Our favourite part of Dubai Summer Surprises (DSS) is here: the 9-day feast that is Summer Restaurant Week. From August 23-September 1, Dubai residents get to gorge on budget-friendly set menus and incredible discounts that are simply too delicious to refuse.
With a total of 60 restaurants participating, from Michelin-starred restaurants to casual dining eateries, there’s a lot to cover in just 9 days. Our handy guide will help you make the most of Summer Restaurant Week. Let the feeding frenzy begin!
1. Choose between breakfast, lunch and dinner
Summer Restaurant Week has some cut-rate discounts lunches and dinners. A total of seven outlets, such as Bistro des Arts and Reform Social and Grill are offering scrumptious one-course breakfast set menus. Over 56 restaurants are serving two-course set lunch menus, so you can reclaim your lunch hour with hearty meals at renowned chef Reif Othman’s restaurant or Aussie export Jones The Grocer. Decadent three-course set dinners are available in a total of 56 participating eateries.
2. Identify your budget at Summer Restaurant Week
Breakfast menus cost AED 69 per person, two-course lunch set menus go for AED 95, lavish 3-course dinner menus are priced at AED 150 and all prices are fixed. Once you’ve decided on how much you’re willing to cough up for a smacking meal, the battle (of hunger) is half-won!
3. Decide on a cuisine
This is the opportunity you’ve been waiting for to test out exotic cuisines you’ve never dared to before and Summer Restaurant Week’s website whittles down all 60 restaurants into 5 cuisine categories: Arabic, Asian, International, European and Mediterranean.
Asian
Asian includes everything from classic Indian cuisine at Shamiana, Taj JLT to beloved Chinese restaurant Long Yin at the Le Meridien Dubai Hotel and Conference Centre as well as great Thai food and beloved date night idea in Dubai spot, Thiptara at the Palace Downtown Dubai. Do give a spin to the Indonesian dishes at Andaliman, One&Only Za’abeel.
International
Looking for Latin American, Mexican, and North American cuisine? The International category is where venues such as Mexican joint Lila Taqueria, and award-winning US-style restaurant FireHouse Grill Lake are.
Arabic
The Arabic category is sweet and simple with just 4 outlets: head to Arabian Teahouse by the Jumeirah Archaeological Site for a taste of UAE’s heritage and traditional Emirati cuisine. Enjoy a Lebanese spread at Liban by Allo Beirut and Al Fanar Seafood Market in Al Seef, one of the best Arabic seafood restaurants in Dubai.
Mediterranean
The Mediterranean category unearths gems like Greek eatery a la grecque, scrummy Turkish koftas at Besh Turkish Kitchen in Sheraton Mall of the Emirates and southern Italy’s riches at Isola Restaurant.
European
From fancy gastropubs such as the Roaring Rabbit and Couqley French Bistro, the restaurants in this category cover, British nosh, French classics and Eastern European fare like home-style Georgian food at Qartuli Dubai. Discover age-old Portuguese recipes as Lana Lusa. Also, check out European-influenced Steakhouse Rare and modern European Bistro RePUBlik.
4. Eat for less than AED 200 at this Michelin-starred restaurant
Summer Restaurant Week is your hall pass to relish Michelin-starred and recognised restaurants’ luxe dishes without breaking the bank. This year, the only Michelin restaurant on the list is 11 Woodfire, which has a One Star rating. You can savour Chef Akmal Anur’s culinary genius with an AED 95 two-course lunch or AED 150 three-course dinner.
5. Pick summer restaurant week based on locations
How far will you go for the love of food? The nifty neighbourhood field on the Summer Restaurant Week website divides restaurants into different localities. This convenient option helps you explore the city’s nooks and corners you’ve not ventured into before. From exploring Old Dubai’s Al Seef area or crossing the creek to exploring Garhoud, it’s a great way to ensure you have a full stomach AND earn your Dubai stripes. That’s a winner of a dinner.
Find the full list of Summer Restaurant Week’s participating outlets here