The Empire State of Brunch at Warehouse brings global delights and New York style to its al frescoed lawns.
No description of Dubai’s eclectic culinary scene is complete without a mention of its brunches. The Saturday brunch (not so long ago, Fridays had the honour of hosting them until the UAE started following the rest of the world’s weekend calendar!) has become an integral part of a Dubaiite’s life with an amazing spread of food, great music, lazy vibe, and a chilled out time with friends at a fantastic hotel or beach club making for an extremely relaxing afternoon.
Brunches in this city come with different themes, menus, and moods so you are indeed spoilt for choice. However, if you are looking for something lively, fun, and casual, head straight to Warehouse at the Le Meridien Dubai Hotel and Conference Centre.
I have always been a fan of this old Dubai favourite and its 18 bars and restaurants, each boasting of its own distinct flavour. But we are talking about Warehouse, the Soho-inspired chic lounge and restaurant that has dug deeper into its American roots to come up with the Empire State of Brunch. With the current weather in Dubai behaving its best, it would be worth your while to spend a Saturday afternoon at this lovely venue with indoor and outdoor seating, beer garden, rattan seating with overhead pergolas and tranquil water fountains.
The brunch set up is unmistakably New York with a yellow NYC taxi on the lawns, ‘I Love New York’ signboards and street food stations — each designed with details reflecting the region — serving up Mexican, Italian, Indian, and Chinese delights. Sure, there was a bit of Thai and other food as well but I guess that’s New York — you find a part of the world in every corner! The best thing to do then is to soak in the ambiance, have a drink or two before setting off on a food trail at the buffet counters, picking and choosing your favourites from the many on display.
I began with the seafood section, tucking into the oysters before moving onto the sushi. Frankly, the sushi wasn’t the best but the variety was impressive. Little Italy came alive in the absolutely delish risotto, pizza slices, and paella, while we got a glimpse of China Town and Mexico from the peking duck (fab!), tacos, and enchiladas (pretty good), among other treats.
Lest I forget, there were the ubiquitous tandoori and kebabs to represent India but let’s just say I wasn’t too tempted to try them. Instead, what were unmissable were the sliders, hot dogs (but naturally!), barbeque ribs, and freshly grilled meat that went down perfectly with my reds. (Psst: You would need more than a few rounds around the food stations to do justice to them all).
The bubbly kept flowing and the live music (with a band playing some lively ’90s and noughties hits) kept the tempo high. A bit of live entertainment with a flash mob came up but I felt it wasn’t necessary. The drinks, the food, and the buzz were enough to keep you light and heady for the day!
Overall rating: ⭐⭐⭐ (Max: 5 stars)
Food: 3/5 | Drinks: 3.5/5 | Service: 4/5 | Interiors: 4.5/5 | Vibe: 4/5 | One dish we loved: Paella | One dish that didn’t work for us: Sushi
Read more:
The Burrow BKC, Mumbai: Meet jackfruit steak, Parle-G cocktail and the juiciest lamb tacos ever!