ASADO
Packed to the rafters most nights, with hotel guests and UAE diners alike, who come to enjoy the live Latin music, friendly, relaxed service and awesome views of the Dubai Fountain from the outside terrace seating, Asado gives off a lively energy with a homely feel, making it the perfect place to take visiting parents, or to enjoy a relaxed meal à deux. Rightly proud of its Argentinean roots, Asado boasts a huge selection of South American beverages and cocktails, as well as a family-friendly atmosphere that those back in the old country would certainly approve of. And when it comes to the menu, you can choose between à la carte or the set options - and it's the latter that we headed there to check out.
Now, I don't think I'm exaggerating here when I say that for a British person to willingly sit down and dine from a menu calling itself ‘Maradona's Menu' is tantamount to sacrilege. Passport-removing, citizenship-revoking, national pride-destroying sacrilege. Overstatement? I think not. In fact, my husband had to be forcibly restrained from dining incognito (false moustache, big hat, that sort of thing) lest he be recognised eating dishes inspired by the man who introduced us to the ‘hand of god', and with it destroyed the hopes and dreams of a nation - but, c'mon, we're all over that 1986 debacle now… right? But, despite the fact that we probably won't be permitted to enter the UK, like, ever again, when it comes to the juicy steak and delish pizza on offer on Maradona's Menu, it's a risk any foodie should take.
Based on the talented Argentine's career, we start with Pizza à la Parilla Estilo Bombonera - grilled pizza from La Bombonera, Boca Jr Stadium - which makes you re-think the notion that pizza would be too heavy a dish to begin with. Thin-based, super-light and just the right size to satisfy without filling up, it came topped with beef and flavour-packed vegetables, making for a delish intro for the Latin loveliness yet to come. And the palate-cleansing sorbet - inspired by the ‘bitter time' that was Maradona's broken leg in 1982 (again, not too bitter for the Brits!) - was a tart Tonic water sorbet (or a Sorbet de agua tonica; why do things sound so much more interesting in Spanish?) - delivering a sharp tang to the tongue. Then, the main event - or as the menu prefers it to reflect, ‘Napoli, the best moment of his career (1986)'. Now it was time to loosen the belt a tad, as what arrived at the table was a hefty hunk of 400g sirloin steak, served with chips and a deep fried egg, which oozed a yolk that was just perfect for dipping chips into. And finally came the Panqueques con dulce de leche (Dulce de leche pancakes), wafer-thin crepes, swimming - but not drowning - in the sweet caramel sauce that gives the dish its name.
When it comes to Maradona's offerings, Asado proves that sometimes it's good to go off the à la carte menu and take your taste buds to a place they may not have journeyed before. Now, if you'll excuse us, we have to go and plead our case at the British embassy - ‘It wasn't our fault. Asado force-fed us awesome steaks...!'
Location: The Palace, Old Town
Tel: 04 888 3444
Tasty trio: South American
Pachanga
Location Hilton Dubai Jumeirah, Dubai
Timing Daily 6pm-12am
Tel 04 318 2530
As you would hope – or expect – from a South American restaurant, Pachanga is a meat-eater’s dream dining spot. The restaurant serves up some of the best cuts in the UAE on their churrasco nights, and every Tuesday you can indulge in limitless barbecue ribs and spicy sausages from the buffet table; and that’s just for starters. Don’t over do it at the buffet because for mains you can enjoy belly-busting hunks of succulent steaks, carved from their skewers at your table.
La Parrilla
Location Jumeirah Beach Hotel, Dubai
Timing Daily 6.30pm-11.30pm
Tel 04 348 0000
This award-winning Latin American eatery is one of the most popular spots in Dubai at which to enjoy Argentinean cooking, thanks to its views of the Gulf and Burj Al Arab. And as the country is renowned for producing some of the best meat in the world, La Parrilla certainly doesn’t sully the country’s rep and you’ll be spoilt for choice with the wagyu and rib-eye on offer, at this Hacienda-style restaurant, with the strains of live tango music in the background.
Chamas
Location InterContinental Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi
Timing Sat-Thu 6pm-11.30pm; Fri 12.30pm-3pm and 6pm-11.30pm
Tel 02 666 6888
Meat-lovers will revel in the challenge as they eat their way through an endless stream of dishes at this Latin American restaurant. The deal is that the meat at Chamas won’t stop coming to your table until you flip your green card over to red to indicate that you may burst if you eat another morsel, be it rib-eye beef, lamb chops or chicken wings. Plus, the salad bar should bring some light relief.
Churrasco Tuesdays, Dh195; Friday Brunch From Dh235
