Fasting and feasting at Dunes Café, Shangri-la, Dubai

If you’re looking for a beautiful Iftar experience that offers authentic Arabic fare at reasonable prices, Dunes Café at Shangri-la, Dubai is the ideal place.

Ensconced on the ground floor the bright and friendly café brings you a sumptuous iftar menu that you would love to partake in a warm ambience and to the accompaniment of traditional instrumental music on the harp.

Begin your iftar with the choicest, succulent dates, and traditional Arab drinks such as the apricot-based reviver – Kamrudin, or the hibiscusbased energizer – Karkadeh or the pomegranate extract elixir – Rumman or just the plain, cooler – Laban…. There are many to choose from. Move to the next course, which could be a selection of light soups such as lentil and chicken soup which is perfect to hydrate you well. With soup, one can choose a few finger foods and nibble on crispy hot fatayer’s, falafel, spring rolls and sambuusa to tease your palate.

Once your spirits are revived, get on with the business of eating with traditional Lebanese and Arabic appetizers such as Hummus, Baba ghanoush, Moutabbel, fresh garlic flavored cream, tahina sauce, served with Arabic bread and classic salads, such as Fattoush, Tabbouleh. These and the classic grills – kibbeh, kebabs, and grilled fish, all made with such fresh ingredients that are like teasers to ravenous appetite for main course.

Dive straight into the main course that has a variety of international cuisine, such as pastas in Arrabiata and cheese sauce, biryani’s, baked fish and of course the lamb oouzi with aromatic rice cooked over a slow fire.

Post the main course, the dessert menu cannot be ignored. Savor the tantalizing array of flaky, light pastry and honeyed flavors of kanafeh, katayef, Um ali, Basbousa, Mammoul and many more. The health conscious can ask for selection of fresh fruits.

Iftar meals are occasions to create memories with your friends and loved ones. The pace of the meal must be relaxed and pleasurable, where every morsel, every bite has to be savored. That is part of the essential festive narrative. The ambience at Dunes Café provides you with the motivation to weave your own narrative with friends and family. Wind down the evening with a strong Arabic coffee, cappuccino or even an aromatic green tea that will provide the necessary wherewithal to taper the conversation to the fitting finale until you say adieu to friends.

What Dunes Café offers is plain, undiluted love packaged with delicious textures, aromas and tastes you cannot refuse. The generous spread is not to be missed. Of the many evenings of iftar, creating a happy memory at Dunes Café is like fulfilling an important part of your Ramadan wish-list.

Price: Dh 250 per person

For bookings contact fbreservations@.sld@shangri-la. com or call 04-4052703