The Hidden Hog, DIFC, Dubai

BACKGROUND One of the first new restaurants to open this year, The Hidden Hog does exactly what is says on the tin – it offers a little hideaway in Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) and a pork-dominant menu, although dishes featuring other meats, plus fish and vegetable options, are available too. It’s a modern bistro bar with an indulgent Italian menu and the only dining destination in DIFC to serve pork.

W H AT ’ S IT LIKE? I was disappointed to walk in to the smell of tobacco smoke – which is not the norm for Dubai’s generally smoke-free dining scene. However, this is personal taste, and for smokers, this is probably what makes it a dream spot. Tucked away inside the Capital Club, the venue is chic and classic, with dim lighting and a feel smart enough to justify the suit, but relaxed enough to feel comfortable.

THE FOOD Chef Enrico Paiola is in charge of the menu, which weaves in Italian and European inspiration. Hearty food is indeed the order of the day. We started with the sharing platter – the ‘signature board’ – which featured a delicious mix of cold meats, pickles and cheeses, served with fresh bread. Mains was a melt-inthe-mouth slow-cooked pork shank and 36-hour overnight cooked ribs, which were all brimming with flavour. Sides were fries and Caprese salad (tomato, mozzarella, black olives, rocket and avocado). It is very much the place to experience comfort food – traditional homely dishes such as risotto, pork sausages, tuna tagliatelle, meatballs and buffalo ricotta ravioli. A separate pizza menu is also a tribute to the chef’s Italian roots. This is certainly not a place to come if you’re watching the calories, and the pezzo forte was indeed the dessert – a classic tiramisu, which truly hit the spot, plus satifsying classics such as apple strudel and crema Catalina.

THE SERVICE The staff are excited to share their recommendations and really want guests to enjoy the menu, one that is a break from the Dubai norm.

THE WORKSPACE More of an afterwork dinner and drinks spot than a work space, this restaurant is for those ultraprivate meetings where what happens in The Hidden Hog, stays in The Hidden Hog. Of course, it does not suit those who do not eat pork for religious reasons, or meat for that matter, so check your fellow diner’s dietary preferences before you book a table.

VERDICT This is an intimate venue where the food is filling, the atmosphere relaxed, and the service just right, but be aware that smoking is permitted. Melanie Swan

It’s a modern bistro bar with an indulgent Italian menu