Al Muntaha in Burj Al Arab, Jumeirah, Dubai - Restaurant Reviews

Al Muntaha

Brunch at Al Muntaha is not cheap at Dhs220, but it it's worth saving up for to give yourself a Friday treat 3 Reviews

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This is Dubai’s most expensive brunch, but it is worth every fil. Al Muntaha, the restaurant at the top of the Burj al Arab, offers everything from coffee and croissants to caviar and champagne.

The mood in this surreal, multi coloured eatery suspended from skyhooks is mellow and relaxing. A cool blue reflection off the azure sea and sky gives a soft light to the restaurant. The stylish Jazz trio adds to the ambience without intruding on the calm.

Hard as we tried, we could not fault the food. Attention to detail in every aspect of the brunch was exceptional. The quality and freshness of the food here is unrivalled; we should know, we have eaten a lot of brunches. Display and presentation is stunning; flowers and ice sculptures abound and miles of pristine white voile add opulence to the spectacle.

Al Mahara was almost full yet the food never ran low; the chefs doing the replenishing job take it seriously and that shows. We also noted that the entire length of the buffet remained immaculate throughout service, there were none of the usual sticky serving spoons, spillages, crumbs or empty dishes.

We began with some poached fruit (yes, freshly poached not tinned) and several delicious fruit purees. The banana and blackcurrant ones were especially good. It would be embarrassing to admit how many of the mini pastries we ate.

Moving on from ‘breakfast’ we delved into the cold Arabic mezze, salads and sushi; all were great but the potato, green bean and bacon salad was phenomenal — we are still dreaming of it. The best part about the caviar was watching the expressions on people’s faces when they first noticed it sitting there, and then their immense satisfaction at being allowed to help themselves; no rationing.

The hot food served in small white china inserts dropped into conventional chafing dishes was consistently piping hot and fresh, the result of the constant replenishing, we observed.

The desserts, spread over several long tables and also stacked vertically on tiered stands, were not only pretty to look at but we loved eating them too. Don’t miss the hot, ‘caramelised to order’ banana and mango and you must top it with a scoop of the homemade ice cream – you will not regret this final overindulgence.

Brunch in Al Muntaha met our elevated seven star expectations. Chef John Wood is rapidly realising the challenge of providing guests with food that not only meets their exalted expectations but surprises them beyond that.

Be aware that you will need to save up for a brunch this good. But even at Dhs220 per person (no alcoholic drinks included) we know that we got great value for money.

By Carolyn Robb