Ravi's Restaurant - a true Dubai institution

If you have not been to Ravi's...... then, you need to go! Ravi's is one of the most famous Dubai culinary institutions. When all the 5* dining, 100 AED starters and 'smart' dress codes get too much - head to Ravi's in Satwa for a dose of reality alongside the best butter chicken you'll ever taste!

Ravi's is a Pakistani restaurant which has been in Dubai since the beginning of time. Ok, probably since the beginning of Dubai in all seriousness. It's where the true ex-pats used to dine way back when.

The menu is extensive, so I can't begin to tell you what's the best dish on the menu, what I can tell you are tried and tested favourites that me and my friends order over and over again!

Surely the most famous dish is the butter chicken - a heart attack in a bowl yes, but a tasty one! Creamy, smooth, deliciously flavoured chicken curry. It's a real easy one, the equivilant of a chicken korma, and wins no points for 'alpha male spiciness' but who cares!

The chicken jalfrezi is spicy and filled with juicy tomatoes and onions. It's less rich, but makes up for that in heat. This is an oily one so be prepared to spoon off the excess!

The grilled meats are amazing and are what many people come for - chicken skewers, lamb chops you name it they do it and it's all good.

One of my personal favourites is the dahl fry - thick, fragrant, spicy lentil dahl - just right.

To mop it all up order from a range of breads - Roti's, naan and paratha!

The best bit, is when you ask for the bill. You've ordered enough to feed an army and I've never paid more that 40 AED per person - and that was a very greedy day.

Be warned, you wallet will still be full when you leave, but your stomach will be even fuller!! It's so hard to say no!

Enjoy :-)

Hakkasan - cocktail heaven!

Hakkasan, another big name, pretentious (by which I mean expensive!) and AMAZING Dubai fine dining import.

I have nothing but praise for my first Hakkasan experience. The interior is dark and moody, large yet intimate and not intimidating in the slightest. We were promptly seated at our table, but the bar was busy and buzzing with pre-dinner drinkers. We skipped drinks and ordered cocktails from our seats. The cocktail menu is full of tempting treats and we managed to rack up a good bill on various martinis!

Onto starters, the chilean seabass shumai and the chicken and lotus root dumpling came out first and both were up to expectations - the delicate flavours worked together so well and were melt in your mouth good!

After a well deserved cocktail break, out came the mains - black cod for me and braised wagyu beef for the other half. Both cooked exceptionally well. The cod was soft, and the intensely sweet seasoning that these black cod dishes are so famous for was perfect. It came with crispy mushroom tempura which finished it to perfection. The beef was tender and oh so flavoursome working perfectly with the accompanying sauce. Clean plates all round!

Finally we moved to dessert and after a lengthy decision making process went for the Warm Apple Tart with Green Apple Sorbet and Hakkamisu with Coffee Ice Cream (Hakkasan's tiramisu!). Both were to die for, but the Hakkamisu won me over. The portion was generous and the flavours subtle, sweet, light and creamy. I could eat it again and again!

This is one for the special occassions list due to the pricey menu, but it really is worth it if you like modern asian food. Fans of Zuma and Nobu will be impressed.