For anyone who loves a great steak done exactly how you like, The Exchange Grill at Dubai’s Fairmont Hotel, is offering discerning foodies the opportunity to indulge in their “Prime Cuts to Share” menu which includes dry-aged steaks tenderized up to 30 days before hitting your palate. I was invited for a tasting and here’s how it went…

To start, we were served a warm from the oven basket of breads with cheese and curry, beetroot, rye and fig (my favorite), as well as sesame and lemon breads.

Our amuse bouche was a beautifully plated avocado mousse with truffle on top which certainly tasted as good as it looked.

The Exchange Grill also has an array of starters. We ordered the Foie Gras, my perennial favorite as well as the Caesar’s salad.

Then we enjoyed the crab cakes with fruit salsa, which were crispy, but tender on the inside and loaded with flavor.

Lastly, I ordered the oysters, which despite my not being a big fan, to my delight, this oyster gratin was creamy and just hinted at the heady notes typically associated with oysters.

From the mains, I opted for the aged-steak platter; with three steaks aged for up to 30 days. Sous Chef James Hawkes here explained the concept of aged steak which is a traditional, yet age-old technique that intensifies the flavor in meat and brings out many sophisticated notes. The free-range beef is carefully sourced from Spain and undergoes this aging process for 15 days, 21 days, and 30 days, each retaining its own unique flavor and texture. A special chamber holds this beef with salt and it basically drains the liquids from the meat. Served with my choice of mashed potatoes and creamed spinach, the 15 day steak was delicious as was the 21 day old, but hands down, the gold star was the 30 days steak which was the best steak I have ever had. It was moreish, deep, and mellow and was absolutely out of this world. There was absolutely no need to add any of the assorted butters–seaweed, to garlic, and blue cheese, or range of gourmet salts to this as it was already loaded with flavor.

Other mains were the classic fillet mignon and Wagyu, always a favorite with kids. Sides with these included sweet potato fries, triple chunk potatoes, and steamed broccoli. Each complemented the mains without overpowering the steaks.

Even desserts here are showstoppers; we shared the London cheesecake and then the beautifully crafted molten chocolate ball which melted when our server poured the warm caramel over it. It became a platter of brownie bits, vanilla yogurt, and chocolate.

Lastly, the Petit Fours trolley had a bit of everything to satiate my sweet tooth; chocolate truffles, baklava, meringue, macaroons, and marshmallow fluff.

The Verdict: For the best and most satisfying steak in town, don’t miss The Exchange Grill’s dry-aged steaks promotion. The service and ambiance here are also top notch and make this the quintessential dining destination.

Visit: The Exchange Grill at The Fairmont Hotel Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai

For reservations, call +971 4 311 8316 or email dbi.fbconcierge@fairmont.com