Al Hadheerah - Restaurant Award Highly Commended

Head to the dunes for classy Arabic food 7 Reviews

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From Time Out Dubai Eating Out 2009

To say Al Hadheerah restaurant takes real pride in its regional cooking is an understatement (the only thing understated about Al Hadheerah. Built to resemble a fortified Arabian desert village, the rustic-looking buildings and carpets that look as if they might fly, are illuminated by Islamic stained-glass lanterns, making for a romantic setting.

Choose a rooftop seat, a recessed carpeted pit or a table in front of the stage. The first assault on the senses is the lavish outdoor buffet with a dozen food counters serving scores of carefully created Arabic dishes, including proper Emirati food. Delicious spiced rice, a whole lamb slow-cooked for six hours, local fish, skewers of whole chickens, hot breads fresh from the oven and plenty of salads, all enticingly fresh and scented.

Then it’s on to the delicate and light local desserts. And there’s more to the experience than just dinner. A band plays Arabic music on stage while a belly dancer wiggles, and by the time the camel rides, Arabian horse displays and a tunic-twirling Sinbad appears, you may start to wonder if you’re hallucinating.

A great place to take visitors for a Disney-esque taste of Arabia.

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

• Previous reviews
  • 14 April,2008- reviewed by Guy Dimond
  • 26 March,2008- reviewed by Jeremy Lawrence
  • 27 June,2007- reviewed by Time Out Dubai Staff
  • 12 March,2007- reviewed by Time Out Dubai Staff
  • 26 April,2006- reviewed by Time Out Dubai

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

Posted by: Alex Christie on 25 Oct ' 09 at 05:03

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• Best for: Romantic
• Would you go back to this restaurant? No

Dinner on 24 October 2009. A unique experience (why aren't there more places like this?), especially good for first-time visitors to the Middle East, buffet selection is impressive but overall quality of the food not outstanding. Would have given them more stars if the entertainment had been a little less "in your face" too (all through dinner we could hardly talk to each other because of the sheer volume of the sound system used by the entertainers). Although a unique experience, the quality of the show plus food unfortunately did not justify the high price.

Posted by: Mark on 26 May ' 09 at 07:27

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

Best restaurant I have ever been to food great, service friendly all together fun fun fun

Posted by: Jaber on 01 Apr ' 09 at 12:47

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• Best for: Business lunch
• Would you go back to this restaurant? No

Well, I did like the show. Especially the Arabian Caravan show with the horses, camels, etc.

But the food is what I was after, and the food was bad. Not bellow average, not bellow expectations, it was plain bad.

The variety was horrible, imagine when you are a person who does not like dates, and finds that the sweets buffet items are all (nearly) based on dates! I had to have Baskin Robins Ice Cream as my sweet!

The dishes are cold and you can get much better quality and taste in other restaurants in the town that would cost you WAY less than Al Hadheerah offers.

If you are after the show, try it out. If you are looking for good food, this is not the place.

Posted by: ahmed hussein on 01 Apr ' 09 at 10:14

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

Posted by: ghazi saad on 01 Apr ' 09 at 10:13

OverallDecorService

FoodAmbienceValue

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

Posted by: talal nasralla on 01 Apr ' 09 at 10:12

OverallDecorService

FoodAmbienceValue

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

Posted by: Kolin Jamil on 01 Feb ' 09 at 12:07

OverallDecorService

FoodAmbienceValue

• Would you go back to this restaurant? Yes

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