Dubai Friday Brunch - # 1 Yalumba

Our precious visitor SJ had two activity requests during her few days stay in Dubai. When asked 'what would you like to do.. see some history or visit a gallery?' she promptly replied;

"No, I want to sun bathe and go to brunch"... love, love our SJ. 

Johan and I hadn't been to Friday brunch yet either so I was secretly dying to go myself, as it's supposedly the Friday 'thing to do' in Dubai. 

Some of our friends had relayed scary brunch stories where ex-pats get stupidly hammered, have rows and start fights whilst their kids run wild unsupervised. Entertaining as that spectacle might have been, as a young couple+1 that isn't really what we had in mind so I set about  researching suitable places. 

The variety of places that offer some theme or variations of Friday brunch is mind boggling. There's a brunch for every taste and budget it seems, even Nobu and The Ivy offer a 'Posh' versions of Friday brunch. 

I read every Friday brunch review on Time Out, Dubai. 
* Note to Time Out, writers - please get a new brunch review headline other than "A Dubai institution" as it seems every single one is a Dubai institution. 

After reading lots of reviews, forums and 2008 newspaper articles about post brunch drunken brits up to naughtiness on the beach, I made an executive decision. 

Figuring that if we were going have a Friday brunch baptism we may as well go all out, I opted for a brunch with a boozy reputation, Yalumba @ Le Meridian Hotel in Garhound.  

Surprisingly enough - "A Dubai institution" according to Time out, Dubai:-) 

Squeeze another sushi on there SJ?

Walking into Yalumba at 12.30 on a Friday lunch time is quite a surreal experience.You literally walk in to a New Years Eve party in full swing. Complete with banging cheesy music, party hats, bunting, balloons, people singing and Christmas crackers!! 

The other thing that was odd, was it felt like a bit of a meat market. There was a disproportionate demographic (at least the day we went) of single 50 something men. 

There were also many younger single women in revealing outfits who looked like they might be there to 'meet' older 50 something gentlemen. 


We wondered what we'd walked into however that quirk aside, have to say the food & service were excellent. 

A glass of fish

On arrival you get asked for your champagne preference, Bollinger, Taittinger or Laurent Perrier Rose having to decide between that lovely lot quite threw me and SJ. 

Even though it's not cheap at 500Dhs pp (approx £85) all in for the bubbly option. It's worth the money as our glasses were never more than a two sips empty before they were topped up and we could also have choices of wines and other drinks to match our courses.

Once seated you are brought forth a seafood platter to start you off, oysters, prawns and salmon, yum!

One thing I really liked about the Yalumba brunch was that as well as the buffet you get to order form a hot menu, which had a Pan-Asian/Antipodean theme. 

SJ had Chicken Tikka which was moist and spicy. I had the Oriental roast Pork belly - which wasn't great as it was under done for my taste. 

IMO, Roast Pork belly should have crispy crackling atop to contrast the moist fatty meat layers beneath but this one was just plain soggy. 

The star dish was Kangeroo Teriyaki that Johan ordered twice because it was so good. 

Being newbie's though, we made the rookie error of not having a full brunch strategy. What were we thinking?! Instead we went random free-style, meaning that by the third plate we were all stuffed and couldn't eat any more, not even desert. 

Is it NYE?? 

After the brunch period expires everyone piles poolside where the party continue's, with proper disco dancing. 

Everyone at this point is plastered but good humoured as far as we could tell. We got chatting to a large group of older men who were actually really lovely, nice to meet different folks and hear their Dubai story, everyone has one. 

Suddenly it was dark and we moved next door to the neighbouring Warehouse bar were Johan and I promptly fell asleep at our table...we are THAT wild and crazy!! 'twas our our que to head home. 

Sore heads all round the next day...yip, we'd certainly popped our brunch cherry, in true Dubai style.  

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Dubai Top Tip #2 - Buy The Entertainer!

Updated  for 2013: 

So we were a bit late this year but a week ago we finally purchased the 2013 Fine Dining Entertainer and we've already used x 3 vouchers thus justifying the 395Dhs investment. Note the price has gone up 45Dhs from 2012 . I had mean't to order before the New Year when you could save 15% online but I forgot, my own fault. 

On first look Nobu is missing this year but new additions include our favourite The Ivy (whoop!), Armani Peck and Mediterraneo. 

Plus, local places for us Riva who do a cracking burger and Sophie's cafe which has super fresh, healthy breakfast and lunches. 

Also for places like the Rivington Grill and Trader Vic' that both have outlets at Madinat and Downtown. The 2013 Entertainer now includes separate voucher strips for each location, thus doubling the possible discount opportunity!

I was initially all snotty when we first moved here and a friend first mentioned this voucher book you buy that gives you great deals of meals out, spa days and all kinds of other activities in Dubai. 

Using vouchers in the UK means clipping 200 coupons off the back of cereal boxes to save 20p, so that's what I had in my head. 

But no not in Dubai, even the voucher books are glamorous and thus we were introduced to a Dubai staple The Entertainer.  

If you intend eating out in Dubai more than twice, then do ONE thing and invest in The Entertainer. 

They have a range of books to suit every lifestyle, there's a family one with deals on days out, a Spa & Heath one and my personal favourite The Fine Dinning one. 

2012

How The Fine Dinning one works is you have to buy the book for 350Dhs (approx £60) and the vouchers entitle you to one free main course when you purchase a second main course. They are redeemable at hundreds of restaurants, all the good restaurants are included in the listings. 

You can buy it at multiple outlets mainly super markets and book stores, we bought ours from Carrefour in Mall of the Emirates. I believe you can also buy online. 

Considering the cost of main courses (approx 150-200dhs) in most high end restaurants if you use two vouchers the book has paid for itself. 

You also get multiple vouchers for each restaurant so you can double up if you are a group, which saves you a lot when you've got visitors or on a special occasions. You would have to be an even number of dinners to get the discount - technically a BOGOF. There's even a BOGOF voucher for Nobu! 'Buy one black cod get one gartis'. ... 

There are some minor restrictions, such as you can't use them for Friday brunch or off the total bill. Say you had 4 starters, drinks but no mains, you have to order a main course to get the discount. But there's no restriction on times/days and voucher validity periods run for a full year.  

These days, we don't go nowhere unless we have an Entertainer voucher!! 

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