3 Fils is the restaurant that has been the talk of the town ever since it opened, but because they have this no-reservation policy (=expect looong lines), + it is a long drive from where we live, it was not until recently, I finally made it to the restaurant. Some of our oldest and dearest friends from our first years in Dubai were visiting again for the first time since they left the city, so I knew I had to come up with something better than Carluccio’s, and I suggested that we tried 3 Fils. Luckily, the wait was only about 30 minutes that night, which was manageable.

3 Fils is primarily known for their Japan-centered fusions, and all the food is served as small plates to share. I usually like that concept as it gives you the opportunity to try several different things, but I must admit that I struggled to hide my disappointment as the Tripple Cooked Chips we ordered turned out to be a sad-looking serving of six(!) potato wedges. Come on! Nobody eats only six potato wedges (or two, if you are three persons sharing as we were).

Otherwise, the meal was a smooth ride down the main road of not-so-unique, but definitely tasty, Japanese fusion dishes plus a few less ordinary encounters. I particularly liked the Asparagus Tempura, because eggs and asparagus together = yum. I also really liked the ceviche which was one of the specials that night, and the grilled octopus was a safe bet too.

The Spicy Beef Tartare was sister T’s favorite, and the Corn Waffle with Pulled Beef was easy to love. Unfortunately, the Volcano Roll looked like something running around at Yo Sushi, and the Indomie (noodle dish with beef chorizo asparagus and snow peas), which sounded good on paper, turned out to be a rather bland experience. The other noodle dish, the Sakura Ebi with dried shrimp, lobster oil and garlic was much much better.

The Karak Ice Cream dessert was quite a show with an ice cream cone getting smashed at the table. A must-order, just for the table performance. The Napoleon made a more discreet entry, but I really liked the mix of different textures and flavors.

Was it worth the drive? Yes, if not solely for the food, then for the nice surroundings.

Who should go? It’s a great place to take visitors, and if you live in Dubai, you’ll most certainly bump into someone you know, as 3 Fils seems to be very popular among the expats down here.

How much does it cost? We ordered what we felt like, and the final bill was just a bit more than 200AED per person. That is very reasonable for Dubai.

3 Fils do not serve alcohol, but there are many nice alcohol-free alternatives. Try the Lowlander Botanical Beer. The fruity flavor goes really well with most of the food on the menu.

3 Fils, Jumeirah Fishing Harbour, Dubai

I visited Atlanta a couple of years ago and I loved the city, so when an old university friend told me he was going to Georgia, I immediately started rambling about all the delicious food he should try. Peaches..Fried chicken and waffles.. it was not until I mentioned that I regretted that I didn’t go see the Coca Cola building that we realized we were not talking about the same Georgia. He meant Georgia, the country in Eastern Europe, while I was talking about Georgia, the U.S. state:)

Khachapuri is a traditional cheese bread from Georgia (the country), and one mouthwatering photo after another just kept popping up from a JLT restaurant called Favourite Choice. Now I would usually be skeptical towards any restaurant with a name like that, especially, when a closer look revealed that the place was serving “European food”. Though the khachapuri looked too good to ignore, so I decided to give it a try.

I’m happy that I did, because Favourite Choice turned out to be a really good choice for Eastern European food. The khachapuri was delicious, loaded with cheese and topped with a fried egg, and so heavy there is no way you would be able to finish it in one go. Especially not, if you got carried away and ordered a lot of other dishes, as I did:)

The vegetarian Borscht soup was tasty, and got even better topped with sour cream. Gotta love that bright red color too. I also had the Shuba salad, which is a colorful dish with layers of chopped pickled herring, beetroot and potatoes. The pickled herring is similar to the kind of herring that we eat in Denmark, and I really liked that dish.

I was curious about the piroshki, so I ordered a few just to try, but I ended up taking them home, as I was too full to even squeeze down a tiny bite. I reheated them later and had them with a cup of tea, perfect as an afternoon snack.

Favourite Choice, Ground Floor HDS Tower, Cluster F, JLT, Dubai

I was visiting Al Bait Al Qadeem (let’s just call it Al Bait) last month to shoot some images and videos for my new recipe project, but before getting to work, I was treated to a delicious dinner with specialties from the region.

I really liked all the different sauces and condiments. In spite of being in Dubai for almost a decade, this was my first time to try mehyawah (anchovy sauce) which is a popular staple in Emirati kitchens. According to the leaflet on the table at Al Bait, mehyawah was brought to the Gulf region some 400 years ago by Portuguese sailors. You don’t really see it in the grocery stores down here, but if you get hooked (as I did), you can buy it from the reception at Al Bait.

The roasted lamb shank was so tender the meat just fell off the bone, and it tasted delicious together with the rice with dried cherries and pistachios. The samboosa (Emirati samosas) had a fusion-style filling of mozzarella and chicken, and a delicious green semi-spicy dipping sauce. A great starter, before diving into more hardcore authentic items at the menu.

The restaurant is located in a beautiful old house dating back to 1909, but even though the traditional indoor seating area was tempting, I opted for a table outside. The patio felt like an oasis right in the middle of the Deira hustle and bustle at the outskirts of the souk, and after sunset, this was no doubt the most beautiful part of the restaurant.   

It is easy to write off Al Bait as just another tourist trap, but that would be a shame. Yes, there is a shop catering to Korean tourists (temporarily closed) on the rooftop terrace, and yes, the menu features several regional cuisines + Indian food(!), but the food is well-prepared and authentic within the respective categories, and the staff is genuinely kind. If your usual habitat is the Marina or Downtown Dubai, you will also be pleasantly surprised by the inexpensive dishes, that leaves no excuse for not getting both starters and dessert.

Al Bait, Opposite Al Ahmadiya School, Al Ahmadiya Street, Near Heritage House, Al Ras, Dubai. Tel: + 971-56 496 3338 The restaurant can be a little tricky to find, so give them a call if you get lost