Spice Island

Famous Dubai buffet spot with regular deals and promotions 19 Reviews

Meal Deal

Family Brunch

Spice Island Guests can sample international cuisine served from six live cooking stations. Dhs199 (soft drinks), Dhs259 (selected house beverages), Dhs329 (selected premium beverages), Dhs69 (children aged six to 12), free for children under six Timings: Noon-4pm (Friday)

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Though its popularity may have waned recently, the quality of Spice Island’s buffet certainly hasn’t. Meaty cigali is cooked to order alongside fresh Mongolian stir-fries, while expert butter chicken sits comfortably between Mexican tacos and Japanese tempura. The service is efficient, and – importantly if you’ve booked in for brunch – the measures are liberal, and the whole thing goes on for four hours instead of the usual three. The only thing that might tempt you in another direction is a livelier crowd, for Spice seems to attract primarily families these days. If you’re averse to small people, however, you shouldn’t be concerned – there’s an entire area to keep them quiet, with cartoons, face painting and enough nuggets to sink a school bus.

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

• Previous reviews
  • 24 March,2011- reviewed by Time Out Dubai staff
  • 05 April,2010- reviewed by Time Out Dubai staff
  • 19 March,2009- reviewed by Time Out Dubai staff
  • 26 March,2008- reviewed by Jeremy Lawrence
  • 01 May,2002- reviewed by Carolyn Robb
  • 01 November,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: Tony Winney on 05 Apr ' 13 at 08:14

OverallDecorService

FoodAmbienceValue

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

I found it very expensive.I have been to other restaurants nearby and found the food in the others to be just as good for a lot less. Lets face it, it is a buffet not an a la carte restaurant. As for service,you do everything for yourself in a buffet. So why do people say that service was fantastic, when all they do is pour you a glass of water.Then bring you the bill.

Posted by: Suhhas Muliyil on 15 Jul ' 12 at 10:32

OverallDecorService

FoodAmbienceValue

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

Edited by TimeOutDubai.com

Spice Island is the BEST for me in town. Always loved there spread and the live cooking. Haven't come across any restaurant like this in town.

Posted by: Omar on 02 Jun ' 12 at 14:07

OverallDecorService

FoodAmbienceValue

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

I have been going to Spice Island for over four years now and there still is nothing like it regarding to service and taste.

Posted by: Roosevelt on 20 Nov ' 11 at 12:13

OverallDecorService

FoodAmbienceValue

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

All my friends liked the whole concept. I would recommend my friends to go and experience it. I taking them once gain on 1st Dec just booked.

A good resturant in the middle of town. Roosevelt

Posted by: Joanna on 12 Nov ' 11 at 16:02

OverallDecorService

FoodAmbienceValue

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

Fabulous food, great value if you like wine! Really children friendly and good fun. Just wish I had an extra stomach so that I could eating!!

Posted by: reema on 31 Jan ' 11 at 07:52

OverallDecorService

FoodAmbienceValue

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

Posted by: Anonymous on 27 Jan ' 11 at 13:46

OverallDecorService

FoodAmbienceValue

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

The place and ambiance are very nice. The price of food is just fine for the wide selections of food to choose from. I have been here many times and if we have visitor from different country we make it appoint to dine in here before they leave because we know that we'll never go wrong. If you want your self to get indulge you have to visit this place. I am also looking for my next visit...

Posted by: ozgur on 19 Dec ' 10 at 11:20

Hi,

Do you have any program for new year eve on 31 Dec 10? If yes, can I have the details?

Posted by: Anna on 12 Dec ' 10 at 10:16

OverallDecorService

FoodAmbienceValue

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

The food is out of this world, and is family friendly.
i would go back to this restauant again some time next year.
I have given this restaunant 7/7 because they are very welcoming and escort you to your table.

