EAT

Is this travel-themed restaurant a bucket list destination?

New outlets Somewhere and Hotel Cartagena are reviewed, plus brunch at The Lion By Nick And Scott. Want more? The city’s top chefs reveal the dishes you should be eating this Ramadan for iftar and suhoor

Somewhere is a new restaurant in The Dubai Mall that’s getting a lot of attention on Instagram, partly because the whole set-up seems rather mysterious. Instead of tantalising foodie snaps, the account features photos of exotic destinations. There’s not many clues on the outlet’s website, either – it simply reveals a reservation form offering to, “Let us take you Somewhere”.

But this isn’t a case of mistaken identity – it’s all part of a marketing campaign for a restaurant described as, “a concept celebrating the thrill of travelling and exploring the unknown”.

Somewhere is located in the shiny new Fashion Avenue extension and it’s a small but stylish space that looks not unlike a bookstore. There’s a wall of travel guides that diners can take off the shelf and flip through for inspiration and there’s also an outdoor terrace (that sadly wasn’t open when What’s On visited).

The menu is also small but perfectly formed, featuring an array of Mediterranean-inspired dishes that are good for sharing. In keeping with the travel theme, there are some curious mash-ups – think guacamole hummus (Dhs35) and beef shawarma bao (Dhs27).

Everything was brought to the table at once. The batata harra fries (Dhs31) were a unique take on Lebanese spicy potatoes, while the chicken ouzi puff (Dhs61) was another highlight; fragrant chicken and spiced rice encased in buttery pastry. Every dish was beautifully presented – the chips that went with the hummus arrived in a little cardboard box, and the parchment paper on each plate featured a topographic design.

For dessert, make sure you try the kunafa croissant (Dhs45) but be warned – it is enormous, and probably best split between two. Despite its hulking size, it was an inspired creation – all flaky pastry, gooey cheese and sugary syrup. It was a lovely end to a fusion feast.

aFashion Avenue, The Dubai Mall, daily noon to midnight. Tel: (04) 329 5182. Taxi: Dubai Mall. takemesomewhere.ae