Ravi Restaurant

Fearing they were resting on their laurels – Ravi’s is, after all, Craig David’s favourite restaurant in Dubai 46 Reviews

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Fearing they were resting on their laurels – Ravi’s is, after all, Craig David’s favourite restaurant in Dubai – we took our seats under the illustrious green and white sign to check out a fresh round of cheap Pakistani food.

We spent the early part of the meal teasing a cat; a mottled, skinny calico, who spent a few minutes sniffing for food around the legs of our table before taking a scream-inducing lunge at one of our fellow diners. The felinophobic customer promptly apologised to those seated around him. Outdoors, where we were sitting, the clientèle was diverse, but inside the main restaurant it’s more like a workers canteen than a cosmopolitan café – with closely-packed tables accommodating a predominantly Pakistani crowd. Curiously, the shelves above the indoor eaters carry only one thing – boxes of Lipton tea. For a little more comfort, the Palace Restaurant next door offers the same food with marginally nicer furniture.

A green-and-white uniformed waiter served us all of our food at once. We soaked plain boiled rice in thin but flavoursome lentil dal and added mutton kadai, chicken boti and raita to our plates. Under feeble street lighting, the meat in the kadai was a struggle to eat, being glued to the bone and spiked with gleaming stubs of fat, but the sauce was deliciously spicy. A better option was the boti, chunks of piping hot and nicely spiced grilled boneless chicken. The keema nan looked and tasted great, precisely circular and stuffed with a thin layer of mutton mince, but as a curry scoop it was irritatingly inflexible.

After finishing off our near-perfect Punjabi sweet lassis, we walked away from Ravi’s having only spent Dhs18 each on a real feast.

By Matthew Lee

• Previous reviews
  • 25 March,2012- reviewed by Time Out Dubai staff
  • 23 March,2011- reviewed by Time Out Dubai staff
  • 07 April,2010- reviewed by Time Out Dubai staff
  • 19 March,2009- reviewed by Time Out Dubai staff
  • 14 April,2008- reviewed by Guy Dimond
  • 26 March,2008- reviewed by Jeremy Lawrence
  • 12 March,2007- reviewed by Time Out Dubai Staff
  • 01 November,2006- reviewed by Time Out Dubai Staff
  • 30 April,2006- reviewed by Time Out Dubai

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Time Out reviews restaurants anonymously and pays for meals. Of course, we cannot guarantee the accuracy or independence of user reviews.

User reviews:

Posted by: Shema on 21 May ' 13 at 18:14

OverallDecorService

FoodAmbienceValue

• Best for: Family friendly
• Would you go back to this restaurant? Yes

Went there to to have dinner for the first time with family as we happened to be in Satwa. Yummiest Pakistani food I've tasted since in dubai, and we often eat out/ order from pakistani restaurants in our area, Barsha. We had the upstairs family room to ourselves, and service was 'ok'. However decor needs some investment which I'm sure Ravi can do! We loved the kneema, peshwari mutton, and of course the hot chapati, naan. Loved loved loved the mango lassi! will go again just for that! Be prepared to have tears in your eyes as you devour the food, nothing is mild there! My toddler could only nibble the naan. And also come home feeling super heavy & stomachs which will need a while to readjust!

Posted by: Graeme Lowther on 23 Mar ' 13 at 10:49

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FoodAmbienceValue

• Would you go back to this restaurant? No

Edited by TimeOutDubai.com

Seriously? Ravi's? The only reason this restaurant is popular with expats is because back in the old days it used to (illegally) serve beer. The food is appalling compared to many of the excellent restaurants in Dubai. Ravi's is not Indian, it is Pakistani, so it should not be in the category at all. It really is time to let Ravi's sink into the obscurity it deserves, the reputation is kept alive by expats who think it is cool (without even knowing what mad it the most popular expat restaurant in Dubai [the beer]). Without the beer, Ravi's cannot compare to the likes of Kamat,

Posted by: John on 11 Mar ' 13 at 10:32

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FoodAmbienceValue

• Best for: Family friendly
• Would you go back to this restaurant? Yes

Wonderful wonderful restaurant, the food is absolutely fantastic, the staff are a delight and there's always a great buzz about the place.