Posted by: Robbie Maclean on 27 Oct ' 10 at 10:12

OverallDecorService

FoodAmbienceValue

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

Excellent place.Four of us went out & had a ball.Food was tremendous with so much choice & all very tasty.Infact it was dificult to actually choose before getting full!.What a great place & can see why the family have been raving about.Will be back!

Posted by: mohammad on 01 Aug ' 10 at 13:55

OverallDecorService

FoodAmbienceValue

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

Posted by: Mohamed S on 19 Jun ' 10 at 14:59

OverallDecorService

FoodAmbienceValue

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

what can i say about this place?

ive been a regular from 2005 to this day,and not once has this place failed me in anyway. the food here is simply spectacular although i advise vegans steer clear from this place!

all in all this place is great and you cannot go wrong with it,i only hope that they relocate to a more modern place as it will benefit everyone involved.

Posted by: Sajeed Rasheed on 17 Feb ' 10 at 10:35

OverallDecorService

FoodAmbienceValue

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

I've been a regular there from 2004 onwards.... still remember the first time around. Tariffs have moved up with times but have been consistently giving great value for money.

Live cooking stations are a delight and truly the best place to take your clients to offer them a veriety of foods in one great place.

Choice of beverages for those "hot" people are informed to be good enough for the price on offer.

Good luck and wishes for a long way to go "Spice Island" . . . .! ! ! !

Posted by: Minaka on 17 Nov ' 09 at 05:29

OverallDecorService

FoodAmbienceValue

• Would you go back to this restaurant? No

I had never been to Spice Island before but heard & read good reviews. so i was looking forward to dining there last night. But unfortunately i have to say the food was quite disappointing. except the arabic food & mongolian live cooking station with it's lobsters & prawns, i didnt enjoy any of the other cuisines - the food was very basic & nothing to talk about. the ambience was fine & service good. not sure if i went on a bad day!!

Posted by: Stelios Stipidis on 31 Aug ' 09 at 13:12

OverallDecorService

FoodAmbienceValue

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

Huge choice, very good quality and great price

Posted by: Marc Foehr on 04 Aug ' 09 at 07:51

OverallDecorService

FoodAmbienceValue

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

I was there with my family and it was really excellent, the 6 live cooking stations are so fantastic. And the food is so amazing.
If you visit once the Spice Island you will NEVER forget this fantastic evening. Thats 100% the best restaurant in the City!

Posted by: Florian Foehr on 04 Aug ' 09 at 07:46

OverallDecorService

FoodAmbienceValue

• Would you go back to this restaurant? Yes

I was there with my family and it was fantastic. There are 6 LIVE cooking stations and the food is really nice. I enoyed the evening and I will visit the Spice Island very very soon!!!
There also is a great atmosphere, you feeling will be great if you visit this restaurant.

Posted by: Tracey Newell on 19 May ' 09 at 09:05

OverallDecorService

FoodAmbienceValue

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

I have a HUGE apology to make to Spice Island. I first visited on a Thursday evening for my husbands colleague's leaving do and I was less than impressed. In my opinion the food was poor and the service was worse! I even went as far as to advise others not to visit.

I went back last Friday for a brunch for a friends birthday and I couldn't have had a better day. The food was excellent - soooo much choice. The atmosphere was lively and happy and the service was fabulous. The Spectrum-on-one is our usual 'brunch' haunt but Speice Island is much, much better value and we will definately go back. Alot!

On our first visit, the leaving do comprised of at least 40 people, all thirsty expats and the staff just couldn't keep up. Who could?!

Spice Island - I am very, very sorry and I'll see you very, very soon xx

Posted by: Percy Veere on 23 Apr ' 09 at 18:38

OverallDecorService

FoodAmbienceValue

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

An excellent place for brunch. I attended a work colleague's leaving do here and the service was fantastic. Food is truly an experience - I thoroughly enjoyed the whole brunch and will be taking my family to the Spice Island for a Brunch when they visit in the near future.

Good food, excellent attentive service, value for money, great atmosphere, cant fault it - a truly great place to visit,