For drinks, we went in for trio tropical which was a mix of mango pineapple and coconut water along with their signature Epitome cooler which brought together basil mint and pineapple.

Our first starter was Ras Malai ki chaat which featured sweet milk sponges topped with golden saffron curd and cherries, served alongside leafy greens, carrots and beetroot threads. A little on the sweet side, this starter would pair well if you’re alternating it with a savory dish. Next in our starters were Hoison chilli wontons, that were crispy fried and tossed in a honey chilli sauce. Bringing a really good balance of spicy, sweet and savory flavors, paired with that slight crunch, these were the perfect young to the Ras Malai’s yang.

For mains, we went with the elephant garlic and basil sticky rice which was wok-fried with finely chopped assorted veggies and topped with burnt garlic and basil leaves. At first, it came across as a mushy version of Manchurian dumplings, but as the flavors began to pop out we were welcomed by the garlicky goodness. Of course, we couldn’t resist ordering an Indian main and for that, we went with Dilli styled nikka choley bhature that came topped with amchoori potatoes and paired with chilli carrot pickle and onions on the side. My favorite from the evening, the choley with potatoes in it was a combination that took this dish to the next level. Considering the portion of the choley, I do think they should give 4 bhatures instead of 2 as a part of this dish.

Next, it was time for desserts and we started with Gulab e Godiva. A Godiva chocolate brownie stuffed with a Gulab Jamun in the centre and topped with vanilla ice cream, this dish was quite a fusion laden item. The vanilla ice cream was a little too sweet for my liking and paired with the Gulab Jamun it made the dish overpowering sweet, but all in all, it was a good concept. The next dessert, not very different from the previous one, was the bomb chocolate soufflé which featured a classic molten chocolate cake topped with vanilla ice cream and cherry compote. The chocolate soufflé with all that melted gooey chocolate goodness inside was simply perfect. Again the ice cream was a little sweet but it went well with the dense cake. Like all molten chocolate cakes, this dessert takes a little while to prepare and arrive which means it is made fresh.

Did you know? Epitome is the first of its kind vegan and vegetarian licensed cocktail bar and restaurant in Dubai. They have a ladies night too and the place is buzzing with people over the weekend. Make sure you dress to impress and remember this venue is only for ages 21 and over.

Epitome

Location: Aloft Dubai Creek Hotel, Baniyas Road, Deira City Centre Area, Dubai
Contact: 04 5260851

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Because Bikanervala is such a legacy, the expectations are always high. And when a restaurant of this calibre decides to experiment with fusion food, the stakes are set high. I’m quite happy and rather relieved to say that they fared well across everything – right from creativity and presentation to the actual taste of the dishes.

Like always, we decided to go with most of the staff recommendations and requested for a couple of dishes that we liked. For appetizers, we tried Chinese Bhel, Sunheri Kurkuri, Dahi Ke Kebab and Dahi Puri.

Featuring crispy noodles tossed in a spicy tangy garlic sauce, the Bhel was spectacular. Sunheri Kurkuri was another marvel. I loved the presentation in shot glasses, while the veggie filling and crusty vermicelli coating made it taste just wow. Dahi Puri, presented in a humble manner, packed a punch in terms of its sweet and sour tastes. And as for Dahi Ke Kebab, I feel I have grown to liking these little creamy hung yogurt morsels more than ever (especially when they are served with a spicy green chutney).

Since the climate was cool enough, but still slightly warm owing to the afternoon, we decided to sip on a Mint Mojito and a Cucumber Lemon Mint mocktail. Both the drinks were as refreshing as can be, with the latter highlighting flavors of kiwi and green apple. They’ve got an exhaustive list of mocktails, milkshakes and juices, so you can be pretty sure you’ll find something you like.

Next up was mains, and since I was craving the simplicities of Indian food, we opted for a Makhani Malai Kofta with Pudina Parantha along with a classic combination of Jeera Rice and Yellow Dal. If I called these dishes brilliant, that would be a major understatement, for they were delicious, filling and comforting – all at the same time. I loved the texture of the malai kofta, although make sure you ask them to go a little easy on the butter if you’re looking for something slightly less greasy. The dal rice, as humble as it can be, was the most rewarding part of my lunch at Bikanervala Courtyard.

