Wednesday, 9 April 2014

101 - The One and Only The Palm


Its March, my parents and friends are on route to Dubai for the World Cup and my mother is asking me to think of a suitable restaurant to have lunch. The mandatories? Must be by the beach, not too busy, seafood would be preferable and must be outdoors… So not a lot to ask for really…!



After a few phone calls and a bit of research, 101 at the luxury One and Only Hotel on the Palm sounded like a reasonable choice. Set over the water, with insane views of the mainland, 101 has a diverse Mediterranean menu on offer, serving up mainly fresh seafood but also a mix of meats, light and fresh salads and a selection of delightful looking puddings. This sounded like it was definitely going to tick most boxes.

Even though it’s a slight trek from main land Dubai (the hotel is literally a stone’s throw away from the main land – however by car it’s a fair distance!), its well worth the journey once you arrive. Located by the resorts private marina, this place not only has a casual and laid back dining area, but also a hip and chic lounge, the perfect place for sunny d’s.



On arrival (driven in a buggy from our car to the restaurant..) we were promptly sat, menus appeared, followed by a light snack to awaken the palate. This came in the form of a duck ball.. looked a bit suspect but tasted delicious. As it was lunch time, a light meal was on everyone’s minds, and one by one plates of tuna carpaccio, scallops and salads were ordered. Last but by no means least, my younger brother piped up and ordered the Octopus, definitely coming in as one of the more extravagant items on the menu. Twenty minutes later the food arrived, the table went quiet and ‘mmm’ing sounds could be heard from all sides. I personally went for the Scallops which came with a leek and carrot medley. The vegetables were sliced so slightly that they looked like spaghetti and melted into the scallops, accompanying them perfectly. The portion left me feeling satisfied and after washing it down with some rose, I was left feeling content. The salads and the tuna also went down a treat (from what I hear!), however the real deal was the Octopus. Sprawling tentacles covered the plate accompanied with toasty tomatoes and salsa – not only did it look amazing, it tasted amazing too. Definitely the dish of the day.  




After a lovely long, chilled out lunch, basking in the sun it was time to think about moving. Clean plates, coffees were drunk, rose finished, and no puddings. My brother, who was conveniently shacked up in the One and Only Royal Mirage (the hotel directly opposite where we were), invited the party back to the hotel for a drink meaning that the only thing that was standing between us and an ice cold cocktail was the long (well twenty minute) car journey.. however turns out this was not the only mode of transport on offer! 

‘Why don’t you just take the boat?’ chirped the waiter in response to my grumbling. The boat? Yes, the boat. As it turns out, One&Only provides a ferry service across the short stretch of water between the Royal Mirage and The Palm, meaning our journey back from the 101 at One&Only The Palm had suddenly become much easier. Departing every hour, this is a quick, easy and enjoyable way to travel to and from the restaurant, dropping you directly at Jetty Lounge on the beach of the One and Only Royal Mirage.



Even though its quite an expensive dining experience it is worth every penny. There was an understated class to 101 that I immediately liked and I am very much looking forward to going back again – maybe next time ill try dinner! 


Sunny d's at the One and Only Royal Mirage 

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