Smiling BKK - Al Wasl Square, Dubai

This was sold to be as a quirky Thai eatery, not too dissimilar from what you would find in the hustle and bustle of Bangkok - very un-Dubai and very cheap. 

On first appearances, this seemed to very true. Without completely being through the door we were greeted by a dozen 'Sa-Wad-Dee-Ka's - there must of been 10 waiters/waitresses present, for the 10 people that were inside. The place was dark but cool with lanterns hanging from the ceiling, a mass of framed pictures on the walls, dark wooden tables and large Mona Lisa prints everywhere from menus to napkin boxes. After being seated, the rules were laid out. Every diner gets given a toy black gun. When ready to order, one must pull the trigger making a rather scratchy sound which alerts the waiters to your table. 

The menu was vast, offering up a number of Thai favorites as well as the odd peculiar dish which i'd never heard of.. Being dry, in its place was a range of mocktails and soft drinks (lots of things including green tea which i guess is normal for Thailand..). To start, we devoured a selection of spring rolls, prawn crackers and chicken satay - all extremely tasty but also extremely small. The food here seemed to be shrunk to half the size of normal food, with the spring rolls looking the size of my finger. No place mats were laid out, instead, we had torn out pages from magazines to eat on which added to the fun of the place. 

Next came the mains - a mix of  Thai green curry, Pad Thai and veggy rice - all looking great. The curry (even though i asked for it mild) appeared to be extremely spicy... to cut the long and the short of it, it took them 3 attempts to get the curry right and whilst attempting there were a lot of half-hearted tries which was disappointing  especially after the enthusiasm of the staff. Finally, the curry came (complete with micro mini prawns) and it was fair. Not the best, but considering the price we weren't going to complain. The total came to around 200aed for two, and considering the amount of food we ordered and drinks we drank, it wasnt half bad.  

Overall, it was a fun experience and I am glad I gave it a go. I don't think I would rush back but I would definitely recommend a visit if you are in the area and love Thai cuisine - maybe just avoid the curries! 

Beit Al Bahar AKA The Beach House - Jumeriah Dubai

Next to the Dubai Off-shore sailing club sits Beit Al Bahar, a three story villa which has been turned into three restaurants. This is a real hidden gem - off the beaten track this joint is mostly inhabited by locals and Emiratis. Very un-dubai in its appearance and style, this is the sort of place where rolling off the beach in shorts and t-shirt is acceptable and flip flops are definitely allowed.

When visiting, we had dinner on the beach which is out the back of the restaurant on the ground floor. The terrace is adorned with blue and white lounge chairs and low white tables and its a perfect place to chill out and watch the sun set.

The fact that it is strictly no alcohol doesn't add a downer to the experience... they more than make up for it with their extensive drinks list, from fruity fun mocktails, to a range of imported drinks, and a great selection of coffees. On the food front you really are spoilt for choice.. a menu from each restaurant is presented to you giving you a selection of grilled meats, international cuisines and a extensive sushi menu.

To note: shisha is on offer (obviously..) and the restaurants are open to a whopping 4am.