• Photo by Stacie Johnson
    Photo by Stacie Johnson
  • Photo by Stacie Johnson
    Photo by Stacie Johnson
  • Courtesy Aubaine
    Courtesy Aubaine
  • Photo by Stacie Johnson
    Photo by Stacie Johnson
  • Photo by Ann Marie McQueen
    Photo by Ann Marie McQueen
  • Photo by Ellen Fortini
    Photo by Ellen Fortini
  • Photo by Rob Garratt
    Photo by Rob Garratt
  • Photo by Felicity Campbell
    Photo by Felicity Campbell
  • Photo by Saeed Saeed
    Photo by Saeed Saeed

Food

Claws encounters: 10 places in Abu Dhabi and Dubai to get lobster rolls

  • English
  • Arabic

Lobster rolls are, quite simply, the perfect summer food, and they are popping up on menus around the UAE. Popular in the north-eastern United States and parts of Canada, this decadent sandwich traditionally includes lobster meat – either soaked in butter or mixed with mayonnaise, celery and other bits and bobs — messily packed into a toasted, split-top hot-dog bun. It’s the kind of food you eat at a seaside restaurant with a side of ocean breeze and French fries. UAE food lovers are increasingly becoming spoilt for choice when it comes to sampling the treat. Here are a few spots in Abu Dhabi and Dubai where you can get your fix.

Catch Dubai

The lobster roll at this restaurant comes as two separate rolls and is so conducive for sharing. The split-top, homemade potato rolls are buttered and toasted, resulting in excellent vehicles with which to transport all that lobster down your gullet. The buns are filled with an abundant portion of sweet, rich lobster chunks mixed with (a bit too much) mayonnaise and a smattering of chives. The lingering taste is simply butter and lobster.

• Dh110 for two rolls, Catch Dubai, Fairmont Dubai. Call 04 550 9257

* Stacie Overton Johnson

Boca Dubai

Lobster rolls have been one of Boca’s signature dishes since it opened nearly two years ago. Served in pairs, they perfectly fit the ­sharing-style menu Boca is known for. The homemade brioche rolls are split-top, buttered and toasted, but the lobster is not presented in salad form mixed with mayonnaise. Instead, you get layers of flavour and texture with tangy, creamy homemade lemon aioli, purple cabbage coleslaw, thin strips of fried veggies that change according to season (courgette and aubergine on our visit) and a sprinkling of dill and mustard seeds that add depth. Piled atop all that yum are four large chunks of sweet lobster that’s been boiled and then drenched in butter. Don’t miss these.

• Dh130 for two, Boca Dubai, DIFC, Gate Village 6, Dubai. Call 04 323 1833

* Stacie Overton Johnson

Ting Irie

The lobster roll in this newly opened Jamaican cafe on The Boulevard in Dubai was – lucky for us – added to the menu the day before we popped in to check out what is allegedly the first Jamaican restaurant in the country. Instead of a split-top bun, this lobster salad comes packed into a sweet, buttered, toasted cocobun – a slightly sweet Jamaican bread with coconut in the mix. Firm on the outside, soft inside, cocobuns make for one tasty sandwich. At Ting Irie, the bun is filled with chunks of lobster that’s been poached in butter and Sriracha sauce. It’s not an exact replica but, layered with abundant flavour, this one wins my vote as the best lobster roll in the country.

• Dh110 for three rolls, Ting Irie, Manzil Downtown Dubai. Call 04 557 5601

* Stacie Overton Johnson

Aubaine

If a fat lobster roll served in a hot-dog bun isn’t your idea of sophisticated fare, then pay a visit to Aubaine. The French cafe in The Dubai Mall has a homard club sandwich on the menu. If you don’t speak French, you might mistakenly bypass this bite altogether (homard is French for lobster). It’s not technically a roll, but this one earns a place on our list. The petite sandwich (perfect for a light lunch) is a creamy mixture of lobster chunks and ancho-chilli cocktail sauce delicately stacked between three layers of crispy pain au lait. It also comes with confit tomatoes, avocado and lettuce. This is exactly what you’d expect the French to do with a lobster roll.

• Dh85, Aubaine, The Dubai Mall. Call 04 501 6970

* Stacie Overton Johnson

Firebird Diner

The rolls here are a far cry from traditional lobster rolls, but the New England lobster version is a twist done well. Instead of split-top buns, the bread comes in the form of two soft, buttered, toasted brioche strips. These are tasty, but they take a back seat to the lobster. The ample portion of lobster is mixed with mayonnaise, Old Bay seasoning and celery – all piled high in oval mounds on top of the brioche strips for a sweet, hearty blast of lobster with every bite. It’s tangy, tasty and certainly worth a try.

