Dal, a pint of Kingfisher & the mesmerizing sitar
by JessH about DHOW KA AANGAN Indian Restaurant
(Licensed - serves alcoholic beverages)
This is my 3rd favourite Indian restaurant in Dubai.
Aangan (in the Dhow Palace hotel) - a name that implies an authentic courtyard - is a truly harmonising stage on the path to culinary enlightenment.
Indian food can go terribly wrong; all smothered in gravy, swimming in oil, choked by spices. Or it can do the great Indian magic trick: balancing flavours, textures & colours.
We entered the dimly lit, wood-finished restaurant at 08:30pm to a flurry of slightly chaotic attention. We were "too early" for authentic dining; a typical pair of "ignorant Westerners" that fail to give-in to the fact that sub-continental dinning starts around 11:00pm ;-) But shortly after our first bottle of Kingfisher (memories of Goa drifted back into my mind...) a large Indian family arrived complete with the visit of a semi-famous Bollywood actress, and a more relaxed mood settled in. There was only one other non-Indian couple in the entire restaurant… an excellent sign of a promising authentic experience.
The 5-man & 1-woman band started humming along to the skillful sitar playing... a bit loud for private conversation, but hey! No curry tastes 100% right without a sitar playing in the background... haha!
"In our culture we have such respect for musical instruments, they are like part of God." - Ravi Shankar. We pondered the medium-size but varied menu; the dishes are explained helpfully for the non-Indian guest... and when in doubt, always ask them to "make it less spicy / mild."
John & Siddharth tucked into the complimentary crispy poppadum, fruity chutneys & mint sauce. For starters we had Paneer Tikka: crispy, hot & well spiced. But the true star was the Aloo Mattar Babycorn Tikki: a delicious potato-pea-corn patty that melts in your mouth... divinity on a plate!
The main courses arrived, and to the last morsel they were a revelation.
> John's Kadai Jhinga (Dhs 80) was creamy & wonderfully aromatic, jumbo prawns bathing in a sea of thick sauce with cardamom, saffron, onions & tomatoes.
> My Fish Curry Noorani was superb, with a chunky sauce & 5 large pieces of juicy fish, cooked to perfection.
> Siddharth's dish of butter-chicken kebabs had the boys grinning with delight.
> And then there was the Dal Makhani – the dish with which I tend judge the quality of an Indian restaurant. This one was a delicious buttery brown, a bit too liquid for my liking by still the ideal partner for a piece of hot & crispy garlic-butter naan (mixed naan platter Dhs 24).
Yes, the dishes cost a bit more: starters range between Dhs 30 - 60, but it comes with the territory: this is a 5-star hotel after all.
Summary: this place is superb for an evening of upmarket Indian dining.
And if you can't finish all the food (which we couldn't) there's no problem with having the surplus packed to take home (which we did)
SEATING: 120 people.
DRESS CODE: Smart-casual.
Opening Hours: Daily 12.30pm - 03.30pm & 07.30pm - 01:00am
*
*
(If you're in the mood for something cosier, less posh & slightly cheaper, check-out the Antique Bazar, another of my restaurant tips)
Photos
Atlantis, The Palm
Dubai from the air
Dubai
Visiting the "art Dubai", March 2008
Forum Posts
Deals for Jumeirah Beach Hotels in Dubai
by lovinoz
Any great discount hotel websites - other than the obvious mainstream ones - you can recommend for the following hotels?
- Jumeirah Beach Hotel
- Burg al Arab
- One & Only Royal Mirage
Thank you!! :)
RE: Deals for Jumeirah Beach Hotels in Dubai
by colin_bramso
I think you said on another thread that you would be here in August. That's the worst month for weather so you may get discounts, but the hotels here are doing such good business that we have the second highest rates in the world (after Paris).
Before we moved here we got good rates, even better than we could get direct from the hotels, from www.hotels-of-dubai.com/
The hotels you've chosen are all *Rates on request* by the way...and there are plenty of other excellent hotels to choose from, on the beach and in the heart of the city.
