Rostang, The French Brasserie

Competent though unexciting fare courtesy of Michelin-starred Michel Rostang 23 Reviews

Meal Deal

Rostang’s grape escape

The regular Thursday-night grape event features a buffet of French specialities, teamed with a selection of French and New World grape. Dhs220 (food only), Dhs320 (house beverages) Timings: 6.30pm-10.30pm (Thursday)

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It’s difficult to get over the feeling that the Atlantis and the restaurants within are becoming a little bit jaded as the years have passed by – newer, slicker venues are opening inland, making the journey up The Palm’s trunk to one of the hotel’s restaurants more of an effort than perhaps it was in times gone by. This isn’t to say that venue’s such as Rostang shouldn’t be ruled out altogether. The venue is a competent recreation of a (sizeable) French Brasserie where staff even make an effort to greet you with a ‘Bonsoir’ as you walk through the door.

However, service isn’t quite as slick as the French accents – it’s either a little cloying or totally inattentive, but providing you maintain good humour, it’s bearable. As with the venue, the food proves to be a reasonable replication of classic French bistro dishes – from steaks to moules frites. Certainly nothing shines, but Rostang is worth a visit for its weekly promotions, which will feature all you can eat and all you can drink for a price that’s right. Otherwise, we suggest sticking to the Gallic options back on shore.

By Time Out Dubai staff
Time Out Dubai, 14 August 2011

• Previous reviews
  • 22 March,2012- reviewed by Time Out Dubai staff
  • 24 March,2011- reviewed by Time Out Dubai staff
  • 29 November,2010- reviewed by Oliver Robinson
  • 05 April,2010- reviewed by Time Out Dubai staff
  • 19 January,2010- reviewed by Daisy Carrington
  • 17 March,2009- reviewed by Time Out Dubai staff
  • 20 October,2008- reviewed by Daisy Carrington

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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: Amr Mustapha on 05 Feb ' 13 at 03:36

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• Would you go back to this restaurant? No

The Service was DISASTROUS. Slow, inattentive, no focus, staff did not listen. The order was taken after 15 minutes which is fine. The food came 45 minutes later and two of the group including my 12 year old nephew did not receive any food for 1 hour 15 minutes !! They brought one meal and placed it on a shelf for a moment to bring cutlery and then completely forgot to bring the food. I gave them 5 minutes grace and still no food, when I informed them of their "oversight" they responded with no apology and a gentle stroll to pick up the food. After almost 2 hours and 30 minutes in this poor serviced restaurant, I vowed NEVER to return and recommend the same to anyone who considers to go. IT is a shame as the food was good, solid French fair. I shall never return.

Posted by: Claire on 11 May ' 12 at 03:57

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• Would you go back to this restaurant? No

Complete dissapointment!

Terrible start with the hostess leading us through only to be stopped by a second hostess where we were made to repeat our booking details, I'm not sure if she had hearing issues but we had to repeat them a lot! Even the first hostess (who apparently did not feel the need to intervene) got bored and walked away.

The starters and deserts were just 'nice' but the mains were terrible. Very small portions and the vegetarian option lacked any kind of imagination. The duck was bland. The fish was dry.... The list goes on!!

We asked for the bill....got bored waiting for it! When we finally received it we found they had managed to mess that up too.

I am perplexed as to where the Michelin stars come in to this restaurant. I think it's time the famous chef paid a visit. I've had better meals at the mall food court.

Dissapointing food, appalling service.

Posted by: brian on 08 Mar ' 12 at 07:42

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

Went there on a weekend. Mixed crowd, families, couples, etc. The traditional French cuisine was excellent - French onion soup, foie gras, etc. However, the nicoise was untraditional (no black olives?) and didn't quite satisfy.

The two mains we tried were both disappointing - the sea bass, which was recommended by the staff, was both bland and overcooked. The veal was likewise disappointing.

My recommendation: stick with the traditional French fare.

Posted by: teeba on 28 Dec ' 11 at 18:15

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• Would you go back to this restaurant? No

it was to bad very small meals and under cooked !!!!!

