A’Rukn

Street-style café in the heart of the Madinat Jumeirah Discuss this article

From Time Out Dubai Eating Out 2009

If the whiff of shisha makes your stomach churn, this souk-style courtyard café in the heart of Madinat Jumeirah is not for you.

However, it is an ideal spot to spend an evening sampling traditional Arabic mezze, washed down with Moroccan tea in an atmospheric setting. The food is not for the budget-conscious, but it’s a reasonable option for a tasty snack.

Stick with the hot and cold mezze, including bitingly-tart stuffed vine leaves, lamb kebbeh (hot, deep-fried balls of lightly spiced minced lamb), houmous and falafel.

These do a grand job of fending off the munchies while passing a pleasant hour gawping at the eclectic mix of visitors and residents the Madinat attracts.

A bit of a tourist trap, it is a useful option to have up your sleeve when visitors are in town. The staff are a delight, even with kids, and make an occasion of presenting their dishes.

• Previous reviews
  • 26 March,2008- reviewed by Jeremy Lawrence
  • 12 March,2007- reviewed by Time Out Dubai Staff

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