A very welcomed addition to Dubai’s restaurant scene is El Sur in the Westin Hotel on Al Sufouh Road. The food is authentic, the tapas is reasonably priced from Dh35-65, and a telling sign is that so many of the patrons are Spanish.
The contemporary menu is the brainchild of respected chef Juan Carlos Gonzalez Hermandez, a veteran of several Michelin-starred restaurants including the three-starred El Bulli in Spain. If you want a break from the brunching norm, try their new Friday a la carte offering, here are some dishes we highly recommend:
Snacks
The croquette tapas were huge, hearty and packed with flavour. The mushroom and cheese flavour - with a hint of truffle - and the shrimp and hake, proved the most popular. Other classic tapas plates we liked include patatas bravas, marinated Manchego cheese and the oh-so-moreish Gordial olives.
Substantial
El Sur’s signature rice with seafood was outstanding. Visually, the plate looked as good as it tasted with black squid ink rice topped with silvery cuttlefish, calamari and vibrant green microherbs.
Sweet
Proving the perfect end to the meal, a generous portion of torrija con helado de limon or, caramelized brioche with lemon ice cream, was ideal for sharing. Sweet and feather light, with a consistency akin to a mousse cake with a brulee topping, it was delicious.
Other dishes you might want to try:
Starters:
Carpaccio de Ternera con helado de queso Valdeleon (beef carpaccio with Valdeleon cheese ice cream) Dh75
Foie con algodon de azucar (cotton candy foie gras) Dh45
Pulpo a la Gallega con espuma de patata (Galician style Octopus with potato foam) Dh65
Mains:
Pargo con delicias de calabaza (Red snapper with pumkin) Dh125
Dorada con sepia y mojo (Sea bream with cuttlefish & mojo sauce) Dh125
Chuletas de cordero glaseadas con miel y quinoa (lamb chops caremilized with honey & quinoa) Dh165
Desserts:
Arroz con leche, citricos y helado de nueces (milky rice pudding with cirtus flavours and walnut ice cream)
Crema Catalana de vainilla y sorbete de mandarina (Catalan vanilla ice cream and mandarin sorbet)
For reservations call +97143994141
[ http://www.westinminaseyahi.com/en/el-sur-spanish-restaurant ]
