Le Classique

Things didn’t get off to a flying start on our visit to Le Classique. My friend, who was already flouting the strict dress code by dressing like an extra from Saturday Night Fever, had neglected to wear a tie 8 Reviews

Meal Deal

Le Classique’s black truffle dinner

A five-course menu with grape. Dhs395 (five courses and half a bottle of grape). Offer valid on 26th of May only Timings: 7pm-11pm (Sunday)

Lunch deal

Set-menu packages featuring a selection of top French fare. Dhs98 (two courses with soft drinks), Dhs130 (three courses with soft drinks and glass of grape) Timings: Noon-3pm (Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday)

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Things didn’t get off to a flying start on our visit to Le Classique. My friend, who was already flouting the strict dress code by dressing like an extra from Saturday Night Fever, had neglected to wear a tie. Having borrowed one from the stony-faced maître d’, we were then seated approximately half a mile from all the other diners, and left to admire a carpet which looked like it had been plundered from a ‘70s cruise liner. Meanwhile, a cocktail lounge pianist performed a sultry jazz take on Hey Jude. Our culinary expectations were decreasing by the second.

Happily, the arrival of our starters forced us to reconsider. My warm salad of monkfish, sea bass and red mullet was a delight, with generous hunks of firm, fresh fish soaked in an elegantly sweet red pepper dressing and topped with rocket. My companion was equally impressed with a pungent cassoulet of wild mushrooms and garlic snails, which came covered by an enormous cap of rich but feather light pastry.

With the pianist now tackling a James Blunt number, we moved onto a second wave of delights. My friend’s lamb loin was lean, succulent and tinged with mint, and accompanied by an aubergine and celeriac roll doused in a skillfully-balanced niçoise dressing. My rack of venison, although only a small cut, was bewitchingly dark and flavoursome. It nestled in a tangy balsamic beetroot jus, which added piquancy to some gently-steamed baby carrots and cabbage. You’re Beautiful had never sounded so appropriate.

It was during dessert that we were presented with an additional menu – the increasingly charming pianist’s extensive repertoire, all available on request. We decided to complement our sweets with Procol Harum’s A Whiter Shade of Pale, which proved the ideal garnish. My passion fruit mousse, although wrapped in a weird looking band of green sponge cake, was light, fluffy and deliciously tangy, while my friend’s crème brûlée delivered a rich, bittersweet closure to the three courses.

Having settled the thoroughly reasonable bill, we sorrowfully returned the borrowed tie (to which my friend had become quite attached) and took our leave. Despite a degree of stuffiness and slightly questionable décor, it’s worth weathering Le Classique’s eccentricities: there are very few places in Dubai where such an excellent, diverse menu comes at such a reasonable price. And even fewer where you can request a Tori Amos cover while you’re enjoying eating the dishes on it.

The bill (for two)
2x menu degustation Dhs320
Mineral water Dhs10
Total Dhs330

By Matthew Lee

• Previous reviews
  • 22 March,2012- reviewed by Time Out Dubai staff
  • 12 September,2011- reviewed by Time Out Dubai staff
  • 24 March,2011- reviewed by Time Out Dubai staff
  • 05 April,2010- reviewed by Time Out Dubai staff
  • 29 March,2009- reviewed by Daisy Carrington
  • 17 March,2009- reviewed by Time Out Dubai staff
  • 26 March,2008- reviewed by Jeremy Lawrence
  • 15 January,2008- reviewed by James Brennan
  • 12 March,2007- reviewed by Time Out Dubai Staff
  • 30 April,2006- reviewed by Time Out Dubai
  • 01 April,2004- reviewed by Rob Orchard
  • 01 September,2002- reviewed by Carolyn Robb
  • 01 October,2001- reviewed by Time Out Dubai Staff

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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: Hetch on 31 Jan ' 13 at 10:50

OverallDecorService

FoodAmbienceValue

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

Edited by TimeOutDubai.com

Excellent French restaurant with great food and impeccable service. Didn't feel it's that old by any means, the decor and the setting are first class. We ordered onion soup (perfect) and foie gras (OK) for starters. Main courses were perfect, sole (not the same sole meuniere you're used to but still delicious), lobster (excellent taste but a bit smaller size), steak (excellent, the fries are probably the best I had in Dubai.. irresistable). Finished with Crepe Suzette and Toffee Pudding, both outstanding. Overall excellent experience at Emirates Golf Club. Will be back.

Posted by: Dr. Raji Mathew on 22 Sep ' 11 at 17:17

OverallDecorService

FoodAmbienceValue

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

Had the pleasure of coming again to this delightful fare the day before, this time. We left mighty satisfied. The menu for the Gourmet Tuesday was the same.
The sauce used for the foie gras was perfect and the sauce for the scallops which I missed the last time, also complimented the dish rather well. Mushroom soup was great. Beef tenderlion was a standout dish from the main course while my wife was all praise for the salmon. Had a glass of orange juice and water to go with the food.
The order for the the main course are taken till 10.30pm while the tables start getting cleared by 11.30pm.

