Café Arabesque

Atmospheric café with Arabian influences Discuss this article

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From Time Out Dubai Eating Out 2009

You’ll really want to be blown away by this place. It’s got an incredible marina-side terrace setting, and a tasteful, easygoing atmosphere. But, aside from the set menus that are a good foodie roundtrip around the region, or the Levantine mezze buffet of Romanesque decadence proportions, the a la carte mains just fall flat.

You’re sure to be drawn to the menu by the unusual inclusion of specifically Syrian and Jordanian dishes alongside the Lebanese kebabs. But, drenched in watery tomato sauce, the Syrian kabab halabi lamb tastes more like burger meat, and the kebab ezmaly, infused with sticky cheese, though slightly better, is still uninspiring.

Café Arabesque is a good lunch option, but we recommend sticking to the mezze buffet. The selection is huge, and value for your dirham is far more apparent than this collection of rather standard and expensive kebabs.

• Previous reviews
  • 26 March,2008- reviewed by Jeremy Lawrence
  • 12 March,2007- reviewed by Time Out Dubai Staff
  • 05 September,2005- reviewed by Matthew Lee

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