Bushman's - Anantara Resort, The Palm

The latest eatery I recently discovered is yet another restaurant at the superb Anantara Hotel on the Palm. Unlike any other Australian restaurant I have visited in Dubai, Bushman's is ultra cool with a unique edge in every aspect. The outdoor patio is laiden with comfy seating and oversized metal birdcages containing circular tables. The lighting in low with quirky with Australian nik naks hanging from the ceiling - a perfect watering hole for the cooler months in Dubai. The bar portion of the venue is set along a narrow passage which leads into the main restaurant where the low lighting and dark fittings continue throughout the restaurant with wire mesh features including walls and small animals which decorate the interiors. The tables for two are quite cramped but there is a cosy feel to the place and you never feel on top of other diners, however, there are larger tables available which offer plenty of room.

In typical Australian fashion, the menu is made up of weird and wonderful Australian classics including kangaroo, emu and barramundi - its amazing how they get these exquisite dishes across the sea and manage to keep them ever so tasty. For the curious and experiential diners out there, Bushmans will be right up your street. To start, the Australian antipasto is definitely the most exotic dish on the menu.. shared between two this plate of delight gives you a taste of whats to come next. The seared Emu fillet was particularly tasty!

The main courses however make visiting this restaurant worth while.. The two specials/Australian inspired dishes are the pan baked barramundi fillet with lemongrass beurre blanc sauce and lemon risotto and the kangaroo sirloin with sweet potato fritters, pak choi and an incredible chilli sauce (the perfect balance of sweet and spice). Both dishes were truly fantastic however the real star was the barramundi which kicked all other dishes ass. The fish was soft with a crispy exterior and the mixture of risotto and lemongrass complimented it perfectly - my mouth is watering just thinking about it. Adding to the experience, the waitresses AKA 'The Salt Guru' come round and advised on the perfect salt variety to complement the meal. I honestly never knew you could get so many different types! They also come round with a selection of sharp knifes giving each diner the chance to choose their weapon of choice.

In addition to the Australian specials, they also have a number of meat cuts from the BBQ complimented by a selection of sauces including wattle seed glaze and red onion jam. For the icing on the cake, apparently they do an incredible pavlova which is created by the chef in front of your eyes at the table. Something to look forward to next time!

The bevvys also keep in line with the rest of the venue and homesick Aussies will be pleased to find a small selection of Australian drinks at a reasonable price. They also do a happy hour daily from 5pm till 7pm.

A new favorite of mine in Dubai and another gold star for the Anantara!

West 14th - Oceana The Palm, Dubai

West 14th might just be my new favorite joint in Dubai for a casual dinner - I can't believe its taken me this long to try out the fab steak shack on the Palm. Overlooking the sea with views of the Marina on the main land, West 14th is a great place to unwind or gear up. Offering up swanky indoor dining options, decked out with black and red interiors appearing sleek and very 'New York' as well as a chilled out al fresco eating area, filled with long tables, great views, cool breeze and a bar which is reachable from every angle - the perfect place for sunny d's - flips flops are not only allowed outside when eating, they are appreciated which is nearly unheard of in a place as dressy as Dubs.

At the core, West 14th is a steak house, however, fish and fresh market veg are also served up as well as other meats, vegetarian dishes and other fruit de la mer.  Vegetables are often home grown in Dubai however the steak comes straight from a ranch in Nebraska - ordered by Mr West himself - the resident butcher at the Oceana based hang out. I must say, the steak is delicious and reasonably priced for the quality...

Quality must be high up on the list of commitments Mr West wants to keep, as the wine (we sampled a selection of whites, reds and rose), like the food, went down a treat - the cheapest glass being 38aed, meaning you get more for your money (so i thought..). This however, is not necessarily the case. As it tastes so damn good it is very easy to spend more than anticipated - a clever trick there from Mr West. The ingrained West 14th stamp that is burnt into pretty much everything (chopping boards, uniforms, menus etc) is prominent for all customers to see giving the place a unique/edgy touch, and the staff, emblazoned with large name tags, are helpful, friendly and on the whole, knowledgeable.

Just a few things to note:

• Drinks service can be quite slow - be warned!
• Happy Hour is from Saturday - Wednesday with two for one offers between 6-8
• They do a great (so im told..) brunch on a Friday donned "The Butchers Brunch" 
• From the car, its quite a walk in heels - make sure they are comfy! 

