Dubai is dotted with French restaurants and cafes and one of them is Parlour Boutique, nestled amongst the Trade Center area. It prides itself on serving the freshest and most authentic French cuisine in town.

With a laid-back gourmet café ambiance, we were served by Layla who explained their signature meal was breakfast, with items that include French toast, pancakes, and eggs cooked up as you like.

For our tasting, we started with classic French Onion soup—perfect for an onion lover like me, with a huge chunk of bread smothered with cheese in the middle of the bowl of steaming oniony goodness.

The seafood soup was equally flavorful and was loaded with seafood in a fish broth.

Next, we were served a baked Camembert cheese wheel–a gooey, cheesy dish topped with truffle oil and honey to mellow out the flavors of this very French cheese. Served with a homemade blackcurrant jus and homemade bread, this was heaven for someone like me who adores anything cheesy.

From their breakfast menu, we ordered Salmon Oeufs or smoked salmon scrambled eggs with spinach, served on a freshly baked croissant bun with cucumber and dill cream. And Oeufs Basque (poached egg) with capsicum, tomatoes, Rocca leaves, and veal chorizo was another breakfast item that was loaded with a medley of flavors.

From their healthy beverage options, we sampled their refreshing signature Jardin des Plantes–for energy and balance– made of orange juice, banana, kale, and agave syrup.

Our mains began with a delicious Seabass in Provencal papillote–steamed in a paper to perfection with herbs. We also had a nice variation of Caesar’s salad which used fresh kale for leaves.

Then the vegetable tartine made from grilled vegetables, sun-dried tapenade, feta cheese, and balsamic vinaigrette.

This was light and nice as a complement to the other main: Wagyu beef cuts served with mushroom sauce, peppercorn sauce, and blue cheese sauce. They serve some delicious sides and we sampled the potato gratin–a yummy cheesy dish–while the others had fries and mashed potatoes.

What’s a delicious French meal without dessert? We sampled their famous French toast–a heavenly concoction of a round bun sliced open topped off with berries and fresh cream. It was sheer bliss.

The second and my perennial favorite was the Crème Brule, a crispy coating with a creamy inside; this was the perfect end to a delicious meal. And we sampled the éclairs—both raspberry and chocolate, which were light in a perfectly formed pastry.

The Verdict: Parlour Boutique serves authentic French food with exceptional service and is a great place for a delicious meal—breakfast, lunch, or dinner amidst a gourmet style ambiance.

Visit: Parlour Boutique
Ground Floor, Unit 1, One Central Building, Trade Centre Area, Dubai
04 386 5333