A Cave Max McCalman Would Salivate Over
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Cuisine Style: French
Average Price: $$
Overall Rating: 4/5
Dined in September 2017
By Sean Overpeck (CFE)
**A full article and index glossary of restaurants, wines, recipes and travel for
Wine Dine and Play are in the pages section above, or by following these links:
Executive Chef:
Faraz Zia
Max McCalman is the only certified American cheese expert and Maître Fromager (cheese master) and the Cave Dubai would put him right at home. Cave oozes cool as their website homepage expresses. This little wine bar is a hidden gem located on the mezzanine level of Conrad Dubai. You enter into a stone cave and from there follow a winding path of hidden pods and places, where you can choose from the tasting room, enclosed booths, the cheese or wine bar, the cozy day beds or hide in one of the fireside lounges. Part of this bar is smoking so stay towards the entrance if you are a non-smoker.
 |
| Cave Entrance |
You will come across chalk cave walls, green glass bottles, barrels, weatherboard panels, timber logs and warm fireplaces. The bar and surroundings were designed by Marcos Cain and styled like a French underground cavern or an American Speakeasy. I arrived early to enjoy a drink and appetizer several hours before the main crowds come in, and pack the place out. To avoid any smokers, I was sat by the entrance in an enclosed booth, after I was taken on a tour to see what this place offered.
Menu:
- Soupes
- Entrée
- Croques
- Plats Principaux
- shows fullÀ Partager
- Sides
- Desserts
I began with a glass of Sauvignon Blanc-Semillon from Valombreuse winery, Bordeaux and according to wine expert tasting notes, it shows full body and very expressive style wine. I enjoyed some mixed spice nuts and olives while I looked over the menu and enjoyed this subtle glass of wine. The junior Sommelier is Santosh Khatiwada, and I’m not sure if he has a say in the selection of wines, but their list is very large and broad, which I have rarely seen in the many Dubai restaurants I've dined in.
 |
| Snacks with wine |
I decided on the Assortment de Fromage's et charcuterie which was a selection of cured meats and artisan cheese from their maître fromager. While waiting for them to prepare the plate, a selection of house-made pieces of bread with butter arrived to which I had a small tasting so as to not fill up too quickly before the appetizer dish arrived.
The Assortment de Fromage's et charcuterie was presented on a wooden stand, beautifully decorated, with two cheese selections, two types of meat, crudités, crostini, and mustard. The dish went well with my second wine selection from Saam Mountain, a Cabernet Sauvignon from Paarl, South Africa. According to the tasting notes, it was deep purple in color, with lovely plum and chocolate aromas. Rich, ripe fruit flavors with a hint of vanilla on the palate and a long finish.
Dessert:
They had three choices for dessert on the menu starting with a warm chocolate and raspberry brownie, a Grand Marnier soufflé with cinnamon dust and the item I chose, the creme brûlée with brandy snap and powdered sugar. I enjoyed this dessert with a10 yr Single Malt Scotch from Ardbeg Distillery with tasting notes and aroma of smoked fish and crispy bacon alongside green bell peppers, baked pineapple and pear juice and a wave of brine infused with smooth buttermilk, ripe bananas, and currants.
Please see these guidelines for Tipping in Restaurants and on following proper etiquette, customs, cultures, and avoiding assumptions when you dine out.
Other Noteworthy French or wine Articles & Restaurants:
Aria Restaurant Modern Australian haute cuisine in Sydney, Australia
Bistrot La Minette Charming French Bistro with movie filmed terrace in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Bordeaux - A Sip and Taste Wine tours and restaurants in Bordeaux, France
Chef Bernard Loiseau Is Michelin at fault?
HobNob Restaurant French & Canadian cuisine at The Charles Hotel, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, Canada
La Colombe Country-style local ingredients w/French flair in Cape Town, South Africa
L’Ecrivain Seasonal Irish ingredients with full modern French gastronomic dining in Dublin, Ireland
Le Grand Chancelier Countryside French Bistro in Cheverny, Loire Valley, France
Restaurant Le Gabriel Haute Gastronomique French restaurant & bistro in Bordeaux, France
Restaurant Patrick Guilbaud Impeccably prepared French fine dining in Dublin, Ireland
The Brasserie at the Café de Paris A Parisian style bistro rendez-vous in Monte-Carlo, Monaco
See the whole list by visiting “The Wine Dine and Play Article Glossary”
Other Dubai restaurants and articles on Wine Dine and Play:
|
Turkish culinary journey with an eclectic European twist
Plaza Versace Hotel, Dubai, UAE
|
Take a tour of the tallest building in the world
Dubai, UAE
|
Contemporary Middle Eastern and Levant buffet at Hyatt Park Hotel Dubai Creek, Dubai, UAE
|
|
Traditional British seafood spot
DFIC, Dubai, UAE
|
A walk into the Piemonte with a contemporary twist
DFIC, Dubai, UAE
|
Contemporary Japanese restaurant, sushi, & cocktail mixology
DFIC, Dubai, UAE
