Afternoon tea does not have to be a subdued, grown up affair in a plush lounge, especially if your guests fall into the under-12 age bracket. The shocking pink and orange logo of Dunkin Donuts gave us an indication of what was to come. The interior decor is utilitarian; cream and burgundy paintwork, shiny grey tiled floors and black metal chairs up to melamine topped tables, but the donuts are the star attraction. Lined up in neat rows, they come in almost every colour and flavour you dream of when you are young. Apple and spice, chocolate and double chocolate, blueberry, banana (with fluorescent green frosting and hundreds and thousands on top), coconut, strawberry, lemon (with a brown smiley face on incandescent yellow icing), and orange (with luminescent orange frosting and brown stripes); to name but a few. Some are rolled in sugar, some are glazed and others are drenched in glace icing, and they come in all shapes and sizes, they’ll even sell you the holes.

There are hot and cold drinks on offer: a cup of tea costs just Dhs3 or Dhs5, and coffee starts at Dhs6. Donuts are Dhs3 for one, but they are cheaper by the half dozen and dozen. We doubt that these confections are free from artificial flavours and colours, but if they were they would probably not make such an awesome display. Nor would they be so appealing to our gastronomic fantasies. The service was friendly, cheerful and patient; there are big decisions to be made in choosing the right donut, and that takes time too. The restaurant was bright and impeccably clean. At under Dhs10 for tea and donuts we will be back.