Posted by: jasmine on 20 Dec ' 12 at 08:52

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FoodAmbienceValue

• Best for: Family friendly
• Would you go back to this restaurant? Yes

Just excellent and fabulous value

Posted by: Robert Urhausen on 26 Aug ' 12 at 18:56

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FoodAmbienceValue

• Best for: Family friendly
• Would you go back to this restaurant? Yes

Awesome food! This is a real locals spot. Not much to look at but the food is great and the prices are super cheap. I spent $20USD for 2 people and there was plenty of food to eat. Also, the waiter was friendly and really helpful since I didn't recognize anything on the menu.

Posted by: Fahad Cheema on 16 Aug ' 12 at 11:33

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FoodAmbienceValue

• Best for: Business lunch
• Would you go back to this restaurant? No

I must say this restaurant has lost its charm ! Me and my wife went for Soohar this Ramadan and we ordered BBQ kebabs , believe me those were re heated in oven , when inquired to the manager he said IT IS IMPOSSIBLE ! this restaurant was so good 2 years back but now its USELESS ! I certainly dont recommend anyone for this restaurant ....cheers

Posted by: neytiri on 21 Jul ' 12 at 13:37

the food is cheap and smells delicious. i buy it regularly for the workers, they love it. i would like to try it but very reluctant. the surrounding is really dirty, the waiters while serving they constantly spit on the floor which is revolting

Posted by: Photographer. WILSON RIAZ on 18 Jul ' 12 at 11:26

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• Best for: Family friendly
• Would you go back to this restaurant? Yes

Posted by: Mufaddal Jamali on 19 Apr ' 12 at 21:52

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FoodAmbienceValue

• Best for: Family friendly
• Would you go back to this restaurant? Yes

Food that will never disappoint...Period

Posted by: Flung-faa on 21 Mar ' 12 at 02:23

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FoodAmbienceValue

• Best for: Family friendly
• Would you go back to this restaurant? Yes

Posted by: Tahir Khan on 28 Dec ' 11 at 06:04

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I wish to say timeout is a waste of time as they do not publish what they dont like i wrote a previous review and it never got published and am disappointed

Posted by: Michelle Lewis-Smith on 09 Dec ' 11 at 04:48

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FoodAmbienceValue

• Best for: Family friendly
• Would you go back to this restaurant? Yes

Just really good food!

Posted by: a.khan on 21 Sep ' 11 at 06:19

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FoodAmbienceValue

• Best for: Family friendly
• Would you go back to this restaurant? Yes

Yumiest food.. Specially Peshawari Mutton Karahi.. out ov this world

Posted by: Anonymous on 15 Sep ' 11 at 18:39

OverallDecorService

FoodAmbienceValue

• Best for: Business lunch
• Would you go back to this restaurant? Yes

I like the restaurant as whenever I am heading to my office in the morning I have breakfast there. Its awesome, if not the same as restaurants in pakistan still I would say it is same as homely food in pakistan!
Definately a friendly place and good hang-out with friends. Couldn't bring my family there untill they opened a branch in Raffa opposite bur juman. And they loved the food and place as much!
Thank You Ravi!!

Posted by: Basit on 10 Sep ' 11 at 15:35

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FoodAmbienceValue

• Best for: Family friendly
• Would you go back to this restaurant? Yes

I really like the Chicken Boneless Handi with Achar (Pickle). Their recipe is really unique for this cuisine. If someone knows how they cook please post in the message. Roghni Naans are also specialty I did not find Roghni Nann better than this in Dubai. Sitting Environment is not very easy especially in Satwa but their new Branch in Qusais is worth to go and you can easily settle down with your family.
Thanks.

Posted by: Siraj Uddin Balochi on 11 Aug ' 11 at 06:55

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• Would you go back to this restaurant? Yes

The Best Mutton Peshawari ever, Butter Dal, Butter Chicken & Chicken Tikka, I always come at Ravi...
I know that Ravi around 13years.....

Posted by: Jawad on 13 Jul ' 11 at 09:26

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FoodAmbienceValue

• Best for: Family friendly
• Would you go back to this restaurant? Yes

They have to do something for flies or invest little bit on decor and ambience inside

The taste is just 10 % of original taste you will get in Pakistan. If people are liking 10 % a lot. Imagine how tasty would it be in Pakistan itself.

Posted by: Eoghan Hennessy on 16 Mar ' 11 at 07:01

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FoodAmbienceValue

• Best for: Family friendly
• Would you go back to this restaurant? Yes

Go here all the time with my friends! the best 'casual evening' experience is getting a ravi's then heading to Dubai mall reel cinema for a movie with mates! (which is the best cinema in dubai bar none by the way)

The experience at ravi's is amazing! you can have banter with the staff and try whatever you want to eat without breaking the bank, great for bonding with friends quickly because it's a real event eating here.

