Blue Elephant

© ITP Images

The Brussels-based Blue Elephant, a Thai restaurant founded by Karl Steppé in 1980, now boasts ten international branches.

Dubai’s version features appropriately exotic décor of trees and bamboo features, a look designed to evoke the feel of a Thai village.

The menu includes the regular array of green, red and yellow curry dishes for beef, chicken, lamb, and vegetarian courses.

This is in addition to delightful and sophisticated trademarks such as the Chicken Soufflé, the Tom Yum khung prawn soup, the Seafood Cassoulet, the Tod Man Pla fish cakes, crab claws, pad Thai noodles, and several varieties of stir-fried rice.

Leave room for Jasmine Cake, coconut sorbet or banana cake, the restaurants star desserts, or stuff yourself silly at the regular Saturday evening buffet for Dhs95.

• Previous reviews
  • 22 March,2012- reviewed by Time Out Dubai staff
  • 07 April,2010- reviewed by Time Out Dubai staff
  • 26 March,2008- reviewed by Jeremy Lawrence
  • 12 March,2007- reviewed by Time Out Dubai Staff
  • 30 April,2006- reviewed by Time Out Dubai
  • 22 March,2006- reviewed by Matthew Lee
  • 01 July,2004- reviewed by Rob Orchard
  • 01 July,2003- reviewed by Rob Orchard

• Share | |
• E-mail:
• 
• Print:
• 

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

User reviews:

Posted by: Jasmine Cosh on 22 Apr ' 12 at 08:52

OverallDecorService

FoodAmbienceValue

• Would you go back to this restaurant? No

we went for the evening buffet on a thursday night. The ambience and decor are lovely.

As a vegatarian, there is hardly anything to eat in the buffet. As buffets go, this was incredibly small.

The package price is fine if you are drinking (199) but if you are not, is very expensive. No separate prices for the non drinkers!

Posted by: Zan on 15 Feb ' 12 at 14:50

OverallDecorService

FoodAmbienceValue

• Best for: Romantic
• Would you go back to this restaurant? Yes

Visited the Blue Elephant and was immediately impressed with the picturesque setting n ambience .The Food ,wasn't the best I've ever eaten but the service and the romantic setting make it a must visit and I definitely will visit again.I must add that the selection of salads and desserts is brilliant and the wine list is impressive too.

Posted by: natalie on 14 Aug ' 11 at 16:06

OverallDecorService

FoodAmbienceValue

• Best for: Romantic
• Would you go back to this restaurant? Yes

A beautiful restaurant, the staff are very attentive, the food is delicious, the drinks are filled up speedily...all in all, fantastic!

One downside as somebody already mentioned is the smoking, no smoking area but it is still worth going, its only two minutes to go outside.

Posted by: Margaret G Beck on 19 Dec ' 10 at 12:18

• Best for: Family friendly
• Would you go back to this restaurant? Yes

My husband and I were invited to the Blue Elephant for the Thai theme night. We were pleasantly surprized at the variety of food selection, specially that there was sufficient variety of seafood available as well, being the spice lovers we are, we were even able to order special super spicy stir fries which was whipped up by the chef on order!
We personally thought it was good value for money considering that we could order house beverages, water, juices and other canned drinks all inclusive for the 159/- with a wide range of starters, maincourse and dessert, its something we would surely go back to...
The only thing missing was outside sitting area where if you had the need to smoke or had a smoker in your group were stuck till you got out of the hotel to do so.
All in all its a thumbs up and keep it up for Blue Elephant and we hope to have many more delicious nights spent around there for sure!!!

Posted by: Iman on 09 Dec ' 09 at 09:53

OverallDecorService

FoodAmbienceValue

• Best for: Romantic
• Would you go back to this restaurant? Yes

Posted by: Typhoons on 03 Jul ' 09 at 04:20

OverallDecorService

FoodAmbienceValue

• Would you go back to this restaurant? No

We visited the Blue Elephant last night and while we did not have a reservation, we requested a table for two. This was not our first time in this restaurant and previously we had always reserved a table beforehand, but the restaurant had always had tables empty. So while it was a spur of the moment decision to dine there, we decided to just turn up and take a chance.

We were informed that we could have table but for a maximum 90 minutes, however the restaurant was nearly empty. While it was a buffet we were not looking for a 100 mile an hour Premier League match action, but more a sedate meander through Thai cuisine, with no clock ticking against us.

So we declined and walked away and decided to spend our hard earned cash elsewhere. Times are tough in Dubai, and while the Blue Elephant offers all you can eat and drink, it should not be at the expense of customer service, satisfaction and the general dining experience.

Doing buffet theme nights four nights a week, suggests the ala carte menu is not very good and certainly not a patch on the Blue Elephant in London. On previous visits the food has always been ok but never amazing. There are far superior options for Thai food in Dubai, which offer better value for money and service.

And we will never return to this ageing matriarch