4 minIt’s hard to say goodbye especially if it’s to a restaurant that happened to be your favorite. 2018 seemed to be a year of grand openings and painful closures for many establishments in Dubai, so we thought of rounding up some of the ones that were difficult to let go of…
Loca 2.0
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This popular Mexican restaurant in Souk Al Bahar was known for boasting spectacular views of the Burj Khalifa, along with offering the tastiest tacos in town. An offshoot of Loca at Dubai Marina Beach Resort & Spa, we were sad to see this one close down. But fret not, you can always catch the Loca Lito Mexican food truck at La Mer.
China Grill
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When Asian eatery, China Grill shut its doors for good, we were curious to see what could possibly replace the popular restaurant. After all, having been our firm favorite for four years straight, expectations were high. Lo and behold, our prayers were answered with Asia de Cuba that’s surely helped fill the void.
Novikov
This was a surprise to all of us. Having been around since 2015, this Asian restaurant was the brainchild of acclaimed chef Arkady Novikov who is known for his contribution to the dining scene in London. We sure miss their seafood market which featured a range of mouthwatering dishes from across the globe.
Zahira
We had high hopes for celebrity chef Greg Malouf’s gorgeous restaurant, Zahira at The H Dubai on Sheikh Zayed Road. With impressive Levant-inspired dishes on the menu, it was painful having to say goodbye to their delicious lamb ouzo and hazelnut falafel. Not to mention their smoky moutabal and cheesy naan.
Spice & Ice
The JLT community sure had a hard time letting go of this Indian restaurant. Known for their innovative dishes such as ‘Pav Bhaji Fondue’ and ‘Thepla Tacos’, Spice & Ice was the go-to place for all our spicy cravings. They had some pretty nifty dinner deals and brunch offers too.
Peyote
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Having served delicious gourmet Mexican dishes for a little over a year, we were sad to see Peyote close its doors for good in 2018. Offering a fantastic fine dining experience in DIFC, this upscale restaurant hailed from London’s Mayfair and had a great weekly Friday brunch too.
Crazy Fish
This funky seafood eatery abruptly shut its doors in 2018 to a disappointed crowd in DIFC. Having been brought to the region by Flavio Briatore, who had also opened Billionaire Mansion, this was one restaurant that had its fish only sourced from fishermen in Spain or Italy. We miss their ‘Tuna Tartare’ and ‘Langoustine Carpaccio’.
Jodhpur
This regal Indian restaurant served more than just good food. There was, of course, the stunning view of the Burj Khalifa as well. Tucked away in the beautiful Al Murooj Rotana Hotel, the eatery offered a modern take on traditional North Indian delicacies, including some of the finest desserts we’ve ever sampled in Dubai.
Axe House
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It was with a heavy heart that we bid farewell to this popular JLT gastropub. Gone are the hearty brunches and delicious food. Having shut down rather abruptly, we were left wondering why Axe House had closed down in the first place. We did, however, find solace in its replacement The Hoxton.
Loca 2.0
This popular Mexican restaurant in Souk Al Bahar was known for boasting spectacular views of the Burj Khalifa, along with offering the tastiest tacos in town. An offshoot of Loca at Dubai Marina Beach Resort & Spa, we were sad to see this one close down. But fret not, you can always catch the Loca Lito Mexican food truck at La Mer.
China Grill
When Asian eatery, China Grill shut its doors for good, we were curious to see what could possibly replace the popular restaurant. After all, having been our firm favorite for four years straight, expectations were high. Lo and behold, our prayers were answered with Asia de Cuba that’s surely helped fill the void.
Novikov
This was a surprise to all of us. Having been around since 2015, this Asian restaurant was the brainchild of acclaimed chef Arkady Novikov who is known for his contribution to the dining scene in London. We sure miss their seafood market which featured a range of mouthwatering dishes from across the globe.
Zahira
We had high hopes for celebrity chef Greg Malouf’s gorgeous restaurant, Zahira at The H Dubai on Sheikh Zayed Road. With impressive Levant-inspired dishes on the menu, it was painful having to say goodbye to their delicious lamb ouzo and hazelnut falafel. Not to mention their smoky moutabal and cheesy naan.
Spice & Ice
The JLT community sure had a hard time letting go of this Indian restaurant. Known for their innovative dishes such as ‘Pav Bhaji Fondue’ and ‘Thepla Tacos’, Spice & Ice was the go-to place for all our spicy cravings. They had some pretty nifty dinner deals and brunch offers too.
Peyote
Having served delicious gourmet Mexican dishes for a little over a year, we were sad to see Peyote close its doors for good in 2018. Offering a fantastic fine dining experience in DIFC, this upscale restaurant hailed from London’s Mayfair and had a great weekly Friday brunch too.
Crazy Fish
This funky seafood eatery abruptly shut its doors in 2018 to a disappointed crowd in DIFC. Having been brought to the region by Flavio Briatore, who had also opened Billionaire Mansion, this was one restaurant that had its fish only sourced from fishermen in Spain or Italy. We miss their ‘Tuna Tartare’ and ‘Langoustine Carpaccio’.
Jodhpur
This regal Indian restaurant served more than just good food. There was, of course, the stunning view of the Burj Khalifa as well. Tucked away in the beautiful Al Murooj Rotana Hotel, the eatery offered a modern take on traditional North Indian delicacies, including some of the finest desserts we’ve ever sampled in Dubai.
Axe House
It was with a heavy heart that we bid farewell to this popular JLT gastropub. Gone are the hearty brunches and delicious food. Having shut down rather abruptly, we were left wondering why Axe House had closed down in the first place. We did, however, find solace in its replacement The Hoxton.
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