Ravi Restaurant Dubai Satwa

Ravi restaurant in Dubai Satwa is somewhat something special. They have quite some accolades, won a lot of awards in TimeOut under the "cheap eats category" [what ever they call it].

Are the awards justified - or do we have another venue, which is overrated? I went there to find out.

You can directly see, how successful "Ravi" became - as three venues, are situated side by side. All called Ravi [restaurant, palace and another one, I forgot]. Inside these venues are looking like most cafeteria styled restaurants. White tiles, not very luxurious or styled.

Outside, tables are situated on the sidewalk. The tables are stainless steel - another proof, of their success. I don't really remember the chair - only, that it was not the usual flimsy plastic chair, you have in most other places. Off course Satwa is a busy place with heavy traffic - hence you shouldn't be afraid of some exhaust gases...

I sat down, asked for a menu [felt a bit funny - do you ask in such a den for a menu?]. I was presented the takeout menu. I thought a good idea was to take chicken and some vegetarian fare.
Mentionable was, that my waiter sat before on a chair close to the entrance massaging his sandaled foot. After that, he didn't showed any arrangements to wash his hands and serviced me with feet-flavored hands… anyway the hand wash basin situated to the restrooms didn't made a great impression on me- so either way, I would not have the ease of mind I wished [in a hygienic way].
It also has to be mentioned, that the salt and pepper shaker were not only totally dented [the top of it] - but it was really dirty - and my professional me ordered myself to clean it by my self.

Anyway - after quite some time, a plate with onions, fine sliced lettuce, tomato and cucumber came to my table, with half a small Indian lime accompanied by a really puffy soft flatbread. The bread was totally amazing - soft and freshly baked. There were also a small bowl of yoghurt cucumber raita - which was quite watery.
Shortly after this "appetizer" came the ordered dishes.
The vegetable tikka [don't anymore the exact name] was ok. For me it was tasting like "mushed Indian vegetables" grilled on a stick and slathered in green sauce [this is exactly what it was]. I was not a big fan of it - but truth has to be told: there are very few vegetarian dishes, which are impressing me.

The chicken boti was a whole different dimension. Golden brown outside and really soft and perfectly cooked inside, it was besides of the bread the highlight of my visit. The sauce, which came with the chicken boti was a thin chili scented sauce, which was nice, to put your bread wrapped chicken in. It had a nice spicy bite - but wasn't really to write home about.

This was about it. Overall you can say, that Ravi restaurant knows how to prepare their proteins and have one of the best flat breads I have encountered in the UAE. Both the chicken and the bread, would anytime bring me back to this place.  However I am very concerned about their hygienic standards. And I have also experienced much much better service [if you are comparing these kind of restaurants, the service is on par with other places - but usually in good cafeterias, you have more really nice and smiley waiters, which I could not find in Ravi [but maybe I was unlucky and just happened to be served by a not so attentive waiter].

WOW or MEH:                  Wow minus
Ambiance:                          3
Value for Money [1-10]:     7
Deliciousness [1-10]:          8
Staff Helpfulness [1-10]:    3
Going back:                         For sure
Overall Score:                      6

Short review - Shawarma at MoMo - Dubai Satwa

Just a short one. MoMo is not a unknown restaurant for me. I have had numerous time a shawarma there. And it was always delicious. Then I went with my better part Sarah to have a proper meal. Very inexpensive - but the items where rather hit and miss.

Yesterday I went again to the Iranian venue - for two chicken shawarmas take away.

Absolutely delicious. I never had a better shawarma anywhere [and the best thing - they are totally consistent with that].
There secret: they dump the outside of the filled bread in a bit of the fat which came out of the meat and then they are toasting it in a sandwich press. Utterly yummy!

The only let down - I guess they are so popular, that they are portioning your pickles to one piece each - carrot [not a whole carrot, duh - just one small piece], one piece of cucumber and one green pickled pepper. Yes - thats it. The pickles themselves taste good - not the best pickles I ever had, but tasted self-made and more than adequate.

Service is also a bit "different". The Pinoy cashier wasn't particular friendly, just took my money, gave me the ticket and gesticulated me to next door, where the "kitchen" is located. The Arabic cooks are at least smiley and funny.