Posted by: fred on 19 Nov ' 11 at 15:00

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

We went there with a couple of friends and decided to give a shot after reading some not very good reviews on this same website. we asked for a terrace table and the atmosphere was really relaxing. We decided to go for the real french dinner and took the snails, foie gras and a selection of oysters and that was wonderful. The service was great and we will be back

Posted by: jimmmy on 31 Aug ' 11 at 19:19

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• Would you go back to this restaurant? No

Only three words WHAT A SHAME i did not excpect that the french cuisin well reach this level , what to say about the so called head waiter or the manager . we went with my wife when it first openned it was excellent from the food to the service but now it is a terrible

Posted by: Yacine on 29 Jun ' 11 at 09:44

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• Would you go back to this restaurant? No

The waitress served us the salad with the main course argued by saying that we told her we'll share it between us...wow...the rest of the food was not extraordinary, I've tasted many in Dubai better and of course less expensive.
The music was not well chosen, it explained the discrepancies.

Posted by: Dee on 29 Mar ' 11 at 07:00

• Would you go back to this restaurant? No

Hi we went for a special occasion with parents in law, and what a disapointment! Signature dish Penne Lobster the Pasta was hard as nails, and tasted as from a supermarket, the sauce as water. French fries not home made. My seabass i dont know how to describe it. Staff was arguing in front of the staff It was a shame as the first time we dined at M.R. it was truly amazing! I wrote to the food and beverage manager and maybe the feedback (when i finally got it) explains the let down of the restaurant. And as explained in my letter to them we where not looking for a free bee!! simply a feedback and no! we wont go there again.

Posted by: KATE on 21 Nov ' 10 at 12:18

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

We were advised by Rostang staff that there was a dress cose( no shorts, flip flops etc) so we smartened up for our lunch. When we arrived we had to fight through the dineyesque holiday crowd to even find the place. We we waited ages to be seated and then ended up sitting in a family bistro. Shorts, t shirts, kids, buggies etc we may as well have been in TGI fridays or some such. It was very expensive but we had a 2 4 1 voucher which took the sting off. Beware, no soft drinks menu, we paid 5 english pounds for a bottle of water. However the food was rather good although everything is on a side order so you end up spending loads just to get a side salad or chips. Do not travel over there thinking you are going to have a romantic lunch in an exclusive restaurant. will go back with a different mindset and another voucher.

Posted by: Paul on 29 Aug ' 10 at 14:38

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• Would you go back to this restaurant? No

Er...My friend received her food but I didn't!!!! We asked for the bill and then my food arrived but by that time it was too late.
For a well known respected Chef the team in Atlantis let him down!!

Posted by: Dimo Valev on 17 Jun ' 10 at 10:22

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• Would you go back to this restaurant? No

Disappointing.

Posted by: Holly on 30 Apr ' 10 at 11:42

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

I really enjoyed this restaurant. The ambience was lovely and the food was exquisite. Perhaps a bit pricey but overall it was a great experience. I thought the service was good and that the bathroom didn't really effect the restaurant. After all it is a matter of opinion. The venue is extravagant which adds to the restaurants grandness. Fantastic menu with alot to offer. I hope other people enjoy the restaurant as much as I did. It's better than Ronda Locitelli's - that's for sure!

Posted by: Frenchy on 19 Mar ' 10 at 13:11

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

The Best French Brasserie and wine Bar in Dubai.

Posted by: BrunchMates on 17 Mar ' 10 at 06:49

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• Would you go back to this restaurant? Yes

Rostang Just became my favorite place prior to hitting the party in Sanctuary.

My mates and I went there last weekend, we sat at the bar to have a cigar and a bottle of wine, a Franck the young manager (cocky as all french) came by to see us and offered us a tease of Oysters!

We ended up ordering a Parisian Seafood Tower!!

From now on I will not eat Oysters, Mussels or Crab anywhere else the produce that this people use is so fresh.

Great for pre-party drinks and cigar smoking, while indulging into sea creatures.

The only shame is that it is so big that it always looks empty, they should put some screens to watch the matches! Specially for the World Cup this would be my daily hang out!

Posted by: Barman on 16 Mar ' 10 at 20:20

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

Great place for French food. Good value for money and large selection of wine.I like the place and the friendly staff and management... The best french Brasserie in Dubai.

Posted by: Erica on 13 Feb ' 10 at 17:24

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

We have attended special black truffle dinner a couple of days ago. Food was below average and service was so so as well. Special chef's dish was a regular supermarket burnt bread with lots of oil in it. Chef definitely doesn't worth 2 Michelin stars. Will never go back to that restaurant again.

