TimeOut Dubai Kids – June 2019

Food

38 June 2019 Time Out UAE Kids

WHAT IS IT...

A family-friendly Italian

with sharing-size dishes

WHY GO...

The authentic Itaiian fare

and chance to draw on

the (paper) tablecloths

Waterlemon

O Open daily 8am-midnight. Unlicensed. Masa Al Bateen, Al Bateen, Abu Dhabi (02 635 5050).

THERE’S JUST SOMETHING special about eating

dinner while overlooking gently lapping water.

Maybe it’s just us, but we find the ripple of the

Arabian Gulf oddly soothing.

If you agree, we recommend heading to

Marsa Al Bateen, where there are plenty of

casual venues to take the family. Compared

to the others along the strip, Waterlemon is

somewhat understated, with a

minimalist design, flanked by

floor-to-ceiling glass windows that

showcase the view over the water.

It’s quiet on a weeknight as we

arrive but we have the pick of the

seats, so that’s fine by us.

We start with dynamite shrimp

and we’re glad that we do. The

combination of a thin, crisp batter,

succulent seafood and a fiery

sauce is a winner. The calamari

rings are wonderfully tender, too, requiring

less of a chew than your standard squid, so

your teeth and tums will be delighted.

Despite making eyes at the pizza, the grilled

salmon with moghrabiyeh (a sort of giant

couscous) hits the spot. The fish is fine but the

grilled artichoke, sun-dried tomato and mango

sauce do the heavy lifting on the plate.

The portion of stuffed chicken

breast is enormous. The veg is

undercooked and the pesto mash

is cold but the chicken is the star.

The creamy ricotta and spinach

filling keeps us going back for

more, despite the lurid green,

pistachio-laden sauce slathered

all over the meat.

We leave stuffed, satisfied and

with a few great pictures of the

view on our phones to boot.

WHAT IS IT...

A relaxed waterfront

café with generous

portions

WHY GO...

Because you definitely

won’t leave hungry

EVERYONE LOVES ITALIAN food. There are so

many choices that it’s tricky to go wrong

when you’re looking for a place that’s going to

satisfy the entire family. And at Dino’s you’ll

find some quality authentic fare to dig into

with the gang.

The family-friendly spot in the Pearl Rotana

has a warm, welcoming vibe and a menu

bulging with classic dishes.

And if when you imagine an Italian

restaurant you immediately think red

chequered tablcloths and massive pizzas,

you’re in luck, as that’s exactly what Dino’s

serves up. Clichéd, maybe, unwelcome, no.

As soon as we’re seated we’re handed a

bunch of crayons and encouraged to draw

on the paper on top of those aforementioned

Dino’s Bistro Italiano

O Open daily noon-3.30pm, 6pm-11pm. Licensed. Pearl Rotana – Capital Central, Abu Dhabi (02 304 8093).

vibrant cloths. It’s not just reserved for kids,

either, so adults get ready to show off your

creative side – or perhaps competitive one

with a game of noughts and crosses.

Portions are massive, so prepare to share.

A helping of deep-fried mozzarella consists of

about a dozen crispy, gooey centred spheres,

accompanied by a garlicky pomodoro dip. It’s

a hit. As is the deep-fried calamari.

All the usual pizzas and pastas are on

the menu, but special mention goes to

the mushroom risotto, which is rich, full of

Parmesan and perfectly cooked. Pair it with

the apple and rocket salad for an outstanding

texture and flavour combo.

Dino’s may be as cheesy as the dishes it

serves up but we’re not complaining a jot.

Common Grounds

There’s a new branch of this

popular chain in JLT to try, serving

up all the cafe’s signature dishes.

O Open daily 7am-6pm. Almas Tower, JLT

(056 511 8733)

OPSO

There’s a new Greek spot in The

Dubai Mall to check out.

O Open daily 10am-midnight. Fashion

Avenue, The Dubai Mall, Downtown

Dubai, http://www.opso.ae.

THREE OF THE BEST

New openings

to try

iScream

The cool stores has opened in the

capital, with flavours like umm Ali,

matcha and black sesame.

O My City Center Masdar, Masdar City,

http://www.iscream.ae.

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