Emirati Food with a Twist

While many of us have lived here for a decade or longer, few of us have actually had the chance to sample authentic Emirati food, while still many of us can’t even name some of the region’s staple dishes. The Emirati themed Local Bites Café changes all of that, and with its recently renovated and revamped interiors, allows the opportunity to sample some mouthwatering Emirati dishes.

Though we went in the evening, it was hard to resist the popular breakfast items which are served all day. We started with the Jumeirah Platter; this included khameer–the Bedouin inspired warm Emirati flatbread served with cream cheese, then balaleet–a sweet and buttery vermicelli topped dish topped with an omelette, and Emirati chebabs—Emirati pancakes served with date syrup. The Asian touch came in the form of a flaky paratha to be eaten with the mildly spiced accompanying minced meat.

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Next, we sampled the Pizzath Paratha– a crispy paratha stuffed with a warm pizza sauce, chicken, cheese, olives, onions, and mushrooms. Also, the Jumeirah Khameer sandwich–made from freshly baked khameer, stuffed with marinated chicken breast and served with spicy French fries was fresh, tasty, and healthy. My kids and I also sampled the must-try “Oman Chips and Cheese paratha rolls” which we were told were a hugely popular combination. The kids sampled the Fajita Wrap and the Emirati Beef Burger; both served in large portions. The fajita included guacamole sauce and the burger was juicy and accompanied by French fries.

lugaimatThe must-try beverage is the Jumeirah Special Cold Coffee which I was told was made with no added sugar, but just the addition of fresh date syrup. And to top this all off, we were served the Café’s iconic “Nutella Parathas” garnished with fresh strawberries. This was decadence at the highest level as warm Nutella contrasted in texture and flavor from the crispy paratha. And then came the showstopper and truly Emirati “Lugemat” drizzled with date syrup. These were crispy on the outside and soft on the inside and made the perfect ending to a delicious meal.

Summary: Excellent service and delicious food makes this a must-visit café where you can feast on Emirati food in a cozy ambiance.     

Contact: 04 275 3174

Localbitescafe.com