Asado - The Palace Hotel

I first heard about Asado many months ago whilst chatting to a colleague about where was nice (and a bit different) to go for dinner in Dubai. Asado was her first recommendation, with the baby goat appetizer being the main draw to the place... i was definitely intrigued. Situated in The Palace Hotel, the restaurant’s terrace backs onto the Burj Khalifa and the legendary fountains, and I thought this would be great spot to take my friends when they came to stay, plus – id never been myself! Definite added bonus! Even though it is an Argentinean Grill, it is not quite like any of the other steakhouses ive been to in the city. On offer is a wide variety of unique, mouth quenching dishes like Poach Lobster over cauliflower caviar with crab remoulade and bisque, Grilled scallops, olive oil caviar, basil granite, carrot reduction and braised pigeon with foie gras, mushrooms, asparagus puree and purple potatoes as well as the beautifully cut pieces of steak and grilled food. 

On arrival, I was slightly disappointed in the view of the fountains from the terrace.. you could barely make them out and instead of the ‘ooo’s and ‘ahhh’s I should have been hearing from my friends, there was nothing apart from ‘yeah they were nice…’. Luckily the food and wine made up for the lack of fountain watching. However, the interiors of the restaurant were very different...Asado had the authentic feel of a grand Argentinean country farmhouse, plonked in the Middle East with traditional music and live entertainment - relaxing yet sophisticated. The wine list was extensive with a sommelier offering a helping hand at every turn. The staff were friendly and happy to offer suggestions, specials and the best cuts on offer. We were all aligned on that the baby goat would be our starter of choice, traditionally called Cabrito asado which is roasted on a slow-burning charcoal fire. This would then be followed by an array of fish, steak, chips, and vegetables for our main choices.

Baby Goat - nearly demolished! 

The baby goat was the highlight of the meal – not coming across as the best looking of dishes, this plate of hot, extremely well-seasoned goat was to die for.. It fell off the bone with no hassle and quite literally melted in one’s mouth leaving four very happy campers around the table! Shortly after arrived my tenderloin steak with its side order of thick-cut fries arranged like building blocks. The steak was beautifully marbled, sensationally tender and tasty! The fish I hear was equally as delicious - a lighter option for those who prefer. 

Overall, Asado turned out to be a fun night for all, a definite high light of their holiday, and I would happily go again if the opportunity presented itself. However, its not the cheapest of eateries and if you own an Entertainer book, be sure to take along a few vouchers! 

Bon appetite x

The Meat Company - Madinat Jumeirah, Dubai

Can you guess what type of restaurant this might be? The hint is in the name… Another one of Dubai’s many steak houses, with chains dotted around the city. I have visited the Madinat venue a few times now and this is by far my favourite, boasting great views of the waterways and a peaceful and pretty setting. Originating in South Africa, The Meat Company is now a huge contender in the restaurant biz, with venues in the Middle East, UK and the home land. The menu is simple -  you can choose aged beefs from the United States, Australia, Japan, and South Africa that are flame-grilled to your exact specification. The menu covers a few chicken and lamb dishes, juicy 100% beef burgers, and there's even fish… however meat is king here.

On this occasion I was out with family – the red wine was flowing while the waitress made her way around the table to take our orders. Starters and mains for everyone – great! However what the waitress failed to mention was the size of the starters, which when they turned up, were a meal in themselves. My 15 year old female cousin who is constantly ‘on a diet’ chose the cheesy garlic bread and nearly fell off her chair when it was placed in front of her – a massive loaf of buttery goodness oozying with cheese. It was enough to feed our entire table of nine! I had been slightly more sensible in my decision and had opted for the beef Carpaccio, and even this was larger than your ordinary starter portion.

On the downside, such a sizeable opening to the meal meant that we weren’t anticipating our mains as enthusiastically as we normally do…

Next round – steak (no surprises there). Being a steak fan myself (as you might of guessed from previous posts!) I was happy with what was put in-front of me. My steak was cooked just the way I like it with a rich, thick and flavorsome blue cheese and vodka sauce and all steaks come with skinny, crunchy fries. Another (small) family member went for the special ribs – again, a HUGE portion appeared in front of him, however he managed to finish the plate so I am guessing they were tasty!  

Sadly at the end of this, once again there was no room for pudding – something I will try and squeeze in next time I go.

Overall, this is a finely tuned steak serving machine with friendly and efficient staff (and enough of them to deal with the dinnertime rush!), a good atmosphere nearly every night of the week and it’s a place which pleases all types of clientele – there is something on the menu for everyone, young or old. Also being in the Madinat adds to the dining experience, not only through the scenery but also the shopping aspect.  One last note.. even though you can normally get a table if you just turn up, I would recommend booking beforehand to secure a seat outside by the canals – it really does add to the experience! 

Gaucho - DIFC, Dubai

Even though the place is the polar opposite to the original Argentinan ‘gaucho’, it is still somehow different to other steak houses. I took the time to read up on the place and read the following: The beef is taken only from Angus cattle (which are born and raised in Argentina), a shorter and stockier breed, meaning smaller, more flavourful cuts. The intricacies involved in rearing and slaughtering cattle, preserving and transporting the meat, and preparing and serving of steak, perhaps explain why Dubai is in love with this seemingly simple dish: dining on good steak is to dine on a flavourful, complex back story… and O my did I later find out how true this was..

