Dubai: I don’t remember the last time I loved a place just for its food. Forget the brand new café’s self-watering, natural ‘green’ wall, the fancy single wood imported teak furniture and its lusty lights, you should visit Bean There Bistro – opened barely a week ago at the new extension of the Airport Millennium Hotel – just for its grub.
Nothing fancy, nothing elaborate, but each item is tastefully done. Take the bacon-wrapped dates for example. A clever combination of two things people love here in Dubai – the beef bacon and the dates, stuffed craftily with toasted almonds and some really strong blue cheese. Another great platter on the menu is the golden deep-fried crab cakes served with a stunning sun-dried tomato aioli.
Wasabi wonder
Also worth trying is the calamari whose novelty is in its crisper yet less greasier ‘panko’ coating. The fabulous wasabi mayonnaise on the side makes it even more irresistible. For those who don’t fancy seafood as much, buffalo chicken spring rolls made of mildly spiced shredded chicken and blue cheese dressing is a great choice.
For weight-watchers, two salads come highly recommended: the quinoa and French lentil, and the marinated beet and goat cheese salads, but it’s the one with cheese that scores for me for its matured taste. Sandwiches form a major part of the menu at this all-day casual dining concept, but my two picks from this section would be the caprese ciabata and The Bean There, an exquisite open sandwich topped with halloumi, moutabel, watercress, mint and chilli.
The mains are great too, but you can’t miss the lone star chili pot and the salmon beurre blanc, a platter of a fresh salmon fillet grilled to perfection and topped with zesty lemon infused white butter sauce.
The highlight though is the pot of deliciously slow cooked Mexican-style minced beef that tastes so good with the fresh baked cornbread it’s served with.
A perfect ending after that, if there is any, should only be with a spongy red velvet cake.
Details:
Meal for two: Dh220
Location: Airport Millennium Hotel, Dubai
Contact: 04-254 3178
We recommend: Bacon wrapped dates,crab cakes, calamari, beet & goat cheese, The Bean There, lone star chili pot
Our ratings (out of 5):
Ambience: 4
Food: 5
Price: 4
Overall: 5