The Emirates Meets The Levant at Siraj
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Cuisine Style: Arabic, Emirati
Average Price: $$
Overall Rating: 2/5
Dined in: May 2019
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:
Siraj Restaurant Zomato rating:
Siraj Restaurant Executive Chef:
Ahmad Awad Al Fakir
The Siraj Restaurant is one of 22 restaurants, cafés, and lounges inside the Souk Al Bahar featuring over 100 shops next to the Dubai Mall and shadowed by the Burj Khalifa Tower. Now if that doesn’t grab your interest than not much will, and you can move on to the next website to read. The Dubai Mall is the largest in the world, and blending the classic with the contemporary is the Souk Al Bahar, or “sailor’s market,” which takes you a step back in time to the wonder and allure of old Arabia. It is enchanting Arabesque marketplace across the walking bridge from the mall over the Burj Lake and Dubai Fountains that offers the city’s residents and tourists an escape from the modern hustle and bustle that every major city offers these days.
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| Siraj Restaurant / Souk Al Baher |
So why did I choose Siraj over the other 21 restaurants inside the Souk? Well, when in Rome do what the Romans do, and eat where they eat. There are thousands of restaurants in Dubai, most of them catering to either the work migrant population or the tourists. Only in the past few years has Emirati cuisine began to spring up and make a mark for itself. You have many Lebanese, Persian, or Arabian cuisine restaurants, but what about Emirati?
Emirati cuisine like other Arab cuisines may be similar but is uniquely different. Emirati cuisine is cosmopolitan, featuring a melting pot of dishes from many Middle Eastern and Asian cuisines. A lot of people confuse Levantine food as being Emirati/Khaleeji but due to harsh desert conditions, the traditional food of the UAE uses a lot of meats, grains, and dairy.
Adding to the confusion in food styles are major internet platforms like Google listing Siraj restaurant as Lebanese. This is not the case. They are strictly and authentically Emirati with a little Arabic flair that may include some Levant style cuisine like kebabs and this may be where confused people are lead to the assumption that this restaurant caters to only Lebanese. Chef Ahmad Awad Al Fakir is from Syria and was culinary trained in Damascus, learning the styles of the Levant, but since moving to Dubai in 2000, he embraced the culinary styles of this region, while blending some local Levant favorites he grew up with.
Chef Fakir combines both the ancient traditions of Levantine and Emirati origins and makes this Middle Eastern restaurant offer a unique blend of regional flavors with a distinctly contemporary twist. All spices and ingredients are organically produced, jams and pickles are homemade, plus other wide ranges and choices of Arabic delicacies and signature items find their way onto the menu.
Siraj Restaurant Menu:
- Soups
- Salads
- Cold Appetizers
- Hot Appetizers
- Suhoor Mezze
- Main Course
- Side Orders
- Set Menus
- Desserts
- Fresh Mocktail's and Smoothies
My first adventure into Emirati cuisine was many years before dining at Siraj and it was not the best experience, not just in hospitality but also in food quality. The location was more like a typical American-style restaurant chain like TGI Friday’s or Applebees. It nearly turned me off of Emirati foods all-together. I continued to try, and as the years past, social media, news outlets, and food shows focused more and more on local foods and forced chefs to step it up above the chains. Emirati food experiences became better, more refined, and moved towards the finer dining symbol while maintaining the integrity of its original origins, and the fact that not everyone can afford the finer things, but still want to enjoy the food they call their own.
Fast forward to Siraj in May 2019, where the integrity scores high marks as does the flavor and presentation profiles. Customer service could have been better though. I did reuse the same utensils from my appetizer course, through the salad, and to the entree. It took time for the server to arrive after I was seated. My drink order took lots of time to make and be delivered, even though I was the only customer. The server did not talk about specials or give recommendations and did not anticipate my needs by letting my water empty without refilling or ask how the meal was after I had a few bites. Dubai is an expensive city. Yes, you can find deals and eat cheap just like anywhere in the world, but when you pay a higher price to dine out, you want the entire experience that should be included in that price tag. The customer service at Siraj did bring the overall ratings for this review down, but the other markings of quality, presentation, and ambiance kept the ratings in very good standing. It would have been an even better rating if time was taken to avoid the criticisms listed above.
