Spice Island in Renaissance Dubai Hotel, Deira, Dubai - Restaurant Reviews

Spice Island

The restaurant’s all you can eat and drink deal for Dhs130 makes it compelling value for money 5 Reviews

Meal Deal

Spice Island

A huge, multi-cuisine buffet. Dhs169-289 (Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday)

Spice Island

Dhs219(alcohol), Dhs149(softdrinks) Timings: 12 noon-3pm (Friday)

Almost everybody who has been in Dubai for over six months will have sampled Spice Island at some point; mainly because the restaurant’s all you can eat and drink deal for Dhs130 makes it compelling value for money. The food is not bad either, particularly if you make the right choices. Avoid overloading your plate at the expansive starter buffet, or you’ll be bloated before you hit the main courses. Alternatively, you can go for a sushi starter, although the choice is limited and the buffet regularly runs out of the more popular fish.

There are different food stations dotted around the restaurant that offer Chinese, Thai, Japanese, Italian, Mexican or Arabic cuisine for your main course. The Japanese tepanyaki station is the best bet, although you normally have to queue for your food (hint: take your drink with you). Italian pasta dishes, which are prepared fresh in front of you, are another good option, but the terrines of Chinese, Arabic, Thai and Indian are a little mass-produced.

If I am feeling particularly gluttonous (and have avoided the appetite suppressing starter buffet), I go for two main courses. Lobster and muscles from the tepanyaki followed by my own Mexican taco creation usually does the trick. Get there early, because last orders for free drinks is at 11:30; and take a group of friends, because this restaurant is a little crass for a romantic evening.