Fire & Ice Raffles Cellar and Grill

Dramatic steakhouse in the Raffles hotel 5 Reviews

1

© ITP Images

View slideshow

• 
• Picture 1 of 2
• 

From Time Out Dubai Eating Out 2009

Fire & Ice has a mighty reputation, and prices to match, but it’s also known for it its tasty steaks. The fillet is, as expected, exquisite, although perhaps not worth the price.

There are definitely better cuts in Dubai for fewer dirhams. Luckily, the atmosphere and charm go some way to softening the pricey experience.

The staff are knowledgeable and polite, and the wine list, while as pricey as expected, is broad enough to satisfy the most finicky of grape-fanciers.

By Time Out Dubai staff
Time Out Dubai, 30 March 2009

• Previous reviews
  • 26 March,2008- reviewed by Time Out Dubai Staff
  • 11 February,2008- reviewed by James Brennan

• 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.

Posted by: Mary on 26 Jul ' 09 at 05:49

OverallDecorService

FoodAmbienceValue

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

Having been offered a 40% discount with my Emirates Platinum card for a few weeks; i decided to try out this eaterie with a colleague from work. I had heard it was expensive. Although the ambiance is a little macho; it is nothing like as bad as The Observatory! It was not too busy on a Thursday evening and the service was nothing less than outstanding. I decided to try the Wagyu beef, as this is something normally beyond my budget; my friend tried the veal. We both thought the meal was exceptionally good. The beef steak was probably one of the best I have ever eaten. I chose aspargus and chips as an accompaniment; the meal comes with little to add interest. The aspargus was divine; the chips were awful; very very greasy and flaky. I prefer my chips al dente and dry! Otherwise a perfect meal; we were offered excellent advice by the wine waiter; he helped me select a very pleasant red; as an habitual white wine drinker; this was
very welcome. I was a little disappointed the hosue champagne was Moet; not my favourite but cleansed the palette well enough. At 40% off the cost was VERY reasonable and overall, despite a couple of minor disappointments; a really good fine dining experience.

Posted by: Karl on 10 Feb ' 09 at 10:30

OverallDecorService

FoodAmbienceValue

• Would you go back to this restaurant? Yes

What an evening! Arriving a little late (and thus embarrassed) for our reservation, we were quickly made at home with a courteous and warm welcome. As a first timer the décor was stunningly impressive and while being shown to the table, I could not help but to stop in the cellar section just to take it all in.
We opted for the degustation menu which turned out to be an innovative seven course feast based on the four elements, leaving no space for night snack back home. As for the variety and spread of the foods, we were also asked if we would like to enjoy a wine pairing through out the meal. Said and done.
Every course of this, what I would call eclectic menu, came out with meticulous design and an explosion of well balanced and merging textures and flavours. Add to that a bold yet confident and impeccable wine paring. Wow!!! Even more enjoyable with the wine pairing was the wine journey itself, representing the best from all corners of the world rather than being generic or stuck in a specific genre or style.
The service of course deserves mentioning in its own right. As pointed out elsewhere in this forum, it was attentive without being intrusive, but even more so, also genuinely friendly, with a gentle balance of natural interaction and professional stand by.
We became to self absorbed to notice whether the restaurant was full or not and it did not matter. Yet, with the generous seating and table space I some how doubt that you would ever feel crowded should it be smack full, nor feel alone thanks to the genuine experience.
For me, it will definitely be a next time!!!

Posted by: Heiko on 09 Feb ' 09 at 03:17

OverallDecorService

FoodAmbienceValue

• Would you go back to this restaurant? Yes

This was a great dining experience. The various courses were full of surprise and very delicious. Each wine matched the course very well. The service was impeccable, attentive but not intrusive.

Posted by: Charles on 31 Jan ' 09 at 05:09

OverallDecorService

FoodAmbienceValue

• Would you go back to this restaurant? No

Pretentious twaddle. Confusing menu which was not well explained and the waitress refused to allow us to order a la carte. Food OK but suspect highly MSG'd. Zero atmosphere and and atrocious value for money. A pointless exercise only for those with inflated expense accounts and egos.

Posted by: Stephanie Mc Curry on 30 Jan ' 09 at 18:42

OverallDecorService

FoodAmbienceValue

• Would you go back to this restaurant? No

This was a very disappointing evening out. We were informed that we could order a la carte from the disgestion menu, but were not informed that it would be disgestion portions at a la carte prices.
My dining partner , a normal aussie male, was horrified when fish finger sized steak arrived before him as a main course, this was after the waiter tried to tell him that his glass of Tyrells wine came from New Zealand.
We then understood why the restaurant was close to empty at prime time on a Friday evening.

Add your review/feedback