It’s not every day that you get a chance to eat in a historic dining room.
But Queens Grill, located aboard the ocean liner Queen Elizabeth 2 docked in Port Rashid, offered guests exactly that when it opened in the UAE in 2018.
But the restaurant, which occupies the former first-class dining quarters of the storied vessel, served its fine-dining menu for the last time in June 2019 before closing to undergo extensive refurbishment.
In the past, the restaurant has served members of the British royal family as well celebrities such as Liza Minnelli and Rod Stewart. As of last year, the dining room looked very 1960s, but on Thursday, February 20 it reopens as a modern British bistro.
The new restaurant has modern interiors in shades of cream, green and grey, with brown and white chequered marble flooring and wood-panelled walls. Subtle wave patterns pay tribute to the venue's maritime history. It’s a far cry from the former plush interiors, which featured a carpet and walls clad in fabric.
"While the restaurant is still upscale, the idea is to make it more accessible," a representative tells The National.
The new look also introduces a lounge, private dining room and two outdoor terraces, giving diners a view of both the water and the shore. The lounge includes a mural that was commissioned especially for the restaurant.
Meanwhile, the kitchen has also undergone an overhaul, and boasts a new head chef and menu. Chef Prasad Kudagoda says the menu is in tune with the concept of a modern bistro. “It’s all about keeping it simple, with a focus on fresh ingredients,” he says.
On offer are British favourites such as cod and chips, clam chowder and treacle tart, while dishes such as gourmet duck burger (with sauteed wild mushrooms, foie gras, fig chutney and truffle hollandaise), chicken tikka masala pie and gobi tikka masala pie add a more eclectic spin. Some of the restaurant’s signature dishes include smoked haddock and Scottish haggis pate served on crispy sourdough, salmon Wellington, and chocolate and coffee-dusted foie gras with poached English pears and fresh almonds.
Queens Grill will be open from 7pm to 11pm from Monday to Saturday.