• Dh78 for two rolls, Firebird Diner, Four Seasons DIFC, Dubai. Call 04 506 0100

* Stacie Overton Johnson

The Shack

The Shack has done a really good version of the split-top bun, which was perfectly toasted and topped with melted butter. The lobster portion was generous, served in fairly sizeable chunks, in perfect ratio to the mayonnaise dressing, which was topped with green onion. The dish comes with crisp, skin-on French fries, a small portion of coleslaw and a very ­questionable-tasting pickle. There is also a slightly confusing-sounding hot version, where the lobster is grilled in butter and then combined with the mayo. Hot lobster? Cold mayo? When the cold original is this good, I’ll pass.

• Dh79, The Shack, Technip building, Embassies district, Muroor Road, Abu Dhabi. Call 02 449 1114

* Ann Marie McQueen

Le Cafe

Having grown up in Maine, I like to think I know what makes a good lobster roll, so I ordered the Classic Maine Lobster Club at Emirates Palace with some scepticism. The cumin bun, if not an authentic element, tasted fresh but offered more bread-to-filling ratio – the lobster pieces were small and covered in too much tangy mayonnaise. Like most Mainers, I believe the mayonnaise in a lobster roll should simply hold the chunks of meat together, not offer additional flavour or texture. The side of French fries was delicious – perfectly golden and crispy while soft inside – and did their part to make up for the lacklustre sandwich, even lending a hint of the scent of fried foods found at a lobster shack, such as clams. Sitting in Emirates Palace isn’t quite the same as digging into an authentic lobster roll at the seaside in Maine, but if you’re looking for a touch of fancy with your roll, it is the right spot.

• Dh115, Le Cafe, Emirates Palace, Abu Dhabi. Call 02 690 7999

* Ellen Fortini

The Maine Oyster Bar & Grill

Specialising in seafood and steak, it’s no surprise that this popular JBR hangout delivers in the lobster-roll department, offering a refined, snack-sized take on the classic dish. The homemade potato-bread bun is toasted on the inside, offering a light, fluffy texture and slightly sweet taste. The large lobster lumps are garnished with flavoured butter, tiny fragments of celery and chives, allowing the crustacean to shine. The dish comes with a generous serving of homemade, wafer-thin fried crisps. The roll, listed as an appetiser, is filling. You might find following with a main course a struggle.

• Dh95, The Maine Oyster Bar & Grill, The DoubleTree by Hilton, JBR, Dubai. Call 04 457 6719

* Rob Garratt

Slider Station

This lobster roll is little – it’s only about 10 centimetres long. Served in a lightly fried, split-top milk bun – too sweet for my taste – it contains meaty chunks of lobster and a sprinkle of spring onions, which provide a welcome crunch. The mayonnaise-based sriracha sauce leaves a pleasant burn rather than a too-hot bite. The roll, listed as an appetiser, is served on a side plate with no accompaniments. It’s a tiny finger sandwich better suited for afternoon tea. Don’t count on it to fill you up.

• Dh60, Slider Station, Galleria Mall, Al Wasl Road, Dubai. Call 600 544 005

* Felicity Campbell

Burger and Lobster

If you are going to call yourself Burger and Lobster, then nothing short of your A-game is expected when serving a lobster roll. And the DIFC branch of the popular gourmet burger chain more than delivers. The filled-to-­bursting lobster roll in this uber chic eatery is served on a buttered and toasted brioche bun and stuffed with generous chunks of lobster meat sprinkled with parsley. Thankfully, it wasn’t drowned with mayonnaise, there was just enough to keep the sweet meat moist and tangy. But since I am partial to messy sandwiches, I chose to add a hefty dose of the lemon butter sauce served on the side for extra decadence. Rich and delicious, one roll is simply not enough.

• Dh135, Burger and Lobster, Burj Daman Building DIFC, Dubai. Call 04 514 8838

* Saeed Saeed

The biog

Simon Nadim has completed 7,000 dives. 

The hardest dive in the UAE is the German U-boat 110m down off the Fujairah coast. 

As a child, he loved the documentaries of Jacques Cousteau

He also led a team that discovered the long-lost portion of the Ines oil tanker. 

If you are interested in diving, he runs the XR Hub Dive Centre in Fujairah

 

Green ambitions
  • Trees: 1,500 to be planted, replacing 300 felled ones, with veteran oaks protected
  • Lake: Brown's centrepiece to be cleaned of silt that makes it as shallow as 2.5cm
  • Biodiversity: Bat cave to be added and habitats designed for kingfishers and little grebes
  • Flood risk: Longer grass, deeper lake, restored ponds and absorbent paths all meant to siphon off water 
The five pillars of Islam

1. Fasting

2. Prayer

3. Hajj

4. Shahada

5. Zakat 

Coffee: black death or elixir of life?

It is among the greatest health debates of our time; splashed across newspapers with contradicting headlines - is coffee good for you or not?

Depending on what you read, it is either a cancer-causing, sleep-depriving, stomach ulcer-inducing black death or the secret to long life, cutting the chance of stroke, diabetes and cancer.

