Al Mawal in Al Bustan Rotana, Garhoud, Dubai - Restaurant Reviews

Al Mawal

We highly recommend Al Mawal. The food is excellent; flavours are fresh and intense linger in the mind for days. The pricing is very reasonable for food of this calibre and the entertainment certainly draws in the crowds 1 Reviews

When we feasted in Al Mawal early in the evening, we loved it mainly for the amazing food, but also for the lovely simple décor and calm ambience. When we returned at the end of the night, we loved it for totally different reasons. The space, which earlier had seemed so large and open, was now alive with evocative music, gyrating bellies and masses of revellers in an accumulation of sweet sheisha haze.

The recommendation to visit Al Mawal came from a local food lover, so we arrived with high hopes. We left a long time later singing high praise for the chef. The restaurant is in such pristine condition that it’s hard to believe that it’s over four years old. During that time it has earned a deservedly great reputation. These waiters loved a bit of showmanship especially when it came to pouring the water, each time we waited for the great torrent of water to soak the table, and each time every drop stayed neatly inside the glass.

From a menu similar to all other Lebanese menus we chose a predictable selection (similar to the one we always seem to have). However, the sizzling hot pine seeds swimming in hot oil poured onto the hummus transformed it. We ate a lot of that with warm fresh bread, and now regret not eating even more. The tabouleh was vibrant and piquant, a great antidote to the richness of the hummus. We eagerly awaited the arrival of the chicory sautéed in olive oil (the only new dish for us.) When it arrived we wondered why it looked so much like spinach. When we tasted it we knew – it was spinach. Our waiter, bemused by our questioning, cheerfully reminded us that they both belong to the same family, intimating that they are totally inter-changeable! The little cheese pastries were impressive, the lightest ones we’ve had; crispy, paper-thin pastry around lots of cheese.

Char grilled chicken fillet which was very crispy, perhaps slightly too blackened, and the ubiquitous mixed grill was also very good. We put ourselves in our waiter’s hands for dessert, his choices were very traditional and we enjoyed them. Milky, creamy, cheesy concoctions drenched in every Lebanese baker’s great standbys – sugar syrup and pistachios. Secretly we loved the pudding too.

By Carolyn Robb