmeats. But the almond cream desert zriga takes the cake!
2. Sissi House, Aleppo
Aleppo is one of the best places in the world to eat. Diplomats in Damascus venture up to Aleppo simply to sup at Sissi House. Legend has it that Austrian Empress Sissi walked the street in the ancient Armenian Quarter where the house stands. Royals and celebrities continue to grace its precincts: the Queen of Spain, Princess Diane de France, Lord Sainsbury, Catherine Deneuve, whilst the Syrian President is a regular.
Syria’s premier fine dining restaurant is in a charming 17th-century reconverted Jdeide mansion teeming with beautiful antiques and artefacts. Candle-lit tables fill an enchanting central courtyard, abounding with flora. A violinist sits atop a winding staircase, serenading guests with oriental strains to accompany the Frenchified Syrian cuisine.
The ultra refined mezzes of extraordinary textures and subtle flavours are to die for. Thought that Arabic sweets are sugar-saturated, stodgy dough balls? Think again. Sissi House’s exceptionally light and utterly divine deserts are a revelation.
3. Khan El-Khalili Restaurant, Cairo
Cairo’s best kept secret is the Oberoi run Khan El-Khalili Restaurant set in the bustling 14th-century Khan El-Khalili bazaar. Traverse Medieval streets with wood trellised windows and rows of riotously hued bric-a-brac and you’re in an oasis of calm and charm. Gorgeous, gorgeous traditional Egyptian dishes are served by the most endearing and obliging staff.
Try the local speciality kosheri, a potpourri of rice, pasta, lentils and caramelised onions served with a piquant sauce. End with Om Ali. Let not the gruesome details of the story behind this desert’s origins, nor its calorific count deter you from tucking into the cream and pastry concoction. Egyptian Nobel Laureate Naguib Mahfouz frequented the restaurant’s coffee shop now bearing his name, Cairo’s literati continue to come for sheeshah and inspiration
4. Ottoman, Dubai
Ottoman, Dubai’s contemporised Turkish restaurant, exudes oriental chic. Everyone wants to sit on the al fresco terrace overlooking the Marina. But don’t be put off by the manager who will recommend you sit inside because there are mosquitoes outside! Wherever you’re seated, the Turkish breads taste as good and the chef makes an interesting Turkish version of ravioli. Try the “designer” rose petal Turkish desert.
5. Indego, Dubai
A lamp lit winding lamp ramp leads you into Indego, Dubai’s gastronomic Indian restaurant par excellence, which Roger Federa adores. This restaurant is style incarnate with exquisite decor combining large bronze statues of Nataraj, the Hindu God Shiva in his dancing pose, coloured oriental lamps and wall tapestries of exotic Indian shoes.
Michelin-starred chef Vinnet Bhatia’s contemporised Indian cuisine includes inspired asparugus and coconut samosas, shitake mushroom biriyani which comes with the flakiest, loveliest bread covering and kulfi ice cream, a Western take on the traditional desert. Especially memorable are the striking presentation and superb service.
6. Ushna, Dubai
Ushna isn’t fantastically stylish but is Dubai’s favourite Indian restaurant, swarming with locals, (always a good sign) and Bollywood stars. Rani Mukherjee, Karishma Kapoor, John Abraham, Naseerudhin Shah have glamourised the place. Indeed, a client called from London to reserve a table two months in advance to avoid disappointment ! The chef’s preperations are authentic desi khana, the yummiest outside India. Okra is his speciality.
For the English, he can muster up Angresi khana i.e., chicken tikka masala… The humble chef, who only speaks Hindi, makes such fab food that he was summoned to cook for Anil Ambani, the world’s 15th richest man. Since, the chef and his biriyanis have shot to fame !
7. Moghul Room, Cairo
Moghul Room is the Kohinoor of Cairo’s gastro scene. The story goes that legendary hotelier Mr Oberoi once dined at this Cairo institution, was so impressed by the Indian fare, that he flew down chefs from his Indian hotels to learn the recipes from the Cairo chef who has been cooking at Mena House before the palace hotel was bought over by the Oberoi. Super kebabs, FANTASTIC palak paneer (ahh, the texture…) and delicious service make you want to return for more. Pity about the cacophonous singer, though.
