Where Is The Emirati Cuisine?
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Cuisine Style: Seafood, Japanese
Average Price: $
Overall Rating: 1/5
Dined in September 2017
By Sean Overpeck (CFE)
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The restaurants' name ‘Red Shrimp’ comes from a newer type of shrimp that was really unheard of prior to 1995 and that was Royal Red Shrimp, a deep water shellfish found along the Eastern United States, Gulf of Mexico, and along the coasts of South America. There are two locations for this restaurant in Dubai. I stumbled upon them while researching restaurants known for serving Emirati Cuisine. Based on proximity to the airport, the location I choose to eat at was inside the Bur Juman Shopping Mall. After dining for a quick lunch, the main question I had to ask them and still ask: “where is the Emirati Cuisine that was listed on their website.” Also, their website is no longer up and running either. This paragraph below was borrowed from the RoundMenu webpage:
“We are always excited to share our love for seafood to you with your friends and family. Red Shrimp is the first and only casual dining chain from the sunny Dubai that serves the freshest and awe-sumptuous seafood with a twist of fun and hearty goodness from our grill and straight into your platter. From our delightful sushi treats, cool healthy drinks, fresh off-the-hook fish specials, to our trademark juicy prawns slow-cooked to perfection – we bring you the most generous seafood offering that we are known for! Inspired by the easy, laidback beach life, we are always thrilled to serve you with our warm smiles in our beach-inspired dining areas. And, oh yes! Try our very own blend of Shookah water pipes while you chill out with some live groovy acoustic tunes under the stars. At Red Shrimp, sharing is caring, so spread the love and good vibes.”
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| Bur Juman Mall |
The restaurant was difficult to find at first. The advertisement listed them as being on the third floor, though the mall does not have any directories to point out where the restaurant may be. I asked for some help from an attendant, and they sent me down a long corridor towards a food court. No sign of Red Shrimp there, or the restaurants that followed. Finally, I was sent all the way back to where I started and told to walk in another direction, and boom there it was. Above me the glass ceiling to the mall was very striking, the architects spent a lot of time in the design of this mall. The restaurant entrance was very nautical and Californian in style of design with a life preserver, and surfboard at the entrance. Visions of Applebees came to mind, which gave me a little scare!!
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| Entrance |
Once escorted inside, the doors take you to a rooftop style patio with several seats, an area for a live band with a dance floor, and a balcony to look out. It was very hot and muggy, so I hoped they had indoor seating. The host took me into the indoor area with several booths and a few tables. The restaurant was not filled with chotskies like an Applebee's thank goodness and was actually well designed, and clean. The menus were printed on newspaper, with a style of reading a newspaper, with the information about the restaurant being the headline, with other articles about the cooking techniques, and awards. Mixed in with this was the sections for food.
They had a good selection of seafood items and Japanese choices, but I couldn’t find the Emirati cuisine that I came to this restaurant for. When I did my research before arriving I thought about have a small plate of sushi to go with the Emirati food, but it looked like Japanese would be the main course. The server told me that the other Red Shrimp location on the opposite side of town had the mixed menu and that this one was only seafood. Well, that would have been good to know in advance. Before their website went down I sent out four separate messages on their contact form and two emails (I should have called!), none of the messages were returned to me. It nearly made me change restaurants, but I was determined to eat Emirati since my last experience in Dubai dining at an Emirati restaurant called Al Fanar Restaurant and Café was not very good. Thank goodness an experience a few years before at Safar Restaurant was excellent, but I believe they are now closed.
For my meal, I decided on the red ocean with a still water to drink. The restaurant does not serve any alcohol in accordance with Islamic laws. Only restaurants inside of hotels serve alcohol. The meal began with a traditional miso soup and a few pieces of tofu. It was a good a refreshing starter. The restaurant had one other table occupied by a family, but otherwise, for it being lunchtime, it was a wonder why they were empty.
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| The Red Ocean |
The main plate came with a sesame salmon, sushi, and a K-crab salad. There was also soy, pickled ginger, and wasabi. The fact that they were giving me K-crab which is imitation instead of real crab said a lot. I have eaten in many Japanese restaurants and this was a first. I did take a few bites just encase my perception may have been wrong, but yes, after those few bites, I left it alone. The final item was a sesame encrusted and fried tofu which was also very good. The salmon had a slight fishy taste but was still seasoned well. The sushi was the best part. Very fresh flavor, California roll, filled with vegetable, rice, and crab, topped with fish roe.
