DISH DASH Does this Yas shisha spot serve good food?

ocated in the Cascade Dining portion of Yas Mall, Arabic restaurant Dish Dash features floor-to-ceiling windows – perfect for soaking up the lovely views from the musical fountain next door. While the décor delivers intriguing elements, including a carpet loom strung along a portion of the roof and palm tree-inspired columns near the entryway, the rest of the loft-like space feels nondescript and unfinished.

Perhaps most disheartening is the fact there is no separate non-smoking section. And as this spot is popular with shishagoers, it makes it rather tricky to find a suitable table to dine smoke-free.

The menu includes a selection of hot and

Lcold mezze, mixed grills and curiously, a handful of Italian pasta dishes. While the offerings are limited, the Arabic food is of a good standard.

The eggplant mutabal had a lingering, smoky aftertaste that was pleasant, especially when paired with puffy fresh bread, a step up from your average pita. Most surprising was the soujok sausages, which were both spicy and tangy from a drizzle of pomegranate molasses.

The mains arrived before the mezze had been finished. Both the shish taouk and lamb chops were good, but it was the obligatory pita triangle of spicy tomato sauce, onions and coriander that stole the show. Usually relegated as a garnish to avoid, the spiced bread was surprisingly moreish and left us wanting more.

Dessert was limited to a handful of ice cream concoctions that our server had trouble explaining to us. With no descriptions under the names of each item on the menu, we were left with questions on what to order. And no suitable answers meant the meal came to an end with a cup of karak chai and a layered fruit drink instead, both of which were disappointing and bland.

While the Arabic food was tasty, and the views worthwhile, the service also bordered on disinterested and is something that needs to be addressed before this spot begins to really shine.

Yas Mall, Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, daily 10am to midnight. Tel: (02) 5650601. Taxi: Yas Mall. facebook.com/ dishdashcafeandrestaurant