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| Siraj Restaurant / Dining Room |
The Chef is proud to focus on what other Emirati restaurants in Dubai have yet to expand on, foods that are sustainable and organic. Since the UAE is a desert with little water, most of what they have must be imported. Sometimes when items arrive on a ship you cannot be picky, and you need what they have to stay in business instead of waiting days or weeks for the specific products you want. Siraj doesn’t mind the wait, and they do business with farms and suppliers that focus on the ethics of what the Chef wants to serve to his guests. Throughout the menu, you see organic lentils, tomatoes, dates, and more. Seafood that is sustainably caught, camels and other animals raised on organic feed instead of GMO. The chef is also not afraid to expand and merge the Emirati and Levant dishes with other uniquely imported foods like quinoa from Peru, Wagyu from Australia, Lamb from New Zealand, and lobster from Canada.
I started with a sweet and sour green mango salad, tossed with Rocca (arugula - rocket) leaves, onions, and tomatoes served with a lemon and olive oil dressing tossed with Libyan bzaar spices and topped with parmesan cheese. There is also a similar Emirati spice blend called Bzar which is a common garam masala style blend. It was hard to decide which salad to choose from as the menu had such a wonderful variety beyond the basics. From signature Halawa, dates and kale, to more traditional Arabic fattoush and tabouleh. The citrus in the dressing mixed with the sour of the mangoes was a particular delight. I honestly expected the mangos to be super sweet. Yes, they did have a sweet profile, but the sour was stronger. The lemon and spices tempered the salad nicely and made for a wonderful start and had me enticed to see what surprises would come next.
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| Siraj Restaurant / Green Mango Salad |
The menu had a selection of both cold and hot appetizers from smoked salmon, hummus with chilled camel cubes, stuffed lobster kebbeh to homemade makanek sausages with pomegranate molasses. In the end, I chose a more Indian style appetizer with the vegetable samosa mainly because I was curious about the house-made dough seasoned with cumin, then stuffed with potato and green peas. The one thing that set this dish apart from the more traditional Indian samosa was the attar (za’atar) and sumac spices giving it a nice finish and reminder that you are in the Middle East, not Central Asia.
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| Siraj Restaurant / Vegetable Samosa |
The melting pot blend of the Levant and traditional Khaleeji came full circle for my entree selection. With varieties from chicken biryani, margooga, camel tenderloin, and tawook I chose the Emirati mixed grill consisting of four skewers which at first screams Lebanese and Levant, but what set it apart was the spice and preparation of the kebabs. The meat was not skewered like traditional Lebanese and sat on a thin layer of flatbread that was like a cloth, and the meat was also covered by it. The kebabs consisted of a beef tikka, one skewer of shish tawook (chicken) and two skewers of lamb kofta with grilled tomatoes and onions plus a side of French fries. With the dish as it was Ramadan and the restaurant was inside a Souk instead of a hotel, alcohol was not available. So I had “mocktail” of saffron Champagne using Scavi & Ray white grape juice. The flavor profile for the lamb and chicken were enhanced by the spice blends. I didn’t expect to get garam masala style spice with a kebab that normally would get sumac or coriander. It was refreshing complexity and showed how the Chef enjoyed the experiment. Some kebabs were a little dry with being somewhat overcooked and having a stronger char texture but the taste was spot on.
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| Siraj Restaurant / Emirati Mixed Grill |
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| Siraj Restaurant / Kebabs |
Dessert:
I did not have dessert during this visit, but some items of interest on the menu included chocolate fondant, saffron mouhalabia, and date pudding.
Please see these guidelines for Tipping in Restaurants and on following proper etiquette, customs, cultures, and avoiding assumptions when you dine out.