A Top 20 on Wine Dine and Play
|
See the whole list by visiting “The Wine Dine and Play Article Glossary by country”
Final notes, review basics, observations and more pictures:
Most reviews are subjective, depending on the writer; but they should also be responsible, and respectfully written, upholding the truth, and accurately conveying the experience to the best of the writer's knowledge, even if it includes metaphors the restaurant may not like to read about. My ratings are by the stars I award (from 0 to 5). The rating is calculated on a point accumulation of six separate factors based on individual experience. They include wine and other beverage selections, plate presentation, customer service, restaurant or café ambiance, food quality, and wow factor. To see more details of this rating list, read this article:
Overall from this experience, and the score factors outlined in the ‘about page’ section, based on my individual experience and rating, I give Cave a 4 out of 5 stars, meaning that they not only exceeded my expectations and were far above the average dining experience of most restaurants, and were just outstanding
Scores are detailed in the factor chart below:
Formula Factor Conclusions and Overall Ratings
|
Max Points Possible:
|
Total Points Awarded:
|
Total Points deducted:
|
Ambiance
|
10
|
10
|
0
|
Food quality
|
10
|
7
|
3
|
Plate presentation
|
8
|
7
|
1
|
Customer service
|
7
|
6.5
|
0.5
|
Alcohol and other beverages
|
10
|
8
|
2
|
Total regular points awarded
|
45
|
38.5
|
6.5
|
Total percentage — less the Bonus
|
0.855555555555556
|
||
“Wow” factor BONUS
|
5
|
2
|
0
|
Total bonus percentage
|
0.0444444444444444
|
||
Total percentage and bonus for a final star rating
|
0.9
|
||
Stars Awarded (see chart below)
|
0 - 5
|
4
|
**A full break down and explanation of the observations and point disbursement is available in the linked article above. To receive a detailed copy of your score, feel free to contact me at any time and I will provide it to you.**
***
Overall Star Rating:
|
4 of 5 Stars:
90% Rating with a 2 point “wow” bonus
An Outstanding Dining Experience
|
Wine rating:
|
7 of 10
Old World selections:
Austria, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Portugal, Spain
New World selections:
Argentina, Australia, California, Canada, Chile, Lebanon, New Zealand, South Africa
|
Corkage fee’s:
|
This Restaurant does not list any corkage fee’s however, most American restaurants charge
$25.00 per bottle
|
Restaurant style:
|
Conservative dining
|
Cuisine Style:
|
French
Allergen or dietary accommodations:
Gluten-Free, Halal, Local, Low Carb, Organic, Pescatarian, Vegetarian Options
|
Reservations:
|
Not Required, But Recommended
Walk-Ins:
Accepted, but not guaranteed
|
Dress code:
|
Conservative or Smart casual attire
|
Child policy:
|
The Restaurants reviewed on this site may have a kids menu or cater to them; however, for full enjoyment of food and wine, it is recommended that kids not to be in attendance, unless they have been trained in proper etiquette.
If not then:
Hire a Babysitter!
|
Experiences:
|
Place for foodies, Contemporary, Trendy, Lounge, Business parties, Hotspot, Great bar, Classy, Upscale, and a Neighborhood Gem.
|
Payments:
|
Cash, Visa, MasterCard, Discover, American Express
|
Parking:
|
Valet
|
Wifi
|
The restaurants reviewed on this site may have Wi-Fi, but do not require you to go online, because the excitement of the food and wine alone will keep you too entertained instead of checking your social media and emails.
|
Noise level:
|
Low to Medium
|
Smoking:
|
Warning: smoking restaurant section
|
Patio or terrace:
|
No
|
Food Prices
(excludes, alcohol, taxes & 20% gratuity’s)
$£€¥ - Under 50.00 (inexpensive)
$£€¥ x 2 - 51.00- 99.00 (moderate)
$£€¥ x 3 - Over 100.00 (pricy)
$£€¥ x 4 - Over 200.00 (expensive)
$£€¥ x 5 - Over 400.00 (very expensive)
**Currencies reflect the world’s major travelers, restaurant, or wine connoisseur’s**
Currency:
|
Price
|
AED Arab Emerite Dirham
|
د.إ
|
United States Dollar (USD)
|
$
|
Great Britain Pound Sterling (GBP)
|
£
|
Canadian Dollar (CAN)
|
$
|
Chinese Yuan (CNY)
|
¥¥¥¥
|
European Union (EUR)
|
€
|
Alcohol prices:
$48.00 USD
Cave Dubai:
Sheikh Zayed Road
Conrad Hotel
M2 Level
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Contact Information:
Restaurant website:
|
|
Maître d or host:
|
+971 4 444 7111
|
Online reservations
|
|
Serving hours:
Dubai Standard Time
(GMT, Zulu, or UTC + 3:00)
|
Daily: Mon-Sun
12:00 pm - 2:00 am
|
Social Media
&
Accolades:
|
|
****
The worlds best restaurants is a subjective list of who is writing it and changes on a regular basis. The Wine Dine and Play best experiences are based on my highest rated stared restaurants, meaning that the visit was an outstanding or extraordinary experience. From cafés, chains, mom + pops, hole in the walls, to fine dining including a few Michelin spots. Visit the Top 100 page to see the entire list.
A few to tease you with…
|
High Rise Fine Global Dining, Highest Restaurant In The World
Burj Khalifa, Dubai, UAE
|
Elegant Modern Australian with Molecular Gastronomic dining
Melbourne, Australia
|
Haute French Restaurant
Paris, France
|
Other Pictures:
Who is John Galt?
TTFN
