Bayt Al Wakeel

Tourist-friendly restaurant is one of Dubai's gems 10 Reviews

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We return to Bait Al Wakeel again and again whenever we have visitors, or just the good fortune to be around the Bastakiya area with an appetite. The key to this restaurant is its setting: on stilts, over the creek – ideal for dhow and abra watching. So good is the location that the cheap price of the meals is shocking. Although be warned – the food quality is nothing to write home about. We suggest sticking to the Arabic dishes (from Dhs30) and avoid the noodles and noodle soups.

By Time Out Dubai staff
Time Out Dubai, 22 March 2012

• Previous reviews
  • 26 March,2011- reviewed by Time Out Dubai staff
  • 06 April,2010- reviewed by Time Out Dubai staff
  • 30 March,2009- reviewed by Time Out Dubai staff
  • 11 February,2008- reviewed by James Brennan

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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: danieal on 16 Jun ' 11 at 12:13

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Food

• Would you go back to this restaurant? No

never again,thank's for the surprise restaurant on waters,beautiful nice view.poor and bad service worst food.please this message is to the one who owns this place u invested in good.but please look at the people who are serving us not happy to service.no time for customer waiting more than an hour for food.before when i visited this place with my family in august the service,food and the people who serviced us where good . touch by that experience.I came with my friends but had terrible experience.please never say any one to visit this place.next to the boat station one more restaurant is there pls let about it.thanks

Posted by: Dirk on 17 May ' 11 at 14:17

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• Would you go back to this restaurant? No

It's in a nice spot but has become a lazy tourist rip off on the water. It is over priced for what it is, and has truly terrible service. I can only imagine that the positive reviews on here are either friends or employees of the restaurant, or haven't been there for a number of years.

Posted by: KENNADY on 31 Mar ' 11 at 07:55

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• Would you go back to this restaurant? No

WORST THING IN DUBAI IS THIS,THE PEOPLE OVER THERE IS NOT GOOD TO HELP US WITH THE MENU.THERE IS ONE LADY WHO WONT HAVE TIME TO TALK TO THERE COUS...,THE FOOD WAS WORSE,THANKS FOR THE WORST

Posted by: Reg Monks on 15 Feb ' 11 at 14:27

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

Having visited Dubai many times, Bayt Al Wakeel is Our Favourite. Our Wedding Anniversary is Valentines Day. @ Last year We were Truly Blessed with a table Fit for A King @ Queen. A table Full of carved veg in the shape of flowers. We had No idea that we were in for such a Treat. The other Diners were in Awe of what we were being Treated to .A BIG,BIG Thanks to Desouza, @ ALL his Friendly, Fantastic Staff. We will be with you on Feb,19th once again.

Posted by: dp on 16 Jan ' 11 at 07:59

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FoodAmbienceValue

• Would you go back to this restaurant? No

Went there without reservations and even tough there were a lot of free tables we had to wait around 30 minutes for them to sit us. The waiters are very moody and they basically just throw the dishes at you. The food wasn't the best and they didn't have falafel. Another tourist trap in the city.

Posted by: MattS on 28 Nov ' 10 at 15:25

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

I had long heard of this place, so when a friend suggested dinner, I checked my Time Out review and said, "sure, why not." Why not: because what the kitchen throws out is pathetic and insipid attempt at Lebanese food. The mixed grill had no tomatoes, onions or peppers and the meat was bland at best, presented as a disowned lumps on the plate. The bread was packaged and came in a ziplock bag, and the mezze--how can mezze fail !?!--lacked the richness and depth of flavor that you can find in any fastfood Lebanese joint. Sure, the setting is lovely and the place has potential, but my friend and I noticed nothing authentic about the experience, from the food to the music to the waiters and service. On a cool Friday evening in November, this place should have been packed to the gills...instead there was a steady trickle of diners soon to be disappointed. This place needs a clean sweep to make it what it could be, and Time Out needs to update its review.

Posted by: Alan on 28 Mar ' 10 at 18:59

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• Would you go back to this restaurant? No

It's good if you want to get ripped off. The waiter put two dishes on our table that we didn't order (tabulleh and humous) and asked "is it ok?" Sure, but we got charged 30 aed for them. Many restaurants provide those items free of charge. We got it taken off the bill and it seems they are used to this. The watier told the cashier "we said it was ok." Was what ok? If we wanted it we would have ordered from the menu. They assume people won't check their bill. The food was average anyway. Nothing special. Just a nice view of the creek.

Posted by: elizabeth on 01 Jun ' 09 at 08:02

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

I've been to most of the high priced and too decked up restaurants in Dubai but when it comes to feeling the real Arabian cuisine along with perfect ambiance and great arabic fare bayt al wakeel tops my list. I first visited this place as a lonely soul wandering inside the textile suoq when i saw BAWL at the end in a corner, looked pretty welcoming. On entering inside i was totally taken by the spectacular view and friendly staff of the restaurant. The food is awesome specially sheesh tawook, kingfish grill, you can wash it with a fresh dash on lemond and mint juice and still when u cant wait but ask for more you must try the morrocon tea, hmmmmmmmmmmm Sumptuous

Posted by: IRENE on 25 Feb ' 09 at 15:11

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

very good and fresh food. Nice view, nice personnel. Not pretentious. To recommend

Posted by: Ahmed Shariefi on 17 Dec ' 08 at 04:49

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• Would you go back to this restaurant? Yes

Went to gold souq in Deira, parked the car, then took the Abra to the opposite side (1 AED per person!), had a walk in the only real bazzar I know in Dubai then and had a really lovely time and meal at Bait Al Wakeel.
Overall it was an excellent weekend afternnon-evening activity and a truley different experience to other Dubai stuff.

Our only comment was why its not fully packed?