Dubai Al Fresco Eating - The Great Outdoors!
Al fresco is eating outside, from Italian, “al fresco” meaning "outside, at a fresh temperature; in the fresh air".
Dubai is usually very hot, and it is near impossible, to have such a eating experience here, especially during the months of June till September, when the temperatures soar up to 45 degrees. But the time between December to March is perfect for Al Fresco eating; the weather is pleasant if not cold and chilly at night. Don’t miss eating out during that time in Dubai.
Dubai outdoors are beautiful, with palm trees growing everywhere, the city’s landscaping is very well done. The roads are wide and not over crowded, you can enjoy the pedestrian activity and soak in the vibrancy of the city, especially at the time of the DSF (Dubai shopping festival), for example, at Al Rigga, during the DSF an entire stretch of a street is converted into a carnival. There are rides and games for kids, and the street is lined with eating stalls, selling snacks, juice, etc. I spotted a stall selling spiral potato chips aka tornado chips, the potato is deep fried and you get to select the condiment (pepper, chilli, etc) to be sprinkled on it, I had seen the same snack being sold at the Anjuna night market, in Goa, India. I didn’t have it from the Al Rigga stall, since we were going to a friend’s place for dinner, but the next time I spot this again, I’m not going to give it a miss.
Then we saw Beirut Cafe, and my cousin’s husband said that we have to try their shawarma’s, when I looked at the chef shaving the meat for the shawarma’s, I just had to have one, just look at how huge the meat stand is. The shawarma was alright, a bit bland, but the experience of sitting outside was delightful.
Beirut Cafe, Al Rigga - Shawarma Rolls
The best place for Al Fresco in Dubai, would certainly be at Barasti, in Marina, which is a part of the Le Meridian hotel. It is by the sea, and has a spectacular view of the Persian Gulf shoreline. Being a part of a hotel and located in the Marina area, it isn’t as expensive as one might expect it to be, and what’s more, they have happy hours from 4pm – 7pm every day! If you are going there at night, do wear some warm clothes as it could get quiet chilly, although they do fire up their gas heaters, which are a life saver, I’m a freezer of sorts, I used to feel cold during the winters in Bombay, India too, when others were walking around in jeans and a t-shirt, I used to wrap a shawl around my person. So let me spell it out for you, typically the weather at night might dip to 15 degrees, but then it’s by the sea, and there are cold winds called 'Shamal' blowing, so now decide for yourself how cold that is for you.
At night after Barasti, we went to visit a friend, who has a beautiful house at Marina, with an attached balcony, overlooking the Marina creek, so off course we decided to sit out, again it was really chilly and I had to borrow a shawl, once warm, I really enjoyed the lovely view of the creek. He ordered pizza’s for us from Papa John's Pizza, the third largest take-out and delivery pizza restaurant chain in the United States behind Pizza Hut and Domino's Pizza, according to Pizza Today magazine, but for me that night Papa John’s became the number 1 pizza place. It was so delicious, usually I can have 2 slices of a large pizza, and be really really stuffed with it, but that night, I had 4 slices of the large pizza, I was too stuffed, but I still wanted to have more, but luckily I stopped myself or I would’ve been sick.
The winds in Dubai are quiet strong, so while deciding to eat Al Fresco, if it’s too windy, try and avoid places that are not covered, or you will have paper napkin, your hair and even your food, flying here and there, and that can get very annoying, when you are trying to eat. This happened to me at Ravi Darbar restaurant at Bur Juman. We had ordered some Bihari kababs, Peshawari Mutton Kadai and roti, the food wasn't that great, and perhaps it would have tasted better, if I didn’t have to deal with saving my roti from flying away, and getting my hair out of my face, while trying to eat. We went to Ravi darbar mistaking it for the popular Ravi Restaurant, which is just around the corner, from this one, got to try the original Ravi restaurant soon.
Barasti Bar, Le Meridian Hotel - Marina
Ravi Darbar Restaurant, Bur Juman
And then there are barbecues, Dubai is known for barbecues during winters. They have bbq pits built in on the beach, open for public use. Although I haven’t experienced it myself yet, I have heard from friends that it is great fun. And off course, one can barbecue at home. So my cousin had a bbq party on her balcony, which is the size of a terrace. Do not decline an invitation to a home-bbq party in Dubai, the food is always great and eating outdoors from a live bbq grill is amazing! I loved the Arabic spread that was included along with haryali & tandoori chicken, there was hummus, kabouli & tabbouleh. I sure do want to eat more of authentic Arabic food in Dubai, and I am going to learn how to make it myself too soon.
Al Fresco BBQ at Home
Take a walk down memory lane at the Hatta or Heritage Village, lined around the creek. The creek is a bit smelly, but the rows of restaurants by the creek, make sure you don’t get bothered by the smell, by firing up oud or agarwood a dark resinous heartwood that forms in Aquilaria and Gyrinops trees, as the odour of agarwood is pleasing, so do sit by the creek, to savour Arabic food, with the Heritage village as your backdrop, the view is beautiful.
Hatta or Heritage Village eating by the creek
Do go for the dessert safari, although I was quiet queasy because of the dune-bashing, but at the end of it, an evening in an open Bedouin camp, with belly dancing, and food right from a live grill, was worth it, next time I will cut to the chase, and get right to the Bedouin camp, but if you are upto it, the dune bashing is recommended by people who don’t feel queasy like me.
This is how we roll.. Dessert Safari with the intereactive belly dancer!
It has been less than a month since I have been in Dubai, and I am already sold out to the city. I am very excited about living here, as Dubai is so welcoming to expats, people from all over the world are here, and one basic thing we all need is food, and it is here in Dubai, that one can find the best of foods from all over the world, to satiate the taste of people who miss their home food, and for people like me, who love to try foods from all over the world. #ILoveDubaiFood