I have eaten amongst millionaires and labourers! this restaurant unites the world!

Posted by: Natsy on 17 Jan ' 11 at 10:50

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FoodAmbienceValue

• Best for: Family friendly
• Would you go back to this restaurant? Yes

ravi has great food with great taste! very fresh ... reasonably priced ... karachi darbar food is cheaper but the taste sucks!!!

keep up! will definitely eat more and more from Ravi ...

Posted by: Magalie on 11 Nov ' 10 at 06:37

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• Best for: Family friendly
• Would you go back to this restaurant? Yes

Excellent

Posted by: Sumaira on 12 Aug ' 10 at 08:19

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FoodAmbienceValue

• Best for: Family friendly
• Would you go back to this restaurant? Yes

Posted by: Anish on 30 Jun ' 10 at 07:27

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• Best for: Family friendly
• Would you go back to this restaurant? Yes

Good Food

Posted by: Rauf_Az on 13 Jun ' 10 at 07:16

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FoodAmbienceValue

• Best for: Romantic
• Would you go back to this restaurant? Yes

I visited RAVI with my family last night. First of all, there two RAVIs next to each other: one is RAVI Restaurant and the other one is RAVI Palace.

Unless you are a pro-peace cyclist cycling from Kabul to Mogadishu, I would discourage you from dining at the RAVI restaurant and opt for RAVI Palace.

About RAVI Palace: well it is definitely not the Burj Al-Arab but prices are much lower. However, portions are not abundant either. Food is just OK, a bit better than average. When placing an order, make sure that you repeatedly ask your waiter for a food that is "NOT SPICY, OK?" many-many times. I asked only once and, after my first bite, felt like a dragon from Eragon.

This place is definitely worth visiting, at least once, especially if you are sick. RAVI's food will definitely KILL every virus that could possibly occupy human's body, including H1N1.

Posted by: saba on 31 May ' 10 at 12:50

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• Best for: Family friendly
• Would you go back to this restaurant? Yes

Posted by: Sara on 31 May ' 10 at 11:22

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• Would you go back to this restaurant? No

It's expensive compared to resturants of it's category. I paid Dhs. 17 for mutton kabab there but only Dhs. 9 at Karachi Darbar, seem with everything else. Food is variable; real good one day and real bad the other. Once I had Nahari from there for 7 continuous days, different taste everyday!!! At times gravy was just tooo watery or meat was uncooked properly n at times it was perfect. Can go there but certainly not the first pick...I have become a fan of Karachi Darbar though...

Posted by: Stephen Sue on 15 Mar ' 10 at 14:13

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FoodAmbienceValue

• Would you go back to this restaurant? No

Having read raving reviews I decided to indulge one Friday at lunch. My family and I ordered a variety of foods for a take-out; sorry Ravi but the flies put me off eating there.
Generally, the taste was between ordinary and...rubbish. I suspect the ingredients such as the ghee or oil were laregely to blame.
WOuld I venture back? No. It's over rated. Want good quality food...try India Palace at Garhoud.

Posted by: Sharmishtha on 09 Mar ' 10 at 13:59

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AmbienceValue

• Would you go back to this restaurant? Yes

Awesome food, no frills. The service sort of gets to you sometimes, but then you taste the food and make peace with the waiters.

Posted by: Adan on 03 Mar ' 10 at 15:46

OverallDecorService

FoodAmbienceValue

• Best for: Family friendly
• Would you go back to this restaurant? Yes

Posted by: Adnan Abbas on 14 Feb ' 10 at 18:59

OverallDecorService

FoodAmbienceValue

• Best for: Family friendly
• Would you go back to this restaurant? Yes

The food is excellent. They have the best Peshawri Mutton. Service is good but during weekend u get irritated to get hold of the people. I would recommend the Satwa Branch than the ghusais branch.

Posted by: John Smith on 11 Jan ' 10 at 03:44

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FoodAmbienceValue

• Best for: Family friendly
• Would you go back to this restaurant? Yes

Food extremely cheap, service second to none, how do these guys make money??

Posted by: Attique on 29 Dec ' 09 at 12:57

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FoodAmbienceValue

• Best for: Family friendly
• Would you go back to this restaurant? Yes

Posted by: Ahsen Ali on 22 Dec ' 09 at 08:20

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FoodAmbienceValue

• Best for: Family friendly
• Would you go back to this restaurant? Yes

Amazing food, no match if you want to have traditional Pakistani food. Try nihari and chicken tikka, really delicious. Sitting area is not that clean though with no parking around as well. HOwever, the food makes up for it.