Other noteworthy Emirati and Arabic food articles or restaurants similar to Siraj Restaurant:
a.k.a. Khaleeji (or lower Arab Peninsula) Cuisine
The modern diet of the United Arab Emirates is cosmopolitan, featuring dishes from many Middle Eastern and Asian cuisines. A lot of people confuse Levantine food as being Emirati/Khaleeji but due to harsh desert conditions, the traditional food of the UAE uses a lot of meat, grain, and dairy.
Aseelah A Modern Twist on Emirati Cuisine, at the Radisson Blu, Dubai Creek, Dubai, UAE
Al Fanar Restaurant and Café Authentic Emirati Cuisine, Festival City, Dubai, UAE
Asail AlSham Sweets “Mastic” ice-cream in Deira Dubai, UAE
Safar Restaurant Arabic and Emirati blended buffet at the Dubai International Airport (DXB), UAE
Seven Sands Fresh, traditional, cultural; 7 regions for Seven Sands near the Dubai Marina, Dubai, UAE
See the whole list by visiting “The Wine Dine and Play Article Glossary”
Other Dubai restaurants, and articles on Wine Dine and Play:
|
A culinary journey through Peru
Dubai, UAE
|
American Style 60s diner with local recipe fusion
DXB, 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 Siraj Restaurant a 2 out of 5 stars, meaning that they were far above the average dining experience of most restaurants. The score would have been higher if through my observations greater customer service was included.
Scores are detailed in the factor chart below:
Formula Factor Conclusions and Overall Ratings for Siraj Restaurant
|
Max Points Possible:
|
Total Points Awarded:
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Total Points deducted:
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Ambiance
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11
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11
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0
|
Food quality
|
11
|
9
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2
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Plate presentation
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10
|
8
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2
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Customer service
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10
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3
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7
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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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42
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31
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11
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Total percentage — less the Bonus
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0.738095238095238
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“Wow” factor BONUS
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5
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1
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0
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Total bonus percentage
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0.0238095238095238
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Total percentage and bonus for a final star rating
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0.761904761904762
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Stars Awarded (see chart below)
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0 - 5
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2
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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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2 of 5 Stars:
76% Rating with a 1 point “wow” bonus
Far Above The Average Dining Experience
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Restaurant style:
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Casual dining
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Cuisine Style at Siraj Restaurant:
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Arabic, Emirati
Allergen or dietary accommodations:
Farm to Fork, Gluten-free choices, Halal, Local, Low Carb Choices, Organic selections, Pescatarian, Vegetarian Options
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Reservations:
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Not Required
Walk-Ins:
Accepted, but not guaranteed
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Dress code:
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Smart casual attire, 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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Siraj Restaurant Experiences:
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Place for foodies, Contemporary, Modern, Trendy, Good for special occasions, Beautiful décor, Classy, Upscale, 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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Siraj Restaurant has a public lot
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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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Siraj Restaurant is a non-smoking restaurant
WARNING: has a smoking patio
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Patio or terrace:
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Yes, No
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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 (pricey)
$£€¥ 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
|
Emirati Dirham (AED)
|
د.إد.إد.إد.إد
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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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Siraj Restaurant:
Souk Al Bahar
Level 2
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Blvd
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Contact Information:
Restaurant website:
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Maître d or host:
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+971 4 513 6207
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Online reservations:
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Email Us:
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Serving hours:
UAE standard Time
(GMT, Zulu, or UTC - BST Offset + 4:00)
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Daily
12:00 pm - 1:00 am
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Social Media
And
Accolades for
Siraj Restaurant:
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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…
|
A Hip burger chain with space-age decor
Midtown, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
|
Colonial Portuguese Fusion with tapas
St. Petersburg, Florida, USA
|
Posh and artful French cuisine + culinary experimentalism at Intercontinental Hotel
Festival City, Dubai, UAE
|
Other Siraj Restaurant Pictures:
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| Siraj Restaurant / The Address |
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| Siraj Restaurant / Souk Al Baher Shops |
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| Siraj Restaurant / Dining Room Set-up |
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| Siraj Restaurant / Dining |
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| Siraj Restaurant / Table placements |
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| Siraj Restaurant / Mango Salad and Bread |
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| Siraj Restaurant / Saffron Champaigne |
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| Siraj Restaurant / Fresh Spices |
“Culinary perfection consists not in doing extraordinary things,
But in doing ordinary things extraordinarily well.”
