Al Khayal in Jumeirah Beach Hotel, Jumeirah, Dubai - Restaurant Reviews

Al Khayal

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From Time Out Dubai Eating Out 2007

Heavily hair gelled waiters with attitudes are rife in Lebanese eateries, and sadly they’ve given the entire cuisine an unfortunate reputation. So when there’s a restaurant that has a winning combination of excellent food, a classy setting and flawless, welcoming service, it deserves a salute. Although the dress code at Al Khayal is elegant, you can waltz in here wearing anything decent and you won’t get looks from the hostess. The waiters are patient and surprisingly happy to see you, and on the off-chance they get one of your orders wrong, you’ll be treated to an extra dish or two. It’s a wonderfully unexpected experience to say the least. In fact, it’s so unexpected it’s hard to gripe about the minor misgivings Time Out has about some of the food.

OK, so the tabbouleh is too parsley-heavy and the spicy potatoes are a bit oily, but other stellar dishes make up for these shortcomings: the baba ganoush is fresh and exquisite, and the mixed grill is a tasty array of grilled lamb, beef, kibbeh and chicken. If you can manage another course, the mouhalabiya for dessert is a sweet combination of milk, rose water and pistachios, and is a light and delicious end to a fantastic dining experience.

Aside from minor reservations with some of the starters, Al Khayal is everything a Lebanese restaurant ought to be: it’s welcoming, the food portions are generous, and the service is so impeccable you’ll be happy to leave a tip over and above the service charge. Very impressive.

By Time Out Dubai Staff