Elia in Majestic Hotel Tower, Bur Dubai, Dubai - Restaurant Reviews

Elia

Greek food at its best? We decided it was time to find out 7 Reviews

Meal Deal

Friday brunch

Dhs130 with two drinks. Family style brunch every other Friday. Call ahead Timings: Noon-3.30pm (Friday)

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I was surprised to learn that Elia was a Greek restaurant. When I first walked into the eatery through the corridors of Bur Dubai’s Majestic Hotel, I didn’t notice anything palpably Greek. But this was part of the charm. The decor was so understated and simple that I quickly forgot the chaos of Mankhool Road right outside and pretended I was sitting in a traditional taverna in the Greek countryside.

The setting was quite intimate, with tables for two tucked away in corners and the rare delight of an outdoor terrace. A bottle of pure virgin olive oil was placed in prominent position on each of the tables – perfect for drizzling on the selection of freshly baked sundried tomato and carob (yes carob) breads. Though they were fluffy and flavoursome I quickly sensed that it was best to save room for the meal to come, and I’m glad I did. The beef meatballs and cabbage dolma starters made it clear why head chef Yannis Baxevanis is nicknamed ‘the aroma magician’ of Greek cuisine. Plucked from his native homeland to head up a kitchen of four Greek chefs, Yannis is fanatical about fresh produce and even more evangelical about herbs.

This means all dishes at Elia (the name means olive in Greek) are as aromatic as a sea breeze over Mykonos. The dolma-mince and rice packaged in moist cabbage leaves came drenched in a fragrant sauce of reduced cabbage and lemon. Meat dishes were also delicious: the chefs expertly chargrilled the lamb souvlaki to delectable tenderness. The seafood yiouvesti made me believe the Greek boast that they are masters of the ocean. The sensational medley of seafood was presented like a Spanish paella, but cooked to perfection in an earthen yiouvetsi dish to maximise the absorption and aroma of herbs. And desserts? They sounded so sublime that my date and I ended up ordering one of each. A plate smashing melee almost erupted over the last spoonful of chocolate fondant, which possessed an otherworldly airiness, and was among the best
I’ve sampled in Dubai.

The bill (for two)
1x Large mineral water Dhs15
1x Cabbage dolma Dhs20
1x Beef meatballs Dhs35
1x Lamb souvlaki Dhs60
1x Seafood yiouvetsi Dhs65
1x Chocolate fondant Dhs35
Total (including service) Dhs230