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!
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| Sunny d's at the One and Only Royal Mirage |
