Find out what’s happening in the UAE this week. Plus: A round up of dining options and festive events for Diwali.
Traditional thalis, rich mithais, molecular Indian cuisine or special discounts and free desserts – what will you plump for your special Diwali dinner this year?
Ananta, The Oberoi
A set menu from October 18-22 has a choice of kebabs, a welcome beverage and a thali featuring an assortment of vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes, Indian breads and rice followed by a dessert sampler. Dh299 per person, call 04 444 1407.
Antique Bazaar, Four Points by Sheraton Bur Dubai
Guests dining in on the day of Diwali – October 19 – get a 20 per cent discount on the regular a la carte menu that includes signature dishes like dum kashmiri, paneer kurchann and sweets like rabdi rasgulla. Only for UAE residents; call 04 397 7444.
Ashiana, Sheraton Dubai Creek Hotel and Towers
One of Dubai’s oldest Indian restaurants will be serving guests a Diwali menu with a side of live entertainment by a classical Indian band. You can choose from a set of vegetarian or non-vegetarian starters (khumb galouti, paneer tikka, bharwan seekh kabab, achari jinga), enjoy a buffet-style main course and top it off with three desserts – gulab jamun cheesecake, coconut kheer and carrot halwa.
Bombay Brasserie, The Taj
The evening brunch on October 19 will feature live chaat counters and an unlimited tasting menu. Dh295 per person; call 04 438 3222.
Bombay Bungalow, JBR
The erstwhile House of Curry is serving a set menu of fusion Indian dishes (top) that combines the best of east and west. The threecourse menu includes lentil soup, vegetable samosa, harissa chicken tikka, burrata butter chicken and innovative desserts like chocolate gulab jamun cheesecake. From October 12-28, 12pm-12am daily. Call 800 6928779.
iZ, Grand Hyatt Dubai
Keeping it traditional, iZ will be serving a set vegetarian menu (bottom) from October 19-21. If you keep it traditional too, and come dressed in Indian attire, you only have to pay for two people when three dine in. Lunch will be served from 12.30-3.30pm and dinner from 7-11.30pm; call 04 317 2222.
Jodhpur at Roda Al Murooj
The restaurant that’s known for its molecular gastronomy creations will serve a free dessert – fresh fruit and mithai petit fours, phirni brûlée – to all guests dining in from October 18-20 when they order from the a la carte menu. Call 04 355 9846
Moombai & Co. Café and Bar, H Hotel Dubai
This quirky new Indian eatery styled after Mumbai’s traditional Irani cafés is serving a Diwali menu from October 18-21. The threecourse set menu (left) includes an assortment of savoury snacks like dal vada and shammi kebab, main courses of traditional Parsi food like patra ni macchi and lamb biryani and desserts such as gujia and a kulfi platter. The menu also includes vegetarian options such as zafrani vegetable biryani and black dal. From Dh180 per person, from 11am-11pm. Call 04 501 8607.
Rang Mahal, JW Marriott Marquis
Michelin-starred chef Atul Kochhar’s Dubai restaurant will serve a nightly five-course menu for Diwali until November 5 from 6-11.30pm. Dh275 per person; call 04 414 3000.
Mint Leaf of London, Emirates Financial Towers
The fine-dining Indian eatery is going all out this Diwali with an eight-course fusion menu. Choose between vegetarian and nonvegetarian menus, working your way through cold and hot starters such as basil kabab and tandoori prawns with habanero chutney and even more unconventional mains such as tofu and lotus stem Punjabi kadhi, gunpowder snapper and paneer churros and a frappe rasmalai or rice kheer for dessert. Dh250 per person; call 04 706 0900.
The Yellow Chilli by Sanjeev Kapoor, Jumeirah Lake Towers
The celebrity chef’s eatery will be dishing out a free plate of gulab jamun for dine-in guests from October 16-20; call 04 429 8975.