I don’t know why, but we always get full by the time it comes to ordering desserts, and more often than not, we pick the lightest and most easiest option at a place where we could have really indulged. Thankful for not being a sweet tooth, I have come to terms with just sampling a little sweet at the end of the meal, but if you love your desserts, make sure you keep enough space for fusion desserts, kulfis, rabdi, halwa and more.

Since it was a lovely afternoon and almost tea time by the time we were done with our lunch, the only obvious choice for a tea lover like me was to sip on a hot cup of tea. And well, it brought back tons of memories from back home and made my afternoon complete.

Bikanervala Courtyard

Location: Shop 143, Al Seef, Al Seef Street, Umm Hurair, Dubai
Contact: 04 3885553

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Caramelized Pina

Caramelized pineapple + coconut cream = Caramelized Pina. Just like your regular pina colada, but with a caramelized twist, this drink with flambeed pineapple was refreshingly sweet and coconutty. The cream thankfully didn’t make it too heavy.

Since 1952

Another flaming show, this drink featured tea + sweet and sour along with spiced burnt cloves and orange zest to top it off.

Snack Platter

This platter was the first of the three amazing platters we tried at KP Vibes. With an assortment of crispy fried goodness, all oozing with taste in their own classic way, this made the ideal finger food that pairs perfect with drinks. Included in this platter: Kashmiri Pakoda, Batata Wada, Punjabi Samosa, Cheese Pakoda, Aloo ki Tikki

Chaat Platter

This was probably the best chaat platter I’ve ever had. The Dahi Puri was simply fabulous and so were the Dahi Wadas – not too sweet. The Pani Puri had that classic Bombay flavor and the Sev Puri was quite fair.

KP Special Chhole Bhature

Finally it was time for this KP Vibes special Chhole paired with three different types of Bhature – methi, paneer and regular. I loved the paneer bhatura the most. The chhole were well done and had just the right amount of spices.

Angoori Ras Malai

Only the best combination of rasgullas and ras malai. Mini angoori rasgulla dumplings dipped in thick malai rabri make these sweetly comforting and the perfect meal endings.

Kulfi Falooda

Because one dessert is never enough, we decided to try out the KP Vibes bestselling Kulfi Falooda. The creamy Kulfi and even creamier Falooda makes for such a refreshingly cool dessert. Must have!

KP Vibes

Location: First Floor, Kailash Parbat, Al Seef, Al Seef Street, Umm Hurair, Dubai
Contact: 04 3492771

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You can relax in the TV area on a beanbag and enjoy your favorite movie with access to Netflix. Or pump up your brain cells with a quick Sudoku at your table while you wait for your food to arrive. Challenge your friends with a selection of board games. Hit the top score with the most loved PS4 titles. Kick back with a comic book. Or simply chill on one of the beanbags with your favorite book or music.

At Seedology they strongly believe The First Wealth is Health. And that Everything is going to be OK.

Burj Khalychee

A sweet smooth mixture of mango, peach and lychee, this blend comes with refreshing rose water and the addition of flixweed seeds.

Kojo Salad

Bringing together the goodness of veggies and nuts in the wholesome bowl, this salad is perfect for a filling meal. I especially loved the dried barberries and the tarty blueberry vinaigrette dressing with chia seeds.

Tropical Fruit Salad

The perfect mix of fresh fruits, this one’s a great bowl if you’re on a fruit cleanse. I loved the sumac spice and the honey mint lemon dressing with black seeds.

Primarina Hummus

The beetroot version of this healthy classic is absolutely lit. The creamy texture goes just right with the selection of veggie bites.

Captain America

This is honestly one of the most filling veggie burgers I’ve had in a long time. The spicy chickpea & avocado mash along with flavors of jalapeno, garlic and sriracha go just right with the Kaiser roll. And the avocado salad on the side is a dream come true for avo lovers.

Shuklata Jafiliya

Guilt-free indulgence in a petite jar, this dessert is just perfect for those looking to satisfy their cravings, but in a healthy way. Featuring Oreo, Nutella, chocolate, milk and cream with the goodness of organic chia seeds, this dessert is neither too sweet, nor too heavy.

Jabel Wafeer

Did someone say Strawberry cheesecake? Although sans the cheese, this chia based dessert combines strawberries, bananas, digestive cookies, jell-o and milk in a lovely medley of flavors.

Seedology

Location: Unit 20, Block 5, Wasl Square, Al Wasl Road, Al Safa, Dubai
Contact: 04 2283808

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