The latest research - a study of 8,412 people across the UK who each underwent an MRI heart scan - is intended to put to bed (caffeine allowing) conflicting reports of the pros and cons of consumption.

The study, funded by the British Heart Foundation, contradicted previous findings that it stiffens arteries, putting pressure on the heart and increasing the likelihood of a heart attack or stroke, leading to warnings to cut down.

Numerous studies have recognised the benefits of coffee in cutting oral and esophageal cancer, the risk of a stroke and cirrhosis of the liver. 

The benefits are often linked to biologically active compounds including caffeine, flavonoids, lignans, and other polyphenols, which benefit the body. These and othetr coffee compounds regulate genes involved in DNA repair, have anti-inflammatory properties and are associated with lower risk of insulin resistance, which is linked to type-2 diabetes.

But as doctors warn, too much of anything is inadvisable. The British Heart Foundation found the heaviest coffee drinkers in the study were most likely to be men who smoked and drank alcohol regularly.

Excessive amounts of coffee also unsettle the stomach causing or contributing to stomach ulcers. It also stains the teeth over time, hampers absorption of minerals and vitamins like zinc and iron.

It also raises blood pressure, which is largely problematic for people with existing conditions.

So the heaviest drinkers of the black stuff - some in the study had up to 25 cups per day - may want to rein it in.

Rory Reynolds

While you're here
Farage on Muslim Brotherhood

Nigel Farage told Reform's annual conference that the party will proscribe the Muslim Brotherhood if he becomes Prime Minister.
"We will stop dangerous organisations with links to terrorism operating in our country," he said. "Quite why we've been so gutless about this – both Labour and Conservative – I don't know.
“All across the Middle East, countries have banned and proscribed the Muslim Brotherhood as a dangerous organisation. We will do the very same.”
It is 10 years since a ground-breaking report into the Muslim Brotherhood by Sir John Jenkins.
Among the former diplomat's findings was an assessment that “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” has “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement.
The prime minister at the time, David Cameron, who commissioned the report, said membership or association with the Muslim Brotherhood was a "possible indicator of extremism" but it would not be banned.

Teachers' pay - what you need to know

Pay varies significantly depending on the school, its rating and the curriculum. Here's a rough guide as of January 2021:

- top end schools tend to pay Dh16,000-17,000 a month - plus a monthly housing allowance of up to Dh6,000. These tend to be British curriculum schools rated 'outstanding' or 'very good', followed by American schools

- average salary across curriculums and skill levels is about Dh10,000, recruiters say

- it is becoming more common for schools to provide accommodation, sometimes in an apartment block with other teachers, rather than hand teachers a cash housing allowance

- some strong performing schools have cut back on salaries since the pandemic began, sometimes offering Dh16,000 including the housing allowance, which reflects the slump in rental costs, and sheer demand for jobs

- maths and science teachers are most in demand and some schools will pay up to Dh3,000 more than other teachers in recognition of their technical skills

- at the other end of the market, teachers in some Indian schools, where fees are lower and competition among applicants is intense, can be paid as low as Dh3,000 per month

- in Indian schools, it has also become common for teachers to share residential accommodation, living in a block with colleagues

Closing the loophole on sugary drinks

As The National reported last year, non-fizzy sugared drinks were not covered when the original tax was introduced in 2017. Sports drinks sold in supermarkets were found to contain, on average, 20 grams of sugar per 500ml bottle.

The non-fizzy drink AriZona Iced Tea contains 65 grams of sugar – about 16 teaspoons – per 680ml can. The average can costs about Dh6, which would rise to Dh9.

Drinks such as Starbucks Bottled Mocha Frappuccino contain 31g of sugar in 270ml, while Nescafe Mocha in a can contains 15.6g of sugar in a 240ml can.

Flavoured water, long-life fruit juice concentrates, pre-packaged sweetened coffee drinks fall under the ‘sweetened drink’ category
 

Not taxed:

Freshly squeezed fruit juices, ground coffee beans, tea leaves and pre-prepared flavoured milkshakes do not come under the ‘sweetened drink’ band.

On Women's Day
On Women's Day
Red flags
  • Promises of high, fixed or 'guaranteed' returns.
  • Unregulated structured products or complex investments often used to bypass traditional safeguards.
  • Lack of clear information, vague language, no access to audited financials.
  • Overseas companies targeting investors in other jurisdictions - this can make legal recovery difficult.
  • Hard-selling tactics - creating urgency, offering 'exclusive' deals.

Courtesy: Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching

Director: Laxman Utekar

Cast: Vicky Kaushal, Akshaye Khanna, Diana Penty, Vineet Kumar Singh, Rashmika Mandanna

Rating: 1/5

The specs

AT4 Ultimate, as tested

Engine: 6.2-litre V8

Power: 420hp

Torque: 623Nm

Transmission: 10-speed automatic

Price: From Dh330,800 (Elevation: Dh236,400; AT4: Dh286,800; Denali: Dh345,800)

On sale: Now

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