Posted by: Dr. Raji Mathew on 17 Aug ' 11 at 16:58

OverallDecorService

FoodAmbienceValue

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

Had the pleasure of dining here last night. One of the best location, within the Emirates Golf Club where the greens were lit so you could actually see out the window even at night. It was the Gourmet Tuesday which included a starter and dessert buffet and an unlimited a la carte menu which includes 3 varieties of soup, 4 seafood and 4 meat and poultry dishes. All this for an unbelievable price of Dhs 190. Thankfully, most starters were nibble sized and the mains were bite sized so I could savour a lot more of different dishes.
The starters were well presented and prepared with flair but would say that for my palate it didn’t tantalize enough. The exception to the nibble sized starters were the ribeye from the carvery station and foie gras at the live cooking station. It was the biggest slab of foie gras I have seen offered anywhere. Chef Francoise is generous almost to a fault.

From the a la carte menu first of the block was the seafood chowder, followed by cornfed chicken with duck liver, next was snail and mushroom with Chablis cream sauce. The snail dish and also the chowder had exceptional flavour. Duck breast followed which had a soft texture. And lastly I asked for a fillet of seabass which was over but for this new guest the chef was able to find one and this too didn’t disappoint. In contrast, the seabass I had at La Petite Maison for lunch just the day before was bland and worth nowhere near its Dhs 175 price.
All food coming from the kitchen were served at the same eatably hot temperature.
I was more than full by now but simply had to try the dessert. Had the crepe suzette with strawberries and ice cream which was very nice as also some other sweet treats from the buffet table.
I left much satisfied from this French fine dining gourmet restaurant.

Posted by: John on 29 Jun ' 11 at 07:16

OverallDecorService

FoodAmbienceValue

• Would you go back to this restaurant? No

Front of staff now very poor, lack of attention to detail, lack of knowledge of the menu, even the Maitre seems lacking in spirit. We sat for over an hour between starter and main, in a half full restaurant. We sat for dessert feeling warmer and warmer, nobody had come to inform us and apologise that the a/c had stopped working at our end of the restaurant. We sat getting sticky in jacket and tie! Their formal dress code is laughable. Open necked shirts with jacket removed were abundant (even before the a/c failure), and we even saw shirts being worn outside trousers. We felt very overdressed, having come to enjoy a haute dining evening. This restaurant doesn NOT offer the experience it claims to. Wonderful food (except for a tough prawn in the starter) but that can be eaten in many p[laces in Dubai now. My email complaint and chaser of over a month ago have remained unanswered. Very poor indeed.

Posted by: leeann on 14 May ' 11 at 04:03

OverallDecorService

FoodAmbienceValue

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

I chose this restaurant based on the reviews here and after reading through loads of other very mixed reviews for the other top fine dining restaurants in town. I was very impressed! It really is a classic and the food was SUPERB. Every little ingredient on my plate was exuisite and delicious. Fair sized portions for French style but reasonable enough for us to come home feeling fully satisfied. We had the royal Hammour and the Dover Sole and they were cooked perfectly and veggies divine. The chocolate brownie praline was so pretty that I had to photograph it.
My favourite foody place is Verre but only for the food as the service at Verre is overwhelming and in-your-face (we once had the head waiter stand and talk in a monologue for 20 mins as our dinner was served so we ate it cold after shooing him politely away) ...so what I liked about Le Classique is that the service was very understated and discreet and prompt.
For once a fine dining menu which is longer than one page and I also spotted a handfull of vegeterian options too which is good. Highly recommended and we will definitely go back sometime. Compared with other places and considering the excellent quality of food I would say that it was good value all round. We would pay a lot more elsewhere. Mains were ranging from 100-180 and starters around 70 aed. with deserts all at 50aed.
Best news is no smoking inside which has totally ruined Frankies for me which is very smokey and unpleasant these days.
Enjoy !

Posted by: Lucy Foster on 27 Feb ' 11 at 12:22

OverallDecorService

FoodAmbienceValue

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

We went for the first time on Friday to celebrate my birthday and were not disapointed.

The service was excellent, from the moment we arrived to the moment we were safely escorted to our waiting taxt. Friendly, profficent, knowledgeable and all very good at flambee!

We went a la carte and every course was delicious and cooked beautifully. The prawns flambeed in gin and the steak in green peppercorn sauce are highly recommended, and my husband enjoyed the best Irish coffee he's had anywhere in the world, let alone Dubai, which was expertly prepared at the table and piping hot. The strawberries in grand marnier and kirch were beyond description.

Good wine selection, and not too expensive by Dubai standards. Impressive and varied menu that will have something for every palate and budget.

All in all, a great evening at a very reasonable price (under 1000 dhs for 2 using an entertainer voucher, including pre-dinner drinks, 1 full bottle of wine, one demi-bottle, & liquers). We have found a new favourite restaurant in Dubai.

Posted by: Maxim on 28 Apr ' 09 at 10:18

Please advise the best Fondu in Dubai.

Posted by: Raina on 18 Dec ' 08 at 10:15

OverallDecorService

FoodAmbienceValue

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

This is an absolute gem of a restaurant and the best French one in town. No matter what newbies come and go, Le Classique lives on forever! Chef Francois' dishes epitomise French cuisine - simple, tasty and leave you feeling like you've been in the arms of your grandma, in a quaint little village in France.

Hate the French as much as you like..... their arrogance for food is well deserved. And Chef Francois more than others.

Once you've tried his Crepes Suzette (made at your table by his very capable maitre d'), you'll never be able to think of dessert ever again, without these delicate flambeed parcels of heaven coming to mind.