Lebanese Food that Hits the Right Notes

  • Category: Food
  • September 25, 2017

Known for high-quality, delicious Lebanese food, Reem Al Bawadi is a well-known name in Dubai whose quality and standard is always spot on.

The Dubai Marina branch has been open since 2012 and faces the Marina, offering the most beautiful views of Dubai’s most picturesque neighborhood. Reem al Bawadi has a very expansive menu offering fresh juices, hot and cold mezze, and lots of mains. The wooden floors and tables along with the plants on the ceilings give this place a very fresh and garden-like ambiance. We were welcomed by the restaurant manager Tony who really went the extra mile in lending a personalized touch with his menu recommendations and attentiveness.

8 We began with cold and warm mezze dishes which included Tabbouleh, then my perennial favorite– Baba Ganoush, Hummus, Fattoush, and Moutabbel. This was served with freshly baked bread straight out of the oven.

6 We also had my absolute favorite: Mohamara; a thick red walnut and breadcrumbs spread that had hints of chili in a creamy delicious dish.

10Our hot mezze platter was equally expansive. We sampled the fried calamari rings, spinach fatayer, meat fatayer, and cheese sambusak. We also had the spicy potatoes dish that was different than the others I have tried. The potatoes were not boiled but rather slightly pan-fried to render and slightly crispy texture.

1In between our course and to quench our thirst, we tried one of their fresh juices: a mixed fruit cocktail; a blend of mango, strawberry, and avocado. It was a nice medley of different tastes and colors.

12Our mains included one platter with Arabic seafood: whole fish, jumbo prawns, and fish fillets served with tartar sauce. The fish was flavorful and went well with the accompanying tartar sauce.

13Our meat grill platter included lamb kebobs, chicken kebobs, French Fries, slices of Arayees (stuffed triangles of fresh bread), and lamb chops; served with garlic sauce. All of these selections were tender and well-cooked.

14Despite being very full, we had to mak space for dessert. We sampled a platter of assorted Arabic sweets that included ‘Warbat’, which were crispy flaky triangles stuffed with slightly sweetened Aashta cheese, baklava, halawa cheese– which was white soft rolls of cheese and pistachios, and my absolute favorite: two kinds of kunafa; one soft and one crispy, complete with the warm, slightly melted cheese. With the Turkish coffee, it was indeed a very delicious way to wind up a perfect meal on a Friday afternoon.

The Verdict: We truly enjoyed the delicious, authentic and very fresh food served in Reem al Bawadi. Tony, the manager, and his staff, have done a commendable job at making guests feel warm and welcome. This, combined with the food, makes this one of the best choices for great Lebanese food in Dubai.

Visit: Marina Walk, Dubai Marina; 04 452 2525