RE: Deals for Jumeirah Beach Hotels in Dubai
by 37SingleMaleInDubai1
For some 5 8 ones check the following:
Al Bustan Rotana Hotel
P.O.Box : 30880
Telephone : 2820000
Fax : 2828100
Website: www.rotana.com Email : Reservations.Albustan@rotana.com
Al Murooj Rotana Hotel
P.O.Box : 117546
Telephone : 3211111
Fax : 3215555
Website: www.rotana.com Email : reservations.almurooj@rotana.com
Al Qasr Hotel
P.O.Box : 75157
Telephone : 3668888
Fax : 3667788
Website: www.madinatjumeirah.com Email : MJreservations@jumeirah.com
Bab Al Shams Hotel
P.O.Box : 73137
Telephone : 8326699
Fax : 8326698
Website: www.babalshams.com Email : JBASReservations@jumeirah.com
Coral Deira Hotel
P.O.Box : 82999
Telephone : 2248587
Fax : 2217033
Website: www.coral-deira.com Email : reservations@coral-deira.com
Crowne Plaza Hotel Dubai
P.O.Box : 23215
Telephone : 3311111
Fax : 3314955
Website: www.dubai.crowneplaza.com Email : reservations@crowneplaza.ae
Dar Al Masyaf
P.O.Box : 75157
Telephone : 3668888
Fax : 3667788
Website: www.madinatjumeirah.com Email : MJreservations@jumeirah.com
Dhow Palace Hotel
P.O.Box : 121545
Telephone : 3599992
Fax : 3599292
Website: www.dhowpalacehoteldubai.com Email : info@dhowpalacedubai.com
Dubai Marine Beach Resort & Spa
P.O.Box : 5182
Telephone : 3461111
Fax : 3462027
Website: www.dxbmarine.com Email : reservations@dxbmarine.com
Dusit Dubai
P.O.Box : 23335
Telephone : 3433333
Fax : 3434222
Website: dubai.dusit.com Email : reservationsdept@dusitdubai.com
please suggest an accomodation
by vpas
My husband is travelling to Dubai on work.He has to be located in dubai city proper.Please suggest a good 3 or 4 star hotel.Also any suggestions on vegetarian food options would be welcome.
thank you,
Re: please suggest an accomodation
by colin_bramso
Do you know whether he'll be working in Deira or Bur Dubai? There are hotels in both and I'm sure we'll be able to suggest some. Do you have a budget fixed?
There are vegetarian restaurants in all areas, and most restaurants have vegetarian options.
Re: please suggest an accomodation
by MikeM2
For vegetarian - try the Indian snacks that are available on Bur Dubai side on the approach to the abra (the cross-creek ferry) - hot - fresh - and tasty
Whatever else you do you must use the abra - it is one of the few authentic Dubai experiences that remain ..
Re: please suggest an accomodation
by vpas
thank you for your suggestions.My husband needs to be in Bur Dubai.Someone suggested Hotel Dhow Palace where the room rent is 600 dirhams inclusive of breakfast and taxes.
could you please suggest something equally good at a lower price.
thanks,
Re: please suggest an accomodation
by colin_bramso
All the hotels have brought their rates down since the recession hit so you can get good deals everywhere. In Bur Dubai you could try Four Points by Sheraton, or Ramada, or Imperial Suites Hotel for example.
Re: please suggest an accomodation
by paulanthony77
Dubai City Breaks
Dubai has recently gained a lot of attention as a tourist hotspot. As one of the wealthiest Emirates in the United Arab Emirates, Dubai is a modern desert city that mixes the traditional with the contemporary. There are many reasons to visit Dubai such as those listed below. Dubai is home to some amazing architecture, and it is where visions of the future are being brought into the present with ground breaking designs popping up all over the city.
I would like to discuss more about the Dubai i.e travel information, your comments will appreciate
Re: please suggest an accomodation
by vpas
my husband had a pleasant stay and dubai and is returning back!
