Dubai Restaurant Week 2024, held from 20 April 2024 to 12 May 2024, celebrated culinary excellence, highlighting over 65 of Dubai’s finest eateries.

 

• This annual event transformed dining across the city, offering exclusive set lunch and dinner menus crafted specifically for the Dubai Food Festival.
• Over 10’000 guests delighted in these limited-edition meals, each one an exploration of Dubai’s diverse food scene.
• The Sandton Times reviewed three standout restaurants in Dubai from this gastronomic extravaganza.
• Visit www.sandtontimes.co.za for more stories.

 

Among the many participating restaurants in Dubai Restaurant Week 2024, The Sandton Times paid three restaurants a visit, (two of which have been open for less than a year) to sample some of Dubai’s incredible food offering, including RARE, Uchi, and Jun’s. These establishments not only highlighted the rich flavours and creativity of their chefs but also offered diners an unforgettable journey through Dubai’s eclectic food landscape.

 

Jun’s – Downtown Dubai

Jun’s, known for its innovative and third-culture cooking styles, presented a specially curated tasting menu by Chef Kelvin Cheung. The dinner menu, priced at AED 250 per person (around R1200), included three courses and a bottle of water.

 

Starters: The rainbow heirloom carrots, with smoked labneh, soy honey butter, and candied walnuts, were a vibrant and flavourful start to the meal.

 

Also on offer was a szechuan baba ganoush, accompanied by tzatziki, squash chips, kaluga caviar, and salmon roe, offering a unique blend of textures and flavours. The salmon carpaccio, with capers, lemon, jalapeño, crispy shallots, and truffle kombu oil, also provided a fresh and zesty dish to entice the palate.

 

Main Courses: The miso Chilean seabass, served with apple fennel slaw, lemon emulsion, and furikake, was a delicate and flavourful main course that showcased the restaurant’s expertise in seafood.

 

Also on the menu were tempura veg & garlic noodles, featuring zucchini, squash, Chinese egg noodles, and broccoli – a satisfying vegetarian option, highlighted by a rich garlic parmesan emulsion. The corn-fed baby chicken with Penang red curry was also a tempting dish, combining Malaysian-style curry with tender grilled chicken and winter vegetables.

 

Desserts: Jun’s desserts were a perfect end to a memorable meal. We had the Szechuan peppercorn Basque-style cheesecake, with berry compote and gluten-free cookie crumble, provided a spicy and sweet finish that left us wanting more.

 

Other desserts included the baked Alaska, with espresso zabaglione and brown butter – a rich and indulgent treat – and the semifreddo, featuring sesame peanut mochi.

 

Visit the Jun’s Instagram page.

 

Uchi – Dubai International Financial Centre

The recently opened Uchi, renowned for its authentic Japanese cuisine, offered a lunch menu that showcased its culinary prowess for AED 125. The menu allowed guests to choose one starter and one main or one main and one dessert, accompanied by a bottle of water per two people.

 

Starters: The beef gyoza, crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside, provided a satisfying start to the meal.

 

Another option was the sea bass usuzukuri, with its delicate slices of fish and avocado saikyo miso, highlighting the freshness and precision of Japanese cuisine.

 

Main Courses: The poached black cod, with its melt-in-the-mouth texture and subtle flavours, was a true testament to Uchi’s expertise in seafood.

 

Also on the menu was the angus sando, a Japanese-style sandwich, offering a perfect combination of tender beef and flavourful condiments. The shitake rice bibimbap, a fusion of Japanese and Korean influences, also offered a hearty and satisfying option for those seeking a vegetarian dish.

 

Desserts: Desserts at Uchi were equally impressive. The pina colada, a tropical delight, provided a refreshing end to the meal. The strawberry cheesecake was rich and creamy, while the yu-chi oh!, a unique dessert, offered a playful and delicious finish to the dining experience.

 

Visit the Uchi Instagram page.

 

RARE – City Walk

Located in the heart of Dubai, the recently opened RARE offered a refined and modern dining experience with its carefully curated lunch menu priced at AED 125. The menu included a choice of one starter and one main or one main and one dessert, along with a complimentary bottle of water per two guests.

 

Starters: RARE’s starters were a testament to culinary sophistication. The bresaola with smoked potato, slow egg, and shaved truffle was a delicate and flavorful dish that set the tone for the meal.

 

Also on offer, the chicken thigh skewer, served with smoked salsa roja and lemon, was another option, offering a balance of smokiness and zest to kickstart a lunch.

 

Main Courses: For the main course, the roast chicken, paired with peri peri and corn succotash, provided a delightful kick of spice balanced by the sweetness of the succotash.

 

Also on the menu, the rigatoni moray with shin ragu and garlic pangrattato was a hearty and comforting option, rich in flavour and texture. The plant-based cheeseburger, featuring pickles, mustard, and avocado, was a satisfying choice for vegetarians, delivering a unique twist on a classic dish.

 

Desserts: Dessert lovers were not disappointed with the passion fruit and mango sorbet, which was refreshing and tangy, while the white chocolate ganache, also on the menu, offered a luxurious, creamy finish. The affogato, with pandan and vanilla ice cream, provided a delightful blend of rich and aromatic flavors, perfect for rounding off the meal.

 

Visit the RARE Instagram page.

 

Dubai Restaurant Week 2024 was a culinary journey that showcased the diversity and excellence of the city’s dining scene. RARE, Uchi, and Jun’s each offered unique and unforgettable dining experiences, leaving those dining with a deeper appreciation for the artistry and innovation of Dubai’s top chefs.

 

Whether you were seeking modern elegance, authentic Japanese cuisine, or a global culinary adventure, these restaurants delivered on every front, making Dubai Restaurant Week 2024 a true celebration of gastronomy.

 

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