Its safe to say that ill be heading back for many more steak nights in the near future. 

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 

Saffron - The Atlantis Hotel, Palm Jumeirah, Dubai

Head to the top of the palm and there you will find the mighty Atlantis Hotel. One of the many restaurants housed inside the hallow halls is Saffron, an Asian themed all day buffet. After hearing many good things about Saffron Brunch I was seriously excited about being taken there for dinner, however when I first entered the restaurant I must admit I was a little disappointed.. Instead of the swanky joint I was expecting, Saffron resembled a canteen?! I was confused.. However I was promptly told that ‘this is what all restaurants look like in Hong Kong’… !

For a Monday night the place was booming (mostly full of Chinese who im guessing were on holiday to celebrate the Chinese New Year), and I was pleased that the waiter sat us on a quiet table in the corner. Our host was great, firstly talking us through what Saffron is about and then secondly giving us a tour around the restaurant to show all the different stations.

Asia is a big place and this is definitely shown in the size of the buffet – it was huge! I had never seen so much food on display at one time. Hosting 20 different theatrical cooking stations, they were definitely making sure they offered a taste from every region. First stop – sushi central. A mass of nigiri, sashimi, and maki rolls were on offer with all the trimmings. We then moved over to the soup, and dimsum section where you could pick your own coloured noodles and elements to make the perfect soup! Following on from that there was a international section (boring!), Chinese, Indian, a bread section, salad bars, Thai and then pudding.. a huge selection of cheese, mousses and cakes as well as sweets, ice cream and a chocolate fountain, all of which is very easy to navigate and I never felt like I was squashed when trying to pick what to put on my plate. To add to this, there was also a superb selection of sake and wine to complement the many moods and flavors of the cuisine.

My eyes being larger than my stomach, I overexcitedly over piled by first plate of food – spilling over the sides with sushi, dim sum, salads and deli meats.. far too much. After finishing off plate one, the waiter produced a plate full of spicy jumbo prawns in cooked spicy tomatoes.. I mean how could I say no?! So I ploughed on, adding on to my already full belly. Round 2… Indian. Struggling to walk, I waddled over to the Indian station to put together a small selection of curries.. yum. Not the most flavorsome I had ever had but did the job, however standing was now becoming difficult. My already tightly fitted dress felt like it might burst, and it was definitely now time to stop eating.. however, Grandpa, who only really eats desert,  produced a mountain of ice cream and pudding willing me to at least ‘try’ a few things. Finally it was over, but I was now thinking how I was going to get from the restaurant to the car… it felt like someone might have to roll me out. After a 10minute sit down and ‘rest’ I managed to slowly make my way through the hotel and back to the car. Thank god!

Saffron will definitely be a place I will never forget, it’s a great place to go to feed the fussiest of people and a perfect fit for a family feast. It still baffles me though how people can go for brunch and drink as well as eat at the place like Saffron, I have a feeling I will be sticking to one or the other if I come again! 

Nasimi Beach - Atlantis The Palm, Dubai

Situated at the Atlantis on the palm, Nasimi Beach is must for the beach bunnies among you. Decked out with private cabanas, white sofas and day beds accompanied by chilled out tunes, this is one of Dubai’s answer to Ibiza. As well as being a great spot to chill out during the day, this trendy location comes alive at night featuring resident DJ’s Smokingroove and David Grey as well as well known international stars.

Whilst soaking up the rays there is both a selection of food, wine and fruit cocktails available, either ordered straight to your bed on the beach or alternatively you can wonder up to the restaurant for a more formal dining experience. My preference has always been the more lazy option, and ordering food straight to the bed... The menu ranges from pizzas and burgers to light bites including salads and sushi (the maki rolls are dreamy!) 

On the drinks front, I would always lean towards the cocktails which on the whole come inside fruit instead of glasses - my particular favourites being either the watermelon or pineapple based – refreshing and slightly sweet beverages, ice cold with plenty of straws – the ideal sharing pick-me-up.

Top tips:

• ·      Open every day of the week, however if you are planning on going over the weekend make sure you ring in advance and book your beds!
• ·      During the autumn and spring months beware of jelly fish – the sea seems to be littered with them!
• ·      There is a minimum spend on the beds (500aed) so make the most of the day and go for either lunch or dinner!
• ·      The one down side to this vibrant hot spot is the service, so be prepared to be patient and always double check the bill at the end of your day!