8. Maya’s, Dubai
There is perhaps nothing authentic about Dubai- except Maya’s authentic Mexican cuisine. Alas, guests used to Tex Mex complain that the food isn’t authentic enough- much to the chagrin of Chef de Cuisine Ruben Herrera whose piquant conversation adds further spice to the revolutionary, refined and racy Mexican cuisine.
The décor isn’t especially inviting. But stay on for lovely tacos and enchiladas topped with authentic Mexican cheese. The banana pancakes taste better than they sound. Mmm… Placido Domingo’s favourite restaurant was awarded Dubai’s Best Restaurant at the MENA Travel Awards.
9. Cinqo di Mayo, Amman
A glam Mexican restaurant is Cinqo di Mayo, a sensational wood and glass affair luring Amman’s beautiful people and expatriates. One of Amman’s most gregarious spots, it’s true to the Mexican spirit.
Chopsticks perches prettily atop a terrace offering unrivalled views of the Dead Sea and Palestine beyond. No wonder Jordan’s most romantic restaurant figures amongst the World’s Best Terrace Top restaurants. Linger on the terrace for starters. But for the main course, move indoors, where a Mongolian Wok stands serenely in a sophisticated setting of warm colours, replete with natural straw and bamboo chairs, authentic Chinese decoration et al.
You’re invited to create your own main course: select from wondrous and various raw ingredients, sauces and aromatics. An expert Chinese chef adroitly swirls your choice of ingredients around a large wok. The food cooked to perfection will you keep going back for more, which makes sitting on the terrace impractical...
10. Indochin, Amman
Indochine, the elegantly exotic restaurant, is a veritable Amman institution. Palm trees, wicker furniture and slowly rotating ceiling fans impart a languorous and romantic air, transporting you into the rapturous sensuality of colonial Indo-China.
From the open kitchen, the fragrance of fresh ginger and lemon grass tantalises, whilst the Vietnamese and Thai fusion food titillates the taste buds. This restaurant, which possibly serves the world’s finest green tea ice cream, inspired a host of fancy restaurants, which have propelled Amman to the forefront of international gastronomy and design.
11. Budha Bar, Dubai
Talking about design, Dubai’s Budha Bar has become a byword for design with swanky floor-to-ceiling windows and terrace offering superb Marina views and astonishing interiors replete with dragon mosaics, dramatic staircase, stunning rest rooms, vaulted ceilings, themed dining areas, bars, sunken private lounge with a four-metre Budha statue… It’s THE place to see and be seen.
But you don’t go there to eat, right ? You’d be pleasantly surprised. The Sushi isn’t the world’s best and the Thai curries have a tad bit too much coconut and too little chilli in order to cater to the predominantly British clientele. But the Chinese stir fries are as hot as the decor and sizzle like the glam young things adorning the restaurant-bar. The youthful manager Marco’s charming chatter, the staff’s slick service and super pink champagne make for a heady experiance.
12. La Cloiserie, Tunis
Tunis’s La Cloiserie serves better Italian cuisine than any non-Michelin starred Italian restaurant in Europe. The breads are so good, guests request to pack some to take home. Try the pan-fried mozzarella and pastas. Risotto is best avoided but the deserts are lovely, especially over summer poolside dining. Otherwise, the contemporary interiors ooze elegance.
13. Fire & Ice, Dubai
Brand new Fire & Ice is arguably Dubai’s finest restaurant with a dynamic young Swedish manager and talented South African sommelier who matches wines to perfection. As for the French chef, he is only 26, but rumour has it that he is already giving sleepless nights to his celebrity counterparts.
The slanting mirrors arrest as you enter and see the wood and glass restaurant reflected at an angle. You’re further arrested by each mouthful of the chef’s ultra innovative cuisine that seamlessly fuses oriental and occidental.
Choose the menu degustation and let the chef astonish you with ethereal creations like Marinated Cauliflower Caviar topped with Raspberry and Balsamic Air, Cantaloupe Tagliatelles with Stuffed Rigati Pasta, Orange Salsa and Coriander oil, Tempura with Togarashi sauce and Trilogy of dust including like green tea dust, Pumpkin Vanilla Espuma and Almond Foam, Ginger Risotto and Lemongrass Air, Hibiscus spices soup with assorted berries, hibiscus espuma and Sichuan pepper…