Romantic

Winner
101
One&Only The Palm, Palm Jumeirah (04 440 1010).

Highly Commended
Majlis Al Bahar
Burj Al Arab, Jumeirah (04 301 7600).

Pierchic
Al Qasr, Madinat Jumeirah (04 366 6730).

From the moment you step onto the boat that speeds you to the restaurant’s door to the moment you sit down at this beautifully appointed restaurant, 101 dazzles. It’s a venue that can accommodate all manner of romantic interludes – first-daters can keep it casual by dining outside, while die-hard romantics can impress in the gilt-edged interior. The food is delicate (sparing you from difficult-to-negotiate, potentially embarrassing dishes) and service is discreet.

Majlis Al Bahar, located directly behind the Burj Al Arab, offers a spellbinding al-fresco setting and an affordable barbecue dining option. Pierchic, framed by the turquoise waters of the Gulf, boasts a breathtaking setting and you’ll fall in love with the artfully prepared seafood dishes served.

Seafood

Winner
Pierchic
Al Qasr, Madinat Jumeirah (04 366 6730).

Highly Commended
Ossiano
Atlantis The Palm (04 426 2626).

Peppercrab
Grand Hyatt Dubai, Oud Metha (04 317 1234).

Pierchic complements its picture-postcard setting at the end of a Burj-facing pier with plenty of quality fare. Everything from the herb butter and soft bread served at the beginning of the meal to the formidably sized oysters underline the strength and depth of the menu at this Al Qasr venue.

Look past Ossiano’s elaborate, over-the-top setting, and concentrate on the finesse of the seafood offerings, and it becomes clear why the Atlantis restaurant is a worthy runner-up this year. The refurbished Peppercrab restaurant offers exotic and innovative South-East Asian dishes – including the dish from which the restaurant takes its name, which, in our opinion, will always invigorate and excite taste buds.

Steakhouse

Winner
The Exchange Grill
Fairmont Dubai, Sheikh Zayed Road (04 311 8316).

Highly Commended
Hunters Room & Grill
The Westin Dubai Mina Seyahi, Dubai Marina (04 399 4141).

The Rib Room
Jumeirah Emirates Towers, Sheikh Zayed Road (04 319 8088).

From the plush carpeted interior and generously spaced tables to the gliding, ultra-professional staff, it doesn’t take long to work out that The Exchange Grill is in a class of its own. Diners are treated to the highest quality steaks, caressed with expertise on the grill and served with well-thought-out accompaniments.

For this year’s highly commended awards, Hunters provides a relaxed, intimate dining experience, which is further complemented by friendly, accommodating staff. Prime cuts are grilled lovingly in the open kitchen, making for a most memorable dining experience. The Rib Room, meanwhile, has proved a quality option after its mid-2011 facelift: a transformation that offers diners fantastic food that lives up to the sleek environs.