A must place to visit for non-veg spicy food lovers.

Posted by: Ahmed Jehan on 19 Dec ' 09 at 21:23

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FoodAmbienceValue

• Would you go back to this restaurant? Yes

Head here for delicious, authentic, cheap Pakistani food. It's great fun sitting outside on a sidewalk amongs the hustle and bustle of Satwa, with a really diverse clientele and tucking into delicious Peshawari mutton, hot naans, biryani and raita. The mixed grilled meats are also delicious; also try the bihari kebab. What a great Dubai experience; a must visit for a casual bite.

Posted by: imran khalid on 20 Sep ' 09 at 10:02

OverallDecorService

FoodAmbienceValue

• Best for: Family friendly
• Would you go back to this restaurant? Yes

Posted by: habiba on 24 Aug ' 09 at 12:52

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FoodAmbienceValue

• Best for: Family friendly
• Would you go back to this restaurant? Yes

i just love iyts food everything is delicious and we love to go there .

Posted by: Maha on 19 Aug ' 09 at 16:42

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FoodAmbienceValue

• Best for: Family friendly
• Would you go back to this restaurant? Yes

Delicious food and completely cost-effective!!!

Posted by: Dietmar on 15 Aug ' 09 at 17:33

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FoodAmbienceValue

• Best for: Family friendly
• Would you go back to this restaurant? Yes

The dinner with friends was outstanding.
We will come again that's for sure.

Posted by: Waz on 02 Aug ' 09 at 20:02

OverallDecorService

FoodAmbienceValue

• Best for: Family friendly
• Would you go back to this restaurant? Yes

I took my kids and wife for dinner on Eid. They really enjoyed it ! The staff were great and the food was yummy :)

Posted by: ANDY on 02 Jul ' 09 at 23:45

OverallDecorService

FoodAmbienceValue

• Best for: Family friendly
• Would you go back to this restaurant? No

Posted by: Azhar on 24 Jun ' 09 at 20:10

OverallDecorService

FoodAmbienceValue

• Best for: Family friendly
• Would you go back to this restaurant? Yes

Thumbs up........Authentic food helps to cover the impolite service

Posted by: Kashif on 02 Jun ' 09 at 08:31

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FoodAmbienceValue

• Best for: Family friendly
• Would you go back to this restaurant? Yes

Best Food but no home delivery...Please start home delivery at least in the offices nearby shaikh zayed road.

Posted by: NJ Khan on 24 May ' 09 at 09:20

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FoodAmbienceValue

• Would you go back to this restaurant? Yes

Ravi Is like a wormhole, once you enter the door, you are in India... I love it because of it's authenticity and freshness! GREAT FOOD! UNBELIEVABLE PRICES!

Posted by: Saadia Khan on 20 May ' 09 at 11:42

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FoodAmbienceValue

• Would you go back to this restaurant? Yes

You don't go to Ravi's for fancy decor- you go for good-value, delicious, unpretentious food in equally unpretentious surroundings. Make sure you try the expertly cooked mixed grill, the Peshawari mutton, piping hot naans and raita (yogurt). If you don't know what to order, friendly regulars sitting near you are always happy to recommend their favourites. Fantastic.

Posted by: Diana on 18 Mar ' 09 at 12:13

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FoodAmbienceValue

• Best for: Family friendly
• Would you go back to this restaurant? Yes

This is the first time i eat Indian/Pakistan food. At first I don't believe when my friend asked me to go for dinner in Ravi.

And after... wowwww... the food is Awesome.
I loved chicken tikka, chicken peshwari and chesee nan.

More... dont bother with your purse....

Posted by: Vincent Patrick on 08 Feb ' 09 at 19:32

OverallDecorService

FoodAmbienceValue

• Best for: Family friendly
• Would you go back to this restaurant? Yes

The Best Mutton Peshawari ever.. Will keep you coming back for more.. Please send us the recepie...Will revist again for sure on our next vistis.Fantastico

Posted by: Waheed AKhtar on 28 Dec ' 08 at 17:31

OverallFood

• Best for: Brunch served
• Would you go back to this restaurant? Yes

Excellent! Excellent! Excellent! Excellent! Excellent! Excellent! Excellent! Excellent! Excellent! Excellent! Excellent! Excellent! Excellent! Excellent! Excellent! Excellent! Excellent! Excellent! Excellent! Excellent!