SAHARA GRILL

Can this pioneer of halal cuisine in England make it in Dubai?

et’s make no bones about Sahara Grill – it’s devoted to meat. In fact, it was one of the very first halal-only outlets in the UK. That was more than 12 years ago. Now, its first international venture sees the team opening in Dubai inside The Mall

Lopposite Jumeirah Beach Hotel. The restaurant’s interior makes for a sharp change from the stark setup of the mall, filled with deep, dark coffee-coloured woods. While the weather’s lovely, take a seat outside on the terrace, which has views of Burj Al Arab. Sahara’s secret lies not in the cuts of meat, but the spices they are marinated in – a blend of secret herbs and spicy seasoning called Sahara spices.

The six-piece buffalo chicken wings (Dhs50) are an excellent start to the meaty proceedings. As (self-professed) wing connoisseurs, there are few restaurants in Dubai that can nail both moist wing texture and tangy buffalo sauce to near-perfection.

The T-bone steak (Dhs169) was tender, but could have done with more of Sahara’s trademark spices. Coupled with chunky steak chips and gravy, it’s a tasty but heavy meal – the kind you’ve got to sleep off after.

Ultimately, it’s the location that lets Sahara Grill down. The Mall has struggled to pick up momentum since it opened last summer, which is a shame because, as Sahara Grill demonstrates, there are some very strong venues inside.

The Mall, Beach Road, Dubai, Sun to Wed noon to 11pm, Thur to Sat, noon to midnight. Tel: (04) 3380844. facebook. com/Saharagrillukdubai