La Vedette, a French Bistro at The Kite Beach, Dubai

European comfort food is well known globally, be it Fish & Chips from England, Donner from Turkey or Pizzas & Pastas from Italy, something which is conveniently available across streets for a hungry food lover like me wherever I go. But to find French food on the street is a difficult one. 

 

Now, that people know that I review restaurants in my endeavor to find out the best food joints in UAE I get calls from all kind of restaurants serving different cuisines.

 

Recently, I got a call from a restaurant called, La Vadette, a street style Bistro dishing out French food.

 

La Vadette is located at Business Bay & Kite Beach in Dubai. I have never tried French Cuisine and this was a first for me too, so I simply couldn’t refuse when they invited me to their Food truck at Kite Beach.

 

It was an amazing view coupled with great taste. Ocean on one side and French food on the other, can’t get better than this. I started with salad served in a waffle cone. Now that was something I have never seen. The presentation was beautiful. La Fatoush is a famous Arabic salad and I simply loved it. It was fresh and the flavors were really amazing.

 

This was followed by their classic Corden Bleu Crepe & a Big Waffle Burger. Yummy Crepes, savory and sweet. Good food always puts me in a good mood and that is exactly what happened after I visited this place.

 

If you would like to see how I enjoyed my food, then watch the full episode of The Hidden Greats.

Best Steak in Dubai at Ponderosa Steakhouse

I cannot forget the day when I was introduced to the food called Steak. A succulent piece of meat with good fat content, minimalistic seasoning and yet full of flavors. Since that day there was no looking back for me.

 

Ribeye Steak

 

What I love most about Steak is the way it can be customized to one’s palate. From the selection of meat to the way it is prepared, every step, gives you the flexibility of choosing how you want your steak to be. Some people like basic seasoning of salt and pepper while some prefer it to be marinated, others want it to be cooked on the grill while some want it to be fried.

 

From rare to well done, Steak is a treat in whatever form you prefer eating it. 

 

Steak is one of my all-time favorite food.  I have been reviewing food for last 3 months now but somehow, I could not do any restaurants that do steaks until recently when I got a call from a restaurant called Ponderosa Steak House. Yes, the classic American steakhouse, now in Dubai. 

 

Steak

 

This cowboy-themed restaurant is in Dubai for the past six years and they serve some of the best steaks in town. The best thing about this Steak House is that if you order a steak from their menu, then your buffet is completely free which includes a selection of delicious dishes with unlimited soft drinks and ice creams. 

 

I ordered a Ribeye steak with baked potato and mushroom sauce. I like my steak medium well and it was prepared exactly the way I wanted it to be. Perfect cut of meat with the right amount of seasoning cooked on the grill.  It was Super juicy, tender and chard on the side. What more can I ask for?

 

To know more, I would recommend watching the full webisode of The Hidden Greats

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q8w8nA5tmhM

Best Indonesian & Thai Street Food in Dubai

UAE brings the best of cuisines from across the world and I was privileged to experience the flavors of South East Asia during this journey of mine.

 

How many of us have tried food from Indonesia? I am sure the number is not too high. Even I was amongst those who didn’t get a chance to eat it until I was invited to try the food at Hawkers…

 

Hawkers, as the name suggest, is a restaurant, famous for making people happy with their authenticity for the street food of Southeast Asia. From Indonesia to Thailand, they have dishes that would blow you away in no time. Started by Chef Pawan Jain & Manish Sehgal, Hawkers has become a go-to place for the Southeast Asian street food enthusiasts in Dubai.

 

So, the first thing I tried at Hawkers was Asam Laksa soup. It was a perfect start to what was to follow. Noodle soup with Mushrooms, Broccoli, Shrimps made in Coconut Milk and topped up with fried onions, a superb combination and a refreshing flavor profile.

 

My second stop was Pad Thai noodles which were stir-fried noodles with shrimps and crispy vegetables, a treat to the palate.

 

The best was kept for the last when I was served the hot selling item on the menu, an Indonesian wonder called Nasi Goreng. Nasi Goreng literally means Fried Rice. Nasi Goreng is South East Asian version of Biryani for me. I can eat it any day, any time. It’s a complete meal in itself with prawns served with fried egg, fried chicken sticks, prawns crackers, and veggies.

