A Desi Fusion in Dubai

I love visiting places, so post-MBA and just after getting married, when my husband and I got an opportunity to move to Dubai,  we instantly decided to take on the challenge and the adventure of experiencing one of the most cosmopolitan and sophisticated cities in the world.  We launched our married life from 'Bur Dubai' which is thronged by most of the Asians because of its convenience in terms of the local amenities, grocery stores, domestic help and above all, the lucrative restaurants serving some delectable and lip-smacking dishes. We both are avid foodies and vegetarian/eggetarian, so we were quite skeptical about the culinary options that we would experience in Dubai. But to our surprise, Dubai was brimming with appetizing delights, both vegetarian and non-vegetarian. Bur Dubai and the area adjacent to it- Karama, has such an elaborate array of restaurants that it makes you forget that you are not in India but in Dubai. All our friends and relatives had warned us of Dubai Stone! Dubai Stone is an awful weight gain of 14lbs which is inevitably put on by almost every new expat that moves to Dubai.The convenience coupled with the omnipresent restaurants makes it almost impossible to lose weight. My husband and I experienced the same. When we reached Dubai, we experienced a sudden gain in weight but we were conscious enough to arrest it before it was too late. But we being foodies, we decided to lose weight through exercise and not through diets. After all, who can resist such an availability of diverse flavours. This culinary accessibility ranges from take-aways, home deliveries to fine dine-ins. Well, talking about a few desi favourites, below are some of the many restaurants that would leave you awestruck with the variety and the taste on offer.

Paratha King: Very true to its name, Paratha King is actually throned as the king of Parathas not just by me but by all the residents of Dubai. It serves the best Parathas in town. Infact, they can outshine any Paratha that you have ever tasted in your entire life. Their menu boasts of hundreds of stuffed Parathas which are served with curd, a mixed veg pickle and Dal/Chhole. The cherry on the cake is the sidekick of roasted green chillies that they serve along with the Parathas. It acts as an additional tongue-tickler and augments the overall Paratha experience. The restaurant does home delivery as well plus the Parathas are so affordable that we generally ordere a few extra Parathas to satiate our cravings for the next day as well. So, its much, much more that just value for money. When in Dubai. please do not forget to indulge in the not-at-all-oily stuffed Parathas that will leave you asking for more.

Shiraz:This restaurant was introduced to us by one of our Bengali friends. Shiraz offers the best Kathi rolls in town. They remind you of the original Kolkata Kathi Rolls, infact, they are better than them. The wraps comprise of succulent and melt-in-the-mouth vegetable/meat stuffing in a soft paratha. Even the Biryani that they serve is awesome. We being vegetarians could not ever taste the Chicken Biryani but the yummy vegetarian Biryani was a testimony to their chef's culinary skills. The desserts that they serve are scrumptious and it used to be our usual hang-out spot for satisfying our sweet tooth's cravings. Our personal favourites were the Kulfi and the Phirni. 

Filli Cafe: This again was introduced to us by one of our friends. The cafe was just a kilometer away from our society so we used to walk down whenever we craved for a 'Zaffran Chai'. Filli Cafe is famous for its ever-refreshing Zaffran Tea which is the pride of the restaurant. The tea is a beautiful blend of milk, tea leaves and saffron. The flavour of the Tea literally makes you forget of all the enervation and is an instant pick-me-up even on the most exhaustive days. They also serve mocktails, frappes, shakes in beverages and they have some quick bites like sandwiches, burgers etc. The cafe is frequented by many tea-lovers and chit-chat enthusiasts. The best part of the cafe is its Al Fresco seating which is always brimming with people especially during winters. It really is the best place for 'Tea n Talk' which co-incidentally is also their tag line.  

Gazebo: A yet another culinary heaven- 'Gazebo' is the Biryani king of the town. They have an extensive menu of starters, main course, breads and desserts like any other full-fledged restaurant. But what sets it apart is their, Biryani. They specialise in Dum Biryani and we have tasted all the veg versions ranging from Paneer Biryani to Veg Biryani to Mushroom Biryani and also the Egg biryani. They are so appetizing and filling that you do not need to order anything else, infact you might end up re-ordering the same Biryani. They are brought to you in an earthen pot covered with a soft roti. So, you basically have to cut open through the roti to reach the delectable assortment of spices with rice. Its a delightful experience in its own and a must-go for every Biryani lover.

For all you egg lovers out there- Raju Omlette is the best restaurant that serves all egg delicacies. Their very first restaurant opened at Karama and it is always over-crowded with customers. I love the contemporary decor which mostly has things related to Egg and its benefits either carved on the wall or written on boards. They serve various Egg dishes with either Buns. Parathas or Rice. You would love the variety that they have when it comes to Eggs. Their Tea is equally amazing and resembles the cutting chai that we desi people are so used to. It is one of the best places for breakfast and is again very, very affordable and is not just value but an an experience of a lifetime. To accommodate the ever-increasing fan-base. they recently inaugurated their second restaurant at Sheikh Zayed road which is bigger than their Karama outlet and serves the same flavour and aroma that we are graced with at their Karama branch.

I would also like to mention that you would hardly ever not like a restaurant in Dubai. All the restaurants that we have been to, so far. serve impeccable quality in terms of their foods and beverages. You would never ever run out of choices for desi restaurants in Dubai and the best part is that they cater to varied tastes and predilections of people. Dubai is actually a 'Foodie's Paradise' and I am sure that everybody who has ever experienced the wonders of the place will testify the same. Dubai is rightfully known as- An India away from India.

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