Spice Island

All you can eat and drink for just Dhs91 every Friday? Yes please 6 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: Noon-3pm (Friday)

© ITP Images

Spice Island is chaotic and noisy; more like a bustling market than a remote and exotic isle. You have to be assertive in making your way through the determined hoards of grazers if you are to get your share of the food.

Eating becomes a contest here: how much can you pile onto one plate in one go, how many plates can you stack onto your table at one time and how many courses can be combined together on one plate.

Brunch at Spice Island is an ‘all-you-can-eat-and drink’ bonanza that begins with champagne and degenerates from there. The self-service bloody-Mary station on the buffet, discreetly tucked in between the fruit juices and the breads and pastries, does brisk business.

The choice of food is vast. You can begin with a greasy British breakfast or you can go Continental, but do leave space for the Mexican, Chinese, Japanese, Italian, and Arabic dishes as well as the traditional roast, salad bar, huge spread of puddings and cheeseboard.

While the whole spectacle entertained us and gave us the chance to do some great people watching, the quality and authenticity of the food was disappointing and at Dhs91 a head Spice Island is not one of Dubai’s cheaper brunch venues. Yes, drinks are included but we still want a good feed too.

It is undoubtedly the ‘all you can drink’ part of the bargain that draws the crowds in. From about 1pm onwards the scrum begins to get serious, but if you arrive at midday, before the influx, you can enjoy a less frenetic affair.

This is a family orientated venue with a kiddies play area (although there is not a kiddies section on the buffet). The service was cheerful if not polished; there was no time for attention to detail with that many frenzied brunchers to attend to. This is a spectacle you should experience at least once.

Friday Brunch:12 noon-3pm. Brunch with unlimited booze: Dhs91; children under 12: Dhs45; Children under 6: free.

By Carolyn Robb

• Previous reviews
  • 19 March,2009- reviewed by Time Out Dubai staff
  • 26 March,2008- reviewed by Jeremy Lawrence
  • 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.

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

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• 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

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• 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

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• 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

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• 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

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• 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

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• 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,

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