Hana Restaurant

Fusion dishes from across Asia served up in Deira Discuss this article

Hidden away in the Riviera Hotel – one of Dubai’s lesser known haunts – it’s never encouraging when staff are so eager that you dine in their restaurant that they all but frogmarch you through its doors. The interior is a rather predictable mix of bamboo and lightwood finishing, and enthusiastic waiting staff mill around. Generally, service once you’re seated strikes just the right balance; it’s attentive, yet unobtrusive.

Leafing through the menu’s pages of dishes from China, Thailand, Indonesia, Japan and beyond, it’s difficult to know where to begin. The thod mun goong prawn cakes with sweet chilli and plum sauce is a less than appetising start, disappointingly greasy and tasteless. The agedashi tofu claims to be deep-fried but is served lukewarm in congealing gravy. The main courses are a little hit and miss too. While the black pepper crab is an accomplished dish – the crab meat and wonderfully rich peppery gravy complement each other perfectly – the Chinese-style vegetable noodles are lukewarm and leave your mouth feeling coated with grease. Opt for the pad thai as a safer, if spicier bet. The overall quality of food is pretty poor. There are some hidden gems, such as the pepper crab, but few other dishes are appetising enough to finish. To clean and cool down your palate, a complimentary dish of fruit arrives at your table, which for many will be the most enjoyable part of the meal. Not cheap enough to overlook its flaws, Hana has little hope of making its mark in a city where pan-Asian food has such a strong presence.

• Previous reviews
  • 01 January,2003- reviewed by Rob Orchard
  • 30 November,1999- reviewed by Carolyn Robb

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