Gerard's

Popular al fresco Jumeirah dining spot Discuss this article

Gerard’s is an institution in Dubai. You are unlikely to find a spare seat here at around 10am, what with the locals dropping in for their morning coffee and the Jumeirah set congregating for a mid-morning gossip. It is popular for a reason: the ambiance, the coffee and the hot chocolate are all delightful. We were there later in the day, however, to try a spot of afternoon tea.

We sat outside in the courtyard, which is now well screened by ever encroaching greenery in pots. Sitting comfortably in basket chairs at a small marble-topped table, we enjoyed the pavement café feel of Gerard’s (you’ll obviously be better off indoors in June). Our waiter, smart in black trousers, white shirt and bow tie was slightly gruff when he delivered our order. In keeping with the Dubai climate we went for a pot of mint tea and some iced coffee which was a good choice. From the selection of creamy confections and traditional French pastries we chose a slice of opera cake, an almond slice and a plate of petits fours biscuits. The opera cake, a multi-layered chocolate and pistachio creation was tasty, however the almond slice was chewy and bland and the biscuits were suspiciously soft. Perhaps we arrived with unrealistic expectations, but we left feeling disappointed with the service and the quality of the food. Or maybe we were just unlucky. This is, after all, one of the most popular cafés in Jumeirah.

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