-Angelique Arnauld (1591-1661)
Who is John Galt?
TTFN
Menu in Arabic:
الشوربات
العدس العضوي
عدس أصفر عضوي مطبوخ مع أوراق السبانخ الصغيرة, ويقدم مع اللبنة والدقة
الشوفان
شوفان محمص ومطبوخ مع خلطة البزار العربي, ويقدم مع شرائح لحم البقر والحنطة
الطماطم العضوية
طماطم عضوية مشوية مع بودرة اوراق الكاري وشرائح الدجاج السلطات
سلطة الشمندر
شمندر محضر بثلاث طرق مختلفة يقدم مع اللبنة وعصير الليمون
سلطة الكيل
أوراق الكيل والتمر المطبوخ على نار هادئة تقدم مع السمن العربي مع صلصة زيت الزيتون وعصير الليمون وطبقة من جبن الشلل
باقة من الخضار مع الخيار واالهليون تقدم مع صلصة الحلاوة الخاصة بسراج وطبقة من الفراولة والمكسرات
شرائح من المانغو الحلو والحامض مع اوراق الروكا والبصل والطماطم , مع صلصة زيت الزيتون والحامض وخلطة البزار العربي وجبنة البارميزان
شنكليش على الطريقة المنزلية , يقدم مع طماطم هيرلوم, وقطع البطيخ الاحمر وأوراق الروكا الصغيرة
سلطة الفلافل
الفلافل على الطريقة المنزلية تقدم مع الطماطم والخيار ولب الخس والطحينة
فتوش
الخس والخيار والطماطم تقدم مع صلصة عصير الليمون ودبس الرمان
سلطة العدس العضوية
عدس مسلوق مع دبس الرمان وقطع اليقطين والغريب فروت المطبوخ في الفرن
تبولة
بقدونس و طماطم و بصل مفروم تقدم مع برغل وصلصة زيت الزيتون وعصير الليمون المقبلات الباردة
حمص
بوريه الحمص المسلوق متبل بالطحينة وعصير الليمون
حمص لحم الغنم
حمص مغطي بطبقة من لحم الغنم المفروم والصنوبر المقلي
حمص مع لحم الجمل
حمص مغطى بطبقة من لحم الجمل المفروم والصنوبر المقلي
متبل باذنجان
باذنجان مشوي متبل مع الطحينة والرمان, يقدم على طبقة من شرائح الباذنجان المقلي
لبنة مع السلمون المدخن
خلطة اللبنة مع صلصة بيستو الزعتر والليمون المخلل وتغطيها طبقة من شرائح السلمون المدخن والشمندر
ورق عنب
ورق عنب ملفوف مع حشوة الارز والطماطم والبقدونس المفرومة ودبس الرمان
بابا غنوج
باذنجان مشوي مع الطماطم والفلفل الاخضر والبصل
سلطة الحلاوة
سلطة المانغو
سلطة الشنكليش
المقبلات الساخنة
ساموسا الخضار
عجين بالكمون على الطريقة المنزلية مع حشوة البطاطا والبازلاء الخضراء وتوابل العطار
رقائق الجبن المقلية
رقائق مقلية محشوة بتشكيلة أجبان مع البقدونس على طريقة سراج
كبة الكركند
الكبة الكركند مع حشوة الكركند والخضار
كبة لحم الغنم
كبة محشوة بلحم الغنم المفروم والصنوبر المقلي
كالاماري
كالاماري مقلي مع صلصة المايونيز والفلفل الاخضر الحار
مسخن الدجاج
خبز صاج عربي رقيق محشو بتتبيلة الدجاج السوتيه والبصل والسماق ودبس الرمان
بطاطا حرة
بطاطا, كزبرة, قطع الثوم الحار
نقانق
