Blues

The décor at Blues is pleasant enough if somewhat predictable, comprising aquatic-blue wallpaper, ocean-wavy ridges in the ceiling, and black and white boat-related photographs 1 Reviews

The décor at Blues is pleasant enough if somewhat predictable, comprising aquatic-blue wallpaper, ocean-wavy ridges in the ceiling, and black and white boat-related photographs. There’s a comprehensive range of fish, a multitude of preparation options – deep-fried, charcoal-grilled, sautéed or steamed – and 13 varieties of sauce.

After going through the by-now-familiar fish market process – choose your cooking style, choose your sauce – you’ll be presented with dishes of mixed quality. The Omani lobster is opulently excellent with ginger and oyster sauce which complements rather than kills the flavour, while the accompanying grilled vegetables are lively and crunchy. Sadly, the sautéed red snapper has its flavour drowned out by an over-acidic lemon sauce, although the garlic and egg rice that accompany it are fantastic.

Blues’ ambience, however, remains as it was when Time Out last visited – as lifeless as Davy Jones’ locker. The front of the restaurant opens out onto an echoing shopping arcade complete with crying children and whistling cleaners, all of whom wander past your seats and stare at your food as you eat. To compound this, dreadfully unsuitable R&B and bland pop is blasted in through the speakers, further adding to the feeling that you are in a mall café rather than a restaurant with a distinct personality.

Blues is not bad if you live at the Marina and don’t feel like travelling, but there are plenty of better (alcoholic beverage included) options elsewhere.

• Previous reviews
  • 26 March,2008- reviewed by Jeremy Lawrence
  • 12 March,2007- reviewed by Time Out Dubai Staff
  • 01 November,2004- reviewed by Matthew Lee

Time Out reviews restaurants anonymously and pays for meals. Of course, we cannot guarantee the accuracy or independence of user reviews.