Manhattan Grill

Dubai’s internationally-themed restaurants aren’t always blessed with the gift of authenticity. Yet walk into the Manhattan Grill, with its walls of shining chrome, dark wood surfaces and sultry piped jazz music, and the illusion of being in a high-class New York eatery is so flawless that you half expect to spot Woody Allen, wisecracking over a plate of alfalfa sprouts in the corner 9 Reviews

Meal Deal

Lunch deal

The steakhouse’s weekday business lunch offers a three-course set menu, including water and a hot beverage. Dhs100 per person Timings: noon-3pm (Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday)

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Dubai’s internationally-themed restaurants aren’t always blessed with the gift of authenticity. Yet walk into the Manhattan Grill, with its walls of shining chrome, dark wood surfaces and sultry piped jazz music, and the illusion of being in a high-class New York eatery is so flawless that you half expect to spot Woody Allen, wisecracking over a plate of alfalfa sprouts in the corner. Start by digging into a brandied lobster bisque – a rich, saline, brick-red brew, topped with gossamer-fine froth, or a strong, meaty foie gras atop a delicately-arranged tower of potato, wickedly-spiced black pudding and chunks of lobster tail.

It’s hard to completely spoil a good steak, but to bring out the best in it requires quite masterful skill; and it’s a gift the Manhattan Grill’s chef can confidently boast to possessing. The American, smokily charred to perfection on the outside, yields meat so rich and juicy that it would be sensational even without the gently piquant red wine sauce or sweet chutney. The rare porterhouse steak, is a peppery masterpiece, seared to retain all its viscerally juicy goodness and coated in buttered mushroom sauce. Sidedishes are fittingly understated – a potato-and- chive mash and some strong, creamy spinach-flecked with veal bacon.

You may be convinced that such magic can’t last, but you’ll be wrong, and we warn against succumbing to the urge to lick the bowl of a zingy berry gratin coated in custard. Of course, this kind of cuisine doesn’t come cheap (and nor does a bottle of their excellent house wine). But if you want to taste steak as it should be cooked, then this fantastic restaurant isn’t merely recommended, it’s essential.

By Time Out Dubai

• Previous reviews
  • 21 March,2012- reviewed by Time Out Dubai staff
  • 12 September,2011- reviewed by Time Out Dubai staff
  • 28 March,2011- reviewed by Time Out Dubai staff
  • 05 April,2010- reviewed by Time Out Dubai staff
  • 30 March,2009- reviewed by Time Out Dubai staff
  • 03 November,2008- reviewed by Daisy Carrington
  • 26 March,2008- reviewed by Time Out Dubai Staff
  • 12 March,2007- reviewed by Time Out Dubai Staff
  • 12 July,2006- reviewed by Time Out Dubai
  • 17 December,2005- 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: Frédéric on 31 Mar ' 12 at 12:19

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FoodAmbienceValue

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

The menu offers mainly meat, including the famous beef "Wagyu", but also one or two fish, lobster or salmon.

We chose the following dishes for myself and my three guests:

-1x Black Angus 8 oz tenderloin with bourbon BBQ sauce, and also herb butter, accompanied by Crispy Idaho Potato Fries (for me)
- 1x Black angus tenderloin with 8 oz wine sauce, with mashed potatoes
- 1x Ribe Eye Steak 12 oz Black Angus with bearnaise sauce, served with mashed potatoes
- Sirloin Steak 1x 12 oz Black Angus served with vegetables of the market.
- 1 liter of plain water
- 1 liter of carbonated water
- 2 espresso
- A double espresso
- A Tea

Initially, it brings us a beautiful piece of warm bread on wooden plate with butter. Excellent as always in this kind of place. Then, as an appetizer, an onion soup. I must say I'm not a big fan, but my three guests liked it.

For the main course, my fillet steak was cooked to perfection. An excellent quality meat, more bourbon barbecue sauce was terrific. But where I was amazed, it's on french fries, one month after a big fan of good french fries and therefore hates me when this frozen french fries ..... well there with my angels "Crispy Idaho Potato fries" were dropped. in fact, the french fries were of average size, with breadcrumbs. a treat!
My guests were all delighted with their pieces of meats and their accompaniments.

The service is very professional, not at all stressful and what you enjoy most all the dishes are brought together.

A great discovery, advise strongly.

