Cheap as chips: Sarai, Jumeirah Beach Residence


  • English
  • Arabic

Sarai is not solely a Lebanese restaurant, though you could be forgiven for assuming that after a glance at the menu. Look a little closer and you will notice rarer, more interesting options from the region - mohammara, for example, a cold, blood-red paste akin to pesto, made from red peppers, breadcrumbs and pomegranate molasses.

It hails from Syria. Eat it with your fingers with the warm discs of bread that arrive at your table blown up like puffer fish and sprinkled with sesame seeds. There are brains, too, should you feel so inclined: deep-fried, breaded lamb brains, delicately crisp on the outside and slimy on the inside.

Above all, Sarai is about kebabs - 14 types, which arrive at your table on a tray warmed by tealights. Concentrate your efforts on the kebab sarai, which comes in tender strips of lamb mixed with nuggets of pistachio and kashkaval cheese. Kebab bel karaz is made from balls of minced lamb with cherry sauce, roasted pine nuts and cinnamon. Almost best of all, however, are the fez-wearing staff who are more than delighted to talk you through the menu.

They also understand the knack of remaining within arm's reach to meet demands for extra bread without hovering too close. The bill they will seamlessly hand you should stand at Dh150-200 for two.

Jumeirah Beach Residence, The Walk, Dubai, 04 438 0640

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Key facilities
  • Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
  • Premier League-standard football pitch
  • 400m Olympic running track
  • NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
  • 600-seat auditorium
  • Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
  • An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
  • Specialist robotics and science laboratories
  • AR and VR-enabled learning centres
  • Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Jetour T1 specs

Engine: 2-litre turbocharged

Power: 254hp

Torque: 390Nm

Price: From Dh126,000

Available: Now

Babumoshai Bandookbaaz

Director: Kushan Nandy

Starring: Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Bidita Bag, Jatin Goswami

Three stars