Posted by: YL on 19 Sep ' 09 at 13:23

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• Would you go back to this restaurant? No

Brought my Singaporean friends there for lunch on Friday. The "snooty" headwaiter didn't bother to come to our table even though we're the only arrivals at that time. No matter. The food quality is so-so. We were quite disappointed with our plates as they tasted like those coming out of the common kitchen in any one of the cafes in shopping malls ! 2 Michelin stars ? I think they need to re-evaluate this place. It is plunging the Michelin stars brand name down !

Posted by: Kwan on 28 Aug ' 09 at 20:46

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

As part of our holiday package we were offered dinner at Rostang among a selection of other restaurants (as half board). It's not a very busy restaurant, the service was okay; the waiters were happy to make conversation. We ordered from a waiter who assured us he would remember our order without having to write it down. My daughter ordered vegetable terrine but she ended up with a cheese and tomato pastry. The food was okay but didn't quite meet our expectations for a two michelin star restaurant. Although the main courses were lovely I think we've tasted better French food in France aswell as here in London.

Posted by: BrunchMates on 18 Aug ' 09 at 11:35

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• Would you go back to this restaurant? Yes

Me and my mates ended up there for brunch a few Fridays ago. I tell you I drank Cava ( a bubbly from Spain) I tell you that french wine guy is hilarious he kept cracking me up. The seafood towers keo coming and coming where there are like 5 types of different oysters, who knew they where more than one, lobster, king crab, the works. Then you order your main, I had Cod which was perfectly cooked and then haha we dove into the cheese buffet. They cut of the drinking at 4pm but we moved to the little wine bar they arranged there. We left till 8pm completly out of it.
Down side ... all those people walking outside of the restaurant Atlantis should make some rules of who goes in, people just go to look at the fish.

We are planing on going back this Thursday since they will move it to Thursday dinners since Ramadan starts !!

Posted by: sinead on 21 Jul ' 09 at 11:47

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• Would you go back to this restaurant? No

very overrated place, great decor but it stops there.
Food way overpriced for what it is. Standard french food charging ridiculous prices.
Odered the cheese and tomato pastry which was recommended by the waiter - to me it was just like a cheese and tomoto toastie.
Main course ordered the famous signature dish burger with fois gras - Ha what a joke, the bun was supermarket bought the burger basic with a little piece of fois gras stuck to the toothpick on top of the burger - nothing came with it, even the sauce was ketup ! if I wanted something that standard I could have gone to Mc Donalds!
Overall very bad - would never go back.
Plus the toilets are outside the restaurant all the way across the hall where my husband witnessed about 20 men trying to wash their feet in the sinks before prayer time ! Nice! Really gets the appitite flowing.

Posted by: fabibito on 25 Jan ' 09 at 13:33

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

Have been there 3 times.
Food: from very good quality at the beginning to lower quality at last visit. Far away from what you could expect from a so called 2 michelin star chef! It is worth now the quality of a normal/average brasserie in France.
Service: from disastrous at the beginning to much much better now,
Restaurant is far too large for the little few visiting it, Overall, very pricey for what to you get!. i do not think I will go again fo that reason

Posted by: emmanuelle on 05 Jan ' 09 at 10:00

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

Having read the Timeout review, I prepared for the worst, but then again i thought that by being French and not a food critic I would be save....
Massive error! The service is appalling. The friendly waiter offered water, but the snob french sommelier never made it to our table (one of the 4 occupied at that time!) and there was no head waiter to be seen, which might explain the poor service due to lack of proper management.
We had crabs, undercooked and watery, mayonnaise not eadible, cocktail sauce out of a tin...The best part however is that once you have fiddled with your crab, you are left wondering what to do next...no wet tissues or hat water bowls offered, nothing! And the public (!) toilets are only available outside of the restaurant so you end up crossing the corridor to wash your hands.
We had then chosen steak tartare which is a typical French brasserie dish, served with fries and salad...except in Dubai you just get the steak all the rest is charged as side dish! Imagine a pub servig fish and chips with no chips...speechless.
No need to say that we did not try the desserts.
Overall a very disappointing experience, especially when you consider that it is menat to be run (owned?) by a 2 star renowed chef.

Posted by: Anju on 27 Oct ' 08 at 06:14

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