After whizzing our way up in the panoramic lift from the car park, we were greet by the chilled beats and cool interior of Gaucho.. decked out with a black and white colour scheme, accompanied with similar cow-hind chairs, and high ceilings (decorated with chandeliers of course – it is Dubai after all!) this was definitely the restaurant to be at on a Thursday night. My attention was also drawn to the glowing chamber behind the staircase, lined with fine Argentinian wine.The restaurant was positively rammed and buzzing with conversation, however on this one occasion I was happy to be seated outside, where the atmosphere was a little more laid back and it was possible to indulge in conversation with my friends and family (my dad was not a fan of the loud, remixy tunes that hummed away inside!). The terrace presented a different sort of atmosphere.. still with music however it was somewhat muted and the place seemed slightly magical. Streaming with small candles and soft lighting, the terrace was surrounded by leaves, blocking Gaucho from the outside world.

Shortly after being seated, our hostess Claudia, promptly arrived to talk us through the menu (both wine and food). Each hostess tells you about the meats (and shows you the selection too on large brown chopping boards), and which wines complement what best (all wines are imported from Argentina except from the bubbly). After a lot of ‘umm-ing and ah-ing’ we chose our selection of starters – Tuna Tiradito, seared scallops and crab linguini. And WOW – not only were they presented perfectly, they tasted exquisite. My choice, the tuna tiradito, literally melted in my mouth. They had got the element combination/ratio just right!

For the next course we went our separate ways, with two people opting for fish and my dad and I going for the famous Argentinian steak! I must say the tuna looked divine, perfectly pink coated in sesame, and dressed in a delicious combination of orange, ginger and cardamom. However when my steak arrived, I knew I had made the right decision. Rare – just the way I like it – was a perfect portion of steak, complimented with mushroom sauce, sweet potato wedges and almond broccoli. The steak was great – maybe not the best ever, but a serious contender. The winner of the meal was definitely the sweet potato wedges.. something I will now endeavor to re-create at home and eat everyday for the rest of my life (they were that good!!). Twice cooked with lemon and honey, and served with lemon confit, honey and capers, these wedges were unlike anything I had ever tried. Crispy on the outside but impossibly soft in the middle, they were an ideal addition to my tasty steak!

After all this, sadly there was no more room left at the inn and pudding was given a miss – something I will definitely save room for next time (however Im not quite sure if I would be comfortable sacrificing something to enable this!)…

Gaucho really does offer an all-round dining experience with tasty food, incredible décor, great atmosphere and service as slick as the interior – it definitely did the job and I will be returning (hopefully soon!)

Try the round buns - they come warm, doughy with a tangy cheesy taste! 

 http://www.gauchorestaurants.co.uk/restaurants/restaurant.php?id=dubai 

MJ's Steak House - Al Qasr, Jumeriah Dubai

MJ’s steakhouse – ‘fine feasting for meat lovers’. If you are particular about your steak, MJ’s is the place for you with its dedication to meat cooking perfection.

Situated in Al Qasr Hotel (next to the Madinat in Jumeriah), this classy restaurant resembles a mix between sophistication and cool, decked out in red and black, large street shots taking over the wall and polished brown wood floor to boot.

With MJ’s busy open kitchen you’ll see first hand the chef’s finesse and flair with flame and grill – all part of the entertainment with the added benefit of diners getting the chance to pick there meats from the counter if they wish.

Seating is also available outside (which is my particular favourite) where you can look out on to the water ways which make their way up to the Madinat – you can also see the Burj poking through the trees.

Being a steak joint, the menu is centered mainly around meaty dishes (with a few fish options inbetween!). Even though I am sure all the food is divine by particular favourites would be, to start, the dry aged beef tartar. This dish is presented in its separate elements and then mixed together in front of you, allowing the diner to have an opinion on how much of each element they want in the dish. When choosing a main choice, I would highly recommend the tenderloin, the Chateaubriand, or the Australian Wagu – and to accompany this I would always go for the parmesan truffle fries with a portion of the broccilini – perfect combination!

All steaks come with your choice of sauce too ranging from your classic béarnaise to MJ’s signature BBQ.

After selecting your dish of choice, waiters will then appear with large baskets of bread (with gluten free options too!) and a tray of knifes where the diner can selected there preferred slicing device. Palette cleansers are also offered before your meal – the last time I went we had a delightful bowl of mango sorbet.. yum! 

I would give MJ’s 10 out of 10 on all fronts. The service is great and the waiters friendly, the atmosphere is buzzy but the restaurant never feels cramped and finally, so far, it’s my favourite steak joint in Dubai. 

Dress code is smart casual and I’d recommend always booking before you go so you’re not disappointed! 

https://www.jumeirah.com/en/hotels-resorts/dubai/madinat-jumeirah/restaurants--bars/mjs-steakhouse/