Does this new Jumeirah spot live up to its promise to #RouxTheWorld?

oux is a casual café with a menu described as “European Mediterranean with an American twist”, which is to say that you get a bit of everything. Not that we’re complaining.

We kicked things off with a selection of sliders (Dhs70 for three). The spicy chicken slider with sriracha, guacamole, salsa and sour cream had a tasty Tex-Mex flavour to it. Even better, though, was the coconut buffalo chicken tenderloin (Dhs50) – a generous portion of tender chicken strips, fried in crispy breadcrumbs, flavoured with just a hint of coconut, and served with an addictive combo of wild roasted garlic aioli and spicy sriracha mayo.

We washed ours down with The Black,

Ra zesty mocktail of lemon, mint, blueberry and detox-friendly activated charcoal. The main dishes weren’t bad at all, just incomplete.

The New Zealand lamb chops (Dhs95) were tender and well-charred, with a buttery cous cous studded with pomegranate seeds, but none of the promised cumin yoghurt that would probably have taken it up a notch.

Similarly, the Wagyu beef medallions (Dhs130) were nice enough, but served with dry vegetable crisps rather than the honey-roasted parsnip offered on the menu

There isn’t a dessert menu, but there is a dessert counter where you can choose from the freshly baked goodies on display (prices start at Dhs25). Our advice is to skip the baked cheesecake, which was a bit dry and stodgy, with a synthetic-tasting strawberry sauce. The jarred desserts, such as tiramisu and lemon meringue, are a better bet.

It’s a shame, as the pretty décor and friendly service could easily make this a neighbourhood favourite once they’ve ironed out these teething problems.

City Walk Phase Two, Al Safa Street, Jumeirah 1, Dubai, Sun to Thur 8am to 11pm, Fri and Sat 8am to midnight. Tel: (04) 4429359. Taxi: City Walk. facebook. com/rouxdubai