The Setting
Tucked away in Uptown Dubai, a neighbourhood that still flies under the radar, it’s far enough from the city’s typical sprawl to feel like a proper evening out, without the hassle.
It’s an inviting space, with just the right amount of atmosphere to make it feel like you’re somewhere special.
Clean-lined interiors, softened by warm lighting and the quiet theatre of an open kitchen serving the kind of dinner that pulls you in from the first bite and doesn’t let up until the last spoonful of dessert.
A special nod to the service, which was attentive from start to finish and made the experience genuinely engaging.
The Starters
The meal began with a generous parade of cold and warm starters, zucchini fritters with tzatziki, watercress laced with yoghurt and olive oil, Girit Ezme with cheese and pistachio, a smoky eggplant dip, a garden salad, mashed potatoes, and a spicy tuna roll.
Everything landed on the table at once and we dove straight in.
The zucchini fritters were a standout, crisp on the outside, soft inside, and perfectly paired with the sharpness of the tzatziki.
The eggplant had a deep smoky char to it, and the cheese-pistachio spread was bright, perfectly nutty, salty, and quite addictive.
Even the salad, which I fully expected to ignore, was sharp and herbaceous with enough kick to make it worthwhile. We didn’t pace ourselves, and we paid for it later, but it was hard to stop.
Every dish held its own. We had to remind ourselves to pause constantly, there was more to come.
The Mains
When the mains arrived, we were pretty stuffed but they were too good to ignore.
The seabass was simple but oh so flavourful, with a crisp golden skin, tender on the inside, and perfectly seasoned.
Accompanied by seafood risotto, which was the heavier of the two, but handled well.
Very rich but not heavy. Built on a lobster bisque and with generous pieces of prawns, calamari and clams folded through, finished with parmesan and basil.
As a certified fan of seafood, Sur has my absolute stamp of approval. I cannot recommend the place enough for seafood enthusiasts.
The Dessert
We were full! Properly and completely full but when the raspberry panna cotta arrived, we somehow found room to polish off the whole thing in mere seconds.
I can firmly say I’ve tasted very few desserts that come close to this level of perfection. It was creamy, tart, lightly sweet, and impossibly light.
The Rooftop
Post-dinner, we made our way upstairs to the rooftop bar. Just two floors above, the mood shifts. There’s live music, a little more buzz, and the kind of easygoing energy that makes it a perfect segue if you’re not quite ready to call it a night.
The Verdict
Sur doesn’t oversell itself, and it doesn’t need to. It delivers confident food in a space that feels elegant without being overtly showy. The flavours are bold, the ingredients are treated with respect, and the exceptional service brings it all together.
It’s already on my list of places to return to. Not because I didn’t try enough the first time, but because it’s the kind of restaurant that earns a second round. And maybe a third and a fourth.
