As the coronavirus restrictions in place across Dubai are eased, restaurants have been able to reopen under strict guidelines, taking into consideration social-distancing rules and not surpassing a 30 per cent capacity.
With that in mind, several of Dubai's hotels and restaurants are reopening with iftar menus as part of their dine-in offerings.
No, it won't be the traditional all-out buffet affair this year given the pandemic, but set menus with plenty of smaller options to sample.
If you're looking to dine out to break your fast this Ramadan, here are the restaurants offering dine-in iftars:
Olea at Kempinski
Levantine dining outlet Olea is ready to welcome back diners with a set iftar menu for Dh225 per person.
The menu features a variety of dishes which include ouzi (slow-cooked lamb) served over rice, shawarma, manakish and more. There will be traditional sweets served.
The iftar is also available for delivery.
Asateer at White Restaurant
Atlantis The Palm's famed Asateer tent is a little different this year. Instead of a traditional iftar tent, Asateer's offering will be housed within White Restaurant, at White Beach.
Asateer’s chef Ali Elbourji has partnered with White Restaurant chef Ibrahim Ata to create a menu fusing Mediterranean flavours with Asateer favourites.
For Dh195 for a set menu for one, expect signature dishes such as lamb ouzi, aubergine mille feuille, cauliflower arancini and hot and cold mezze.
Kayto
Located at Jumeirah Al Naseem, this Peruvian-Japanese fusion restaurant reopened to dine-in guests last week, along with two other signature Jumeirah restaurants – Rockfish, also at Jumeirah Al Naseem, and Shimmers, at Mina A’Salam.
Kayto's iftar menu, available from 6pm, is priced at Dh300 per person.
It's features nine starters to share, including Wagyu beef tacos, salmon tataki and shrimp tacos, your choice of main course, four sides, and your choice of one dessert.
LPM
LPM Restaurant (formerly La Petite Maison) reopens on Thursday, April 30, for dine-in guests, from noon to 10pm daily.
This means its delivery iftar offering will also be available at the restaurant.
The menu is priced at Dh245 per person, and a minimum of two people are required to order. It is available between 6.30pm and 8pm.
The sharing menu includes a mocktail, soup, two starters, one main course and a dessert per person. Customers can break their fast with dates and then enjoy some of the restaurant's signature dishes, such as the burrata with tomatoes and lamb chops.
The iftar is also available for delivery.
Streetery
If you're looking for a good budget option, look no further than this popular JLT food hall.
Streetery's iftar offering is only Dh89 for two people, and is described as an "Asian iftar night market experience".
The menu has been curated from the Ramadan street markets of Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur and Hong Kong, offering a wide variety of dishes: from dates and fruit to soup, salad, several mains, dessert and drinks.
The restaurant has even added an option to give an iftar meal as a gift – you can order for your friends, colleagues or family on the restaurant's website and app.
The iftar is also available for delivery.
Coya Dubai
The Peruvian restaurant reopened in Dubai on Tuesday, April 28, and is now open from 12.30pm to 10pm for lunch and dinner, as well as offering a special iftar menu.
The set menu includes a choice of soup, seven appetisers or small dishes, one main and dessert for Dh230 per person.
Guests can expect dishes such as the cream of pumpkin soup, kale and cucumber salad, wild mushroom ceviche, empanadas, and more. For mains, choose between the corn-fed chicken, beef ribs, Peruvian dried potato and cauliflower, and Chilean sea bass, and end the meal with dates, edamame, and pistachio puff pastry.
The iftar is also available for delivery.
Bombay Brasserie
Taj Dubai will offer sit-down iftars from 6pm to 10pm each day in its Bombay Brasserie.
The Indo-Emirati set menu features dishes including the Koftak Samak (Emirati fish cakes with Indian spices), Tekat Deyay Emirati (chicken kebabs with Middle Eastern spices cooked in a tandoor), Emirati home-style chicken curries, such as Thareed Dyay or Khudar Mashwi ma Baharat Hind, vegetables in an Indian masala blend.
Both menus include dates, cut fruit, Laban and water to break the fast.
The iftar is also available for delivery.
Al Nafoorah
The popular Lebanese restaurant under Sarood Hospitality is now open from sunset until 10pm daily. Their Dh265 iftar menu for two people is now available for dine-in, while the options for groups of four and six, priced at Dh495 and D665 respectively, will be available in the coming days.
Guests can expect a feast including all the classics such as dates, buttermilk and jalab, lentil soup, and hot and cold mezzes. Mains include a mixed grill and lamb ouzi (with a vegetarian option also available). Meanwhile a cheesecake with rose and pistachio and chocolate cardamom fudge cake are some desserts that round up the meal.