قطع النقانق المطبوخة بالزيت, مع دبس الرمان والفلفل الحلو
الحلوم المشوي
جبنة الحلوم مع الزعتر اليابس
فتة مكدوس
لحم غنم مفروم, مع الباذنجان, تُق َدم على الخبز المقرمش مغطاة باللبن والطحينة و صلصة الطماطم الأطباق الرئيسية
ارز الزعفران مع خلطة بهارات سراج , تقدم مع صدر الدجاج مغطاة في خبز الصاج والمكسرات
طاووق دجاج
ع البطاطس المقلية والبواز
ثلاثة أسياخ طاووق تُق َدم م
فرخ الدجاج المشوي
فرخ دجاج مشوي مع البصل والسماق ودبس الرمان
مغربية بالدجاج
مغربية مطهوة تُق َدم مع صدر الدجاج وصلصة منزلية
مشاوي إماراتية مشكلة
تيكة لحم البقر وشيش طاووق وكفتة لحم الغنم
مرقوقة اللحم
طبق إماراتي تقليدي من لحم الغنم و عجينة المرقوقة علي الطريقة المنزلية مع تشكيلة خضار مطبوخة مع صلصة الطماطم وخلطة توابل سراج
صالونة الخضار
تشكيلة خضار مطبوخة مع صلصة البندورة وخلطة البزار العربي
لحم تندرلوين الغنم
لحم تندرلوبن الغنم المشوي يقدم الي جانب البطاطا المتبلة مع اوراق الكاري اليابسة وصلصة بيستو الزعتر
شريحة لحم بقر بلاكمور واغيو
لحم بلاكمور واغيو (+9 ماربيلينغ) تقدم مع البطاطا المتبلة باوراق الكاري اليابسة وصلصة بيستو الزعتر
برياني الدجاج
ريش العجل المشوية
ريش العجل تقدم إلى جانب البطاطا المتبلة مع أوراق الكاري اليابسة وصلصة بيستو الزعتر
فيليه العجل الكندي مع توابل لجين والبطاطا المتبلة بأوراق الكاري اليابسة وصلصة بيستو الزعتر
كباب خشخاش
ثلاثة اسياخ كباب غنم تُق َدم مع صلصة الخشخاش,بطاطس مقلية,البواز
تكا
ثلاثة أسياخ لحم غنم تُق َدم مع البطاطس المقلية والبواز
كفتة
ثلاثة أسياخ كفتة غنم تُق َدم مع البطاطس المقلية والبواز
كفتة بالطحينة
ثلاثة أسياخ كفتة غنم تُق َدم مع البطاطس المقلية وصلصة الطحينة
عرايس لحم الغنم
لحم غنم مفروم يقدم بالخبز العربي, الى جانب البطاطس المقلية
هريسة غنم
قمح مسلوق على نار هادئة مع لحم الغنم والبهارات العربية
مجبوس روبيان
طبق إماراتي تقليدي من الارز و روبيان المطبوخ مع صلصة الطماطم و خلطة توابل دبي
سمك القاروص المشوي
فيلية سمك القاروص النرويجي الطازج يقدم مع صلصة الطحينة وشرمولة الطماطم
الكركند المشوي مع الزعفران
كركند كندي مشوي, يقدم مع زبدة الزعفران ومخلل الليمون
لمشوي
الروبيان ا
روبيان مشوي, يق َدم مع السلطة الخضراء
السلمون المشوي
يقدم مع صلصة الحامض و الزبدة , و الهليون الطازج
طبق الماكولات البحرية (اربعة اشخاص)
كركند مشوي ,سمك القاروص المشوي ,روبيان مشوي ,كالاماري يقدم مع بطاطس سراج
طبق الماكولات البحرية (شخصين)
كركند مشوي ,سمك القاروص المشوي ,روبيان مشوي ,كالاماري يقدم مع بطاطس سراج
لحم العجل الطري