 

Every single item on the menu makes perfect sense and well thought off reflecting South East Asian Cuisine. The food served has a rich taste and the quantity is good.

 

My experience at Hawkers is one of the best so far opening my taste buds to South East Asian Cuisine.

The Best Gujarati Thali & Pani Puri in Dubai

A few weeks ago, was a historic day for me. My perception that I cannot eat anything but non-vegetarian food, changed forever.

 

I set out to try an all Vegetarian Family Restaurant in Karama named Swades Vegetarian Restaurant. situated adjacent to Hamadan Bin Latifa School. With a legacy of over 40 years, Swades Vegetarian Resturant is a Gujarati Restaurant and it was recommended to me by a very close family friend Saurav Banerjee.

 

The fact of reviewing a vegetarian restaurant for a non-vegetarian foodie like me was not very exciting in the beginning, to be honest. But, my perception was going to change, forever with their on the Counter Specialties – Pani Puri & Dahi Papdi Chat.  What an experience that was for me having Pani Puri made to my choice of fillings and chutney.

Somehow, the idea of keeping the live counter for these snacks is fading away in Dubai but Swades Vegetarian Restaurant is one of the few, who are keeping this tradition, alive. 

 

After trying out their famous Gujarati snacks prepared fresh every day, in-house, I set my eyes on their colorful Thali. The visually appealing Thali was indeed tempting even to a non-vegetarian like me and the best part was I got a variety of dishes to try in just one Thali – vegetables, lentils, chickpeas then their famous Dhokla, followed with Gulab Jamun and my favorite chaas. The affordability of the food coupled with the hospitality of the staff added on to the complete experience. 

How I enjoyed my food there? watch this week’s webisode of The Hidden Greats

 

 

 

Biryani Street in Palm Jumeirah, Dubai?

Biryani is loved across the world and my all-time favorite, too. I can eat Biryani any time of the day. Especially, when my wife, Sarah cooks it. Normally, I prefer not to eat Biryani in a restaurant as I am always looking for authentic taste and the nuances of the spice mix and this combination are difficult to find.

Hyderabadi Biryani

 

It’s rare that you eat a good Biryani. Either, spices are overpowering or the overuse of colors makes the simplicity of the dish to be lost in the complexity of different things tried to make it taste good. These experiments make a person like me, who is finicky about food always conscious when trying a Biryani. 

Chicken Multani

 

When I started my food review channel, The Hidden Greats on YouTube, a lot of people suggested me to review Biryani and I was reluctant of doing so as I was afraid of eating something not tasting authentic and then giving an honest review which might not go well with the outlet. But when Jai Satwani from Biryani Street invited me and insisted to try their Biryani, I couldn’t say No, as I could see the confidence that he exudes for the Biryani, his restaurant serves. 

 

Biryani Street is located at the 8th wonder of the world, Palm Jumeirah, Dubai. Amidst, a good ambiance and extremely friendly staff, Biryani Street serves food which is simply sumptuous. The whole place is a symbol of good aesthetics. But the aesthetic alone cannot make a restaurant, a good restaurant. The most important thing is the food that is served. And to be honest, the food that I tried there was one of the best in town. From their Chicken Multani to Creamy Prawns followed by their signature Hyderabadi Biryani in simple words was Simply Brilliant. 

Zaroob, The King of Arabic Street Food in UAE

Arabic street food is a worldwide phenomenon now. From New York to London, from  Paris to the streets of Brazil, you will find Showermas, Falafels, and Manakeesh everywhere.

I love Arabic street food and I am always on a hunt to find the best in the town. Recently, I visited Zaroob and after my visit there, I don’t think, I will be able to go to any other Arabic Street food restaurant other than Zaroob.

Zaroob is unique in so many ways and I would like to mention few here…

1. They don’t have a menu for breakfast, lunch or dinner. You can have whatever you want at whatever time of the day.
2. Their interiors are raw, classy and funky. Their color schemes have a very positive feel, you can sit there for hours and you will not feel bored.
3. They are really serious about their food and they are 100% authentic.
4. Last but not the least their location. Zaroob at Al Majaz is probably the most beautiful place to have food.

