A Special Arabic Lunch at Al Maeda Restaurant | Lady & her Sweet Escapes

Mar 14, 2018

A Special Arabic Lunch at Al Maeda Restaurant


Eat. Share. Love.

That is Al Maeda Restaurant's tagline. And that is exactly what we experienced when we went there for lunch last weekend! 

Location
Al Maeda is an upscale Arabic restaurant tucked inside Doubletree by Hilton Dubai - Jumeirah Beach. The hotel stands in a fantastic beachfront location at the end of The Walk - JBR. Thus, the dining venue offers amazing views of the Arabian Gulf and the nearly done Ain Dubai! 


Al Maeda Restaurant review


Ambiance
A traditional and vibrant Middle Eastern atmosphere welcomed us to the restaurant. The interior is embellished with ethnic patterns which reminds me of Morocco. No, we haven't been there yet, but I'm currently drooling over photos of intricately tiled riads in Marrakech! The traditional setting is complemented with elegant modern touches. 

Al Maeda restaurant in Doubletree by Hilton Jumeirah Beach
Al Maeda restaurant in Doubletree by Hilton Jumeirah Beach

Al Maeda Restaurant interior
The tables are fitting for special family get-togethers.

Al Maeda Restaurant atmosphere
Al Maeda has a blend of traditional and contemporary Middle Eastern atmosphere.

Al Maeda Restaurant interior seating
It is beautifully accentuated with potted plants and stylish pieces.

Al Maeda Restaurant outdoor seating
The restaurant has an outdoor terrace where guests can relax and have shisha.

view from Al Maeda's outdoor terrace
view from Al Maeda's outdoor terrace


Service
What I love most about Al Maeda is the open kitchen. We were able to see the chefs working on their specialties and even interacted with them. I felt the warmth and transparency. At one point, it all seemed like I was invited to a friend's kitchen to see them cook and get served with a delicious homecooked meal later on!

Al Maeda's service crew are also amazing. They were always smiling and always ready to attend to our needs.    

Al Maeda restaurant fresh bread
We saw the chef making some bread in the kitchen!

lunch in Al Maeda restaurant
That's a clear indication that we get nothing but fresh in Al Maeda! 

freshly baked bread in Al Maeda restaurant
Fresh from the oven: soft and chewy pita bread 


Food and Drinks
Al Maeda's food offerings are served family-style; implementing the essence of sharing and the traditional way of serving Arabic cuisine.

For starters, Ed and I shared a selection of salads and mezze. Our wooden table brimmed with lively colors. All dishes are beautifully presented! I adore how they keep up with the modern times by infusing contemporary touches to classic Arabic recipes! Take the hummus, for example, this Arabic staple was further enhanced with a pistachio twist! But of course, if you're an old soul, the classic hummus is also available. 

Along these mouthwatering appetizers, we had Al Maeda's signature cocktails - Granada Rosa and Classic Lemon Mint Cooler. Both are refreshing and not too sweet. My drink, Granada Rosa - a blend of fresh pomegranate, orange blossom water, and cardamom syrup, complemented the taste of the savory starters and cleansed my palate before the mains were served.

Arabic lunch in Al Maeda
Now, this is the most vibrant lunch table I've seen!

Al Maeda Fikrih and quinoa salad
Fikrih and quinoa salad
(Tomato, diced cucumber, pomegranate seeds, lemon juice, olive oil)

Al Maeda pistachio hummus
Pistachio Hummus

Beetroot Mutabal

Al Maeda classic appetizers
The Classics: Fattoush, Kibbeh, Sambousek, Fatayek


For the main course, we had Chicken Rotisserie served with Oriental Rice and Mix Grill. These dishes are served in sharing platters too. 

My husband raved about the Chicken Rotisserie and I wasn't surprised! The chicken meat is well-marinated with spices and the skin (Oh the skin!) is crisp and golden brown! On the other hand, the Mix Grill - a selection of lamb kofta, lamb kebab, shish taouk - is straightforward, aromatic and delicious. Exactly how I want it to be!

Chicken Rotisserie with Oriental Rice
Chicken Rotisserie with Oriental Rice

Al Maeda Mix Grill
Mix Grill

For dessert, we had Mango Muhalabiah and Basboussa Cheesecake. The former is elegantly served in a cocktail glass. It is a creamy and classic Middle Eastern dessert with a surprise twist - sweet mango cubes - in the center!

Ed and I considered the Basboussa Cheesecake as the cherry on top of our amazing lunch in Al Maeda! It is kept in a white chocolate dome which slowly melted when a warm strawberry sauce was poured on top! It is a visually appealing and lusciously tasteful dessert! 

Al Maeda Mango muhalabiah
Mango Muhalabiah

Ed and Lady in Al Maeda
See what I mean when I said we had a traditional-meets-modern Arabic lunch?

Basboussa Cheesecake
Basboussa Cheesecake

Overall
Al Maeda Restaurant is a great dining venue for intimate gatherings and relaxed lunch/dinner dates. It is the place to go to when you want traditional Arabic meal, and when you're up to some pleasant surprises in between! The ambiance is fantastic and the service is just as excellent! Considering the cost, each dish is reasonably priced as it is fit for sharing. 

Al Maeda Restaurant menu
Al Maeda Restaurant menu


Love brunch? Al Maeda has a Friday and Saturday Brunch with complimentary pool & beach access.
Brunch price: AED 314 inclusive of soft drinks / AED 399 inclusive of house beverages

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Al Maeda Restaurant
Doubletree by Hilton Jumeirah
The Walk - Dubai
Contact +971 (4) 4533333
Website: doubletree3.hilton.com

We were invited to dine at Al Maeda Restaurant.
Opinions in this blog post are my own.





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