Dessert:
I did not eat any dessert, as I was saving room for dinner later that evening. As the restaurant website is down, I relied on a third party menu which may be out of date that showed a listing of cheesecake, an ice-cream, and a South American pancake.
Please see these guidelines for Tipping in Restaurants and on following proper etiquette, customs, cultures, and avoiding assumptions when you dine out.
Other Noteworthy Japanese Cuisine and Seafood Articles and Restaurants:
5A5 Steak Lounge Modern Japanese steakhouse with chic design in San Francisco, California
Ambrosia Japanese restaurant & saké bar with sushi in Key West, Florida
Basil Asian Bistro Pan-Asian favorites from China to Vietnam with sushi specials in Canton, Ohio
Blue Fugu Japanese Steakhouse Table-side Hibachi with a sushi bar in St. Pete Beach, Florida
Morimoto Asia Japanese and upscale Pan-Asian fare with sushi at Disney Springs Orlando, Florida
Moshulu New American dining on a restored ship in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Osaka Sushi Thai Restaurant - Thai and Japanese fare including sushi in Seminole, Florida
Red Snapper Kiwi “fush n’ Chups” takeaway restaurant in Sumner, New Zealand
The Lemon Grass Casual fusion of Thai and Japanese with tapas portions in St Petersburg, Florida
See the whole list by visiting “The Wine Dine and Play Article Glossary”
Other Dubai restaurants and articles on Wine, Dine, and Play:
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Turkish culinary journey with an eclectic European twist
Plaza Versace Hotel, Dubai, UAE
|
Contemporary Middle Eastern and Levant buffet
|
A walk into the Piemonte with a contemporary twist
Dubai, UAE
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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 Red Shrimp a 5 out of 5 stars, meaning that they not only exceeded my expectations and were far above the average dining experience of most restaurants, but they surpassed outstanding and were extraordinary.
Scores are detailed in the factor chart below:
Formula Factor Conclusions and Overall Ratings
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Max Points Possible:
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Total Points Awarded:
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Total Points deducted:
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Ambiance
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10
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9
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1
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Food quality
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10
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5
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5
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Plate presentation
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8
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6
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2
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Customer service
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6
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4
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2
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Alcohol and other beverages
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0
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0
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0
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Total regular points awarded
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34
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24
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10
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Total percentage — less the Bonus
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0.705882352941177
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“Wow” factor BONUS
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5
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0
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0
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Total bonus percentage
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0
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Total percentage and bonus for a final star rating
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0.705882352941177
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Stars Awarded (see chart below)
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0 - 5
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1
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**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:
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1 of 5 Stars:
71% Rating with a 0 point “wow” bonus
An Average Dining Experience
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Restaurant style:
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Casual dining
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Cuisine style:
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Japanese, Seafood
Allergen or dietary accommodations:
Halal, Vegetarian Options
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Reservations:
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Not Required
Walk-Ins:
Accepted
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Dress code:
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Casual attire
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Child policy:
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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!
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Experiences:
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Modern, Rustic, Scenic views, Hole-in-the-wall, Tourist grabber, and a Neighborhood Gem.
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Payments:
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Cash, Visa, MasterCard, Discover, American Express
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Parking:
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Valet
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Wifi
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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.
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Noise level:
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Low
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Smoking:
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Nonsmoking restaurant, with a smoking patio
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Patio or terrace:
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Yes
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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)
$£€¥ x 5 - Over 400.00 (very expensive)
**Currencies reflect the world’s major travelers, restaurant, or wine connoisseur’s**
Currency:
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Price
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AED Arab Emerite Dirham
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د.إ
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United States Dollar (USD)
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$
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Great Britain Pound Sterling (GBP)
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£
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Canadian Dollar (CAN)
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$
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Chinese Yuan (CNY)
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¥¥¥
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European Union (EUR)
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€
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Red Shrimp:
Bur Juman Mall
Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Road
(Trade Centre Road)
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Contact Information:
Maître d or host:
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+971 4 351 3551
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Serving hours:
Emirate Standard Time
(GMT, Zulu, or UTC +3:00)
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Mon-Sun
12:00 pm - 11:00 pm
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Social Media
&
Accolades:
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****
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…
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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:
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| California Roll |
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| Miso Soup |
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| Fried Tofu |
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| Sesame Salmon |
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| Bur Juman Mall Skylight |
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| Dining Room |
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| Newspaper Menu |
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| Wasabi Garnish |
Who is John Galt?
TTFN