In my opinion, Zaroob is by far one of the best in the Arabic street food business. They have taken the Arabic food to a completely different level. To know more about Zaroob, please watch this week’s webisode of The Hidden Greats.

 

Street food of New York, Karachi & Mumbai in Dubai

Billions of people around the world eat street food. Its tasty, cheap and most of the time, the recipes are super original.

I am a huge fan of street food. In this webisode we headed to a restaurant in International City, Dubai which no one could stop talking about and known for bringing the street food from three major cities of the world, Shahi Paratha Roll.

Shahi Paratha Roll was started by Amir & Tayyeb out of their love and passion for street food, and none of the dishes on the menu were like anything we had tasted before.

Each dish had its own twist to it, whether it be international or desi. The dishes we tried were amazing especially the NY Chicken and Rice, which had been inspired by the street food of NYC.

Want to know what happened?

GO AND CHECK OUT THE LATEST WEBISODE TO KNOW MORE ABOUT OUR VISIT!

Authentic Panjabi Food at Jogi Da Dhaba

If you are in Business Bay or Downtown Dubai then you know the most difficult task for the people working there is to find good food at lunchtime and people have to spend hours to decide what to eat and what not to eat.

Recently, when I was invited to review this restaurant called Jogi Da Dhaba in Business Bay area, I realized that this is the moment that I was waiting for.

Jogi Da Dhaba serves authentic Punjabi food and is known for its homely style of cooking. They have the most affordable prices and offer a view of the Dubai Canal to make your meal feel more majestic.

 

 

One of the owners Sunila makes sure that the food is prepared according to the likings of the customers and is a chef herself, also known for their hospitality Jogi Da Dhaba puts in all the efforts to make sure that all guests feel at home and enjoy a wonderful meal.

 

 

The food reminds me of my home and makes me want to order every item on the menu. The flavors of all the dishes are perfectly balanced and I’m able to taste a bit of everything in them. The kebabs are perfectly cooked and seasoned with spices, I raise my hat to them.

How I enjoyed their food? watch this week webisode of The Hidden Greats

There is a Village in Ajman…

What if I tell you that I am a Desi from the bottom of my heart and I love Desi food? But there has always been one problem: Finding a restaurant which serves authentic and desi food.

Mutton Achari

The biggest expat population in U.A.E comprises of Indians & Pakistanis and there are hundreds and thousands of Desi restaurants around and yet we still struggle to decide where to go.

But finally, finally, finally. I found a really, really good Desi and in particular, an authentic Pakistani restaurant not in Abu Dhabi, not in Dubai, in fact, not even in Sharjah, guess where, in Ajman, yes you read it right, in Ajman.

Chicken Kadhai

Village restaurant founded by 2 brothers, Aftab and Raheel who have the passion to provide a meal which makes you feel at home to the millions of Pakistanis and Indians who are roaming the streets of UAE like Zombies to satisfy their taste buds with authentic Pakistani food.

Chicken Rajisthani

You want to know what I had to eat there, don’t you? THEN WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR? Check out the latest webisode to know more about this wonderful restaurant make sure you check out, Village Restaurant in Ajman

https://youtu.be/p_CpV3Fn8N8

Mithai & Diwali at Khana Khazana

All the food I had tasted on this series were either grilled, fried or baked and I was looking for a perfect end to all what I have eaten so far.

On this sweet webisode, I headed to Khana Khazana to try out something which I was missing out on, SWEETS!

Khana Khazana is known for the wide range of sweets they have to offer, but little did I know that I was in for an extravagant treat. I had heard of and tasted different types of sweets over the years, but I’d never heard of or tasted anything Khanna Khazana offered to me.

Once I got there I was blown away by a number of sweets that had been offered to me. I was fortunate enough to be the first person to taste the new range of sweets which Khana Khazana had just put up for the beautiful festival of Diwali.

The best thing about the sweets was that they only had 5% of sugar in it and the people with diabetes, like myself, can also eat it.

Want to know everything else that happened? Then what are you waiting for? Go and check out the new webisode of The Hidden Greats

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VmtEYBJsoa8&t=1s