Posted by: Dr. Raji Mathew on 01 Sep ' 11 at 15:56

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• Would you go back to this restaurant? Yes

Came for the much praised business lunch on the day before. Opted for some orange juice. Warm, fresh, thickly cut slices of bread with butter brought to the table. Irresistably good. Had to stop myself after the 3rd slice. For starters, had the grilled beef tartar which was pleasing to the eye in its presentation. It was finely minced and not thinly cut beef tartar. For the mains, I chose the grilled lamb steak served with corn cake, broad beans and black olives. Beautifully presented. The corn cake which tasted good and complemented the dish well was soft on the inside and just slightly firm on the outside, meaning you could cut it without it losing its shape. The grilled lamb was superb too. Dessert was baked apple pie with vanilla ice cream and cinnamon sauce.
Quiet surroundings with good service. This place deserves the praise it gets.
Total: Dhs 100(set lunch) + Dhs 28(orange juice).

Posted by: Dr. Raji Mathew on 14 Aug ' 11 at 07:15

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FoodAmbienceValue

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

Bound to go round searching for the place owing to poor signage and directions and the fact that it's hidden in one corner. That apart, once you get in, it's smooth sailing till the end. I managed to come last week and left the happier for it.
Had the spinach starter which also had bacon and egg and followed it up with a 14 oz. black angus bone-off ribeye with green peppercorn sauce. I liked that when I had asked for the Dijon mustard the waiter didn't just leave a bottle there but rather gave me what I wanted from a large bottle and took back the rest. The ribeye, done medium had retained it's tenderness.
I was attended well by Raden, my waiter. The service was unobtrusive and I was left on my own to savour the meal. Chocolate treats were offered since I declined the desert after the rather filling 2 courses.

Posted by: Callie on 28 Jul ' 11 at 10:39

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• Would you go back to this restaurant? Yes

The meal was amazing. Definitely one of the best steakhouses in Dubai. We went for lunch and chose the menu option versus the business lunch. The steak was full of flavor and quite tender. I went with the 9oz off bone tenderloin while my husband ate the 12 oz on bone tenderloin. The meat portion was about the same so keep that in mind if you are looking for a larger steak. The side dishes are small so get more than one if you intend to share. We finished our meal with the Oreo cheesecake, which I highly recommend.

Posted by: Alka Winter on 13 Apr ' 11 at 09:43

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• Would you go back to this restaurant? No

I had dinner at the Manhatten Grill last night for my birthday, and the food was disapointing. I ordered an 8oz Angus beef tenderloin medium temperature that was both tough to chew as well as bloody. The meat was also tasteless. The sides were onion rings with stilton sauce which was alright, but the rings were also lacking in flavour and the portion of stilton sauce could have been larger. This was the first time I have never finished a steak, having half of it left uneaten.

My date fared a bit better with his meal. Ambiance was nice though.

Posted by: Matt on 11 Mar ' 11 at 08:32

OverallDecorService

FoodAmbienceValue

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

I usually go here for business lunch as they have one of the best offers in town.
But now they have also introduced a new menu in the early evening which includes two courses, wine and coffee or tea for only AED195 (!!!), which is outstanding value for a place of this quality. This is definitely an offer worth trying, I highly recommend it! (come before 20.30 to get this deal)
Service and food is second to none.

Posted by: Julia on 14 Jul ' 10 at 14:04

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• Would you go back to this restaurant? Yes

We have tried and liked a lot of the steakhouses in Dubai, but Manhattan Grill somehow never was on top of our list.
A mistake as it turns out!

We went for the set menue which is a 4 course dinner.

The starter was a mix of 3 small tartars - amazingly decorated, tasty and surprisingly innovative (think butterfish tartar with mango Carpaccio).

The second course was a basil sorbet. I have never eaten something like that before! Absolutely amazing and indescribable sweet herb taste.

My main was a steak. Again the way they decorated it was wow, as was the taste, the meat quality and the sides.

The dessert might have been the weakest course but still a really good mix of strawberry/rhubarb/cream/ice.

The waiters were very friendly and attentive, changing the sides was not a problem for them at all.

The price was 215AED as it was a dry night, usually it would be 295AED with unlimited wine.

Absolutely worth it! We will definitely go back.

Posted by: Julie on 24 May ' 09 at 09:49

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FoodAmbienceValue

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

I go there nearly every week for business lunch, as it is seriously the best offer in town. For 100 Dirhams you get an elegant three course menu that is made to impress (including water & coffee!!). I love the chicken and can only reccomend to try the cheese platter!
Attentive and fast service and amazing food - my favourite combination.

Posted by: Jim K on 09 May ' 09 at 18:45

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• Would you go back to this restaurant? Yes

Absolutley the best steaks and the best service in Dubai. "Nebraska" steaks are incredible! Other items are equally great. Service and management of the restaurant is amoung the best we have found anywhere in the world.