From Time Out Dubai Eating Out 2009

Brushing aside the drab decor and dreary mall location, the wide-ranging menu and calorie-counting concept of this casual eatery shows initial promise.

Every dish displays the all-important c-number and, on paper at least, is packed with tasty, nourishing ingredients. But here’s where the good news ends. On Time Out’s visit, at least eight of the main courses were unavailable.

It was unlikely this was because of the cafe’s popularity; we half expected a bell to toll and tumbleweed to waft across the floor it was so quiet. The food is average at best, from the salmon rolls to the droopy, lacklustre salads (maybe this is the secret of the weight management concept?).

Don’t expect a coffee to wake you up after this dreary meal either, as the cappuccino machine, which wasn’t working on a previous Time Out visit more than six months ago, still hasn’t been fixed. Apparently the dietician, who has an office within the café (appointments available on request, Dhs250 for first-time consultation) does a roaring trade, but the café itself is a poor, half-hearted effort at what could be a great concept.