Bastakiya Cafe & Restaurant

Though the setting is beautiful, the standard of food is far below par. A glance at the menu reveals the ultimate foodie nightmare: the permanent set menu. Lebanese staples like houmous, tabbouleh and fried kebbeh are served with little or no fanfare and mains are disappointing.



The khoresh e bamieh, a type of lamb dish stewed with okra and tumeric, is decidedly underwhelming and lacks any distinct flavour, while Time Out had serious thoughts about sending back the house speciality; a so-called lamb kebab dish with aubergine and a distinct lamb deficit.



Bastakiah Nights is definitely a place to stop for a pomegranate juice while showing visiting friends and family the delights of the area, but for true food lovers it’s best avoided.

The outdoor courtyard, oversized coffee pots and chorus of wailing evening prayers resonating from the mosques around Dubai creek certainly give Bastakiah Nights the atmospheric edge, luring many a wide-eyed tourist eager for a taste of ‘real’ Arabia.