The overall looks of the place is also not really worth a candlelight dinner.
But they focus on takeaway - and while shawarma is not particular romantic food, you can dress up your home with a lot of candles [and make it otherwise dark] that only the tastebuds sing their song of romance…

WOW or MEH:                  Wow
Ambiance:                          2
Value for Money [1-10]:     7
Deliciousness [1-10]:          8
Staff Helpfulness [1-10]:    3
Going back:                         Definitely
Overall Score:                      7

The rating is for the shawarma only. The other food items are solid but rather a hit and miss and not as delicious as their lamb or chicken shawarmas. Definitely take it out and ask for extra pickles!

Amazonas, Mushrif Mall, Abu Dhabi

My visit happened already a couple of weeks ago. I directly posted my experience on yadig.com [think Middle Eastern yelp] - but then was too busy and lazy to put it here.

Amazonas offers [as the name suggest] South American cuisine. I think it is especially Ecuadorian and Columbian cuisine - but I am no more sure.

Anyway the Mushrif mall offers quite  a lot of dining options - especially in the food court. And every shack is more colorful and polished looking than the other. Not so much Amazonas - it looks rather like a cheap cafeteria - don't get me wrong  - it is clean and all, but it just doesn't give you a lot of confidence.
I think, the manager was behind the counter - and he was very friendly and helpful. I opted for the pulled beef arepa and a shredded chicken empanada. The manager gave me some lemon soured sugar cane juice to try, but as it was luke warm [I think this was the only downside of my experience - except off course the design] I rather went for a commercial soft drink.

The food took a while - maybe a bit longer than the spoiled fast food person. But when I got my food, it was hot and freshly prepared.

At Amazonas the arepa was not as filled - but still very tasty.

The arepa [kind of a sandwich] had a very nice, fluffy but also crisp exterior. The meat was nicely seasoned - and as I ordered it - pulled. The meat was a bit dry… but the package was definitely really yummy.






The empanada was different, as I got to knew it from Argentina. In fact, it was a completely different dough. But anyway - it was totally delicious!
Again outside crisp and inside soft [though a completely different texture than the arepa], properly seasoned.
Unfortunately the chicken was also a bit dry.

But here is the thing: it really felt and tasted as home cooking. And while home cooking is sometimes not perfect in technique it makes up in love. And this is the point in Amazonas - it really taste as the chef made it with love and as the recipe where developed with love.

And while it is the maybe ugliest stand in the food court, I would definitely pick it as the best! Unfortunately most people will overlook it, as the other restaurants look much better, more flashy, better designed…
But if you really like to have good food, turn to Amazonas. And fill out [like me] a comment card, with the request, that they should redesign the looks of the stand - but keep the love and the tasty food!

WOW or MEH:                  Wow
Ambiance:                          3
Value for Money [1-10]:     7
Deliciousness [1-10]:          8
Staff Helpfulness [1-10]:    8
Going back:                         Definitely
Overall Score:                      7

Taza, Dubai Satwa

Hi Pals - I had the last couple of days several food encounters. Lets see, how well they fared.

Taza, Dubai Satwa

Taza looks quite good. In an area, where you can find either way rather not designed cafeterias and your usual chain restaurants [McD, KFC etc], it looks modern, clean and well a bit like an unknown chain restaurant.

The menu combines some Arabic items [e.g. salads like fatoush or kebab sandwiches], some Asian snacks [e.g. satay], normal fast food staples [fried chicken pieces] and so on.

The restaurant is quite big and it was well received, when I went there.

The staff is friendly and jovial. I asked the guy at the counter, if the satays are good - he was shrugging shortly but then smiled and said "off course" [maybe I should have interpreted this situation better?!].

I had the kebab sandwich menu [one Pepsi drink, two kebab sandwiches and French fries] and one portion bbq satays.

First to the good point: The French fries were as good, frozen industrial produced fries could be! crisp but not hard, soft but not limp, perfectly salted. Nice.
And - the packaging is whimsical as practical; and looks very professional. The staff is also friendly.

But: I first of all "dig" into the kebab sandwiches. Again - nice presentation - and the arabic bread was really cool "rolled" and crisp. Biting into it, all hopes were gone. Grey meat, not grilled at all [it looked as it would have been steamed]. The texture quite rubbery. Awful - cannot remember, the last time I put something worse in my mouth. There was some vegetable [tomato, cucumber and salad] in the sandwich - not enough to make the sad meat sing. And the hummus just worsen the experience, as its gritty, pasty texture made things from bad to worse.

The satay? Please don't ask! Again really cool packaging in a small "thermo" aluminum lined paper pocket. But out came slightly browned, irregular skewers of chicken.
They were browned, but looked everything but properly grilled. The meat was chewy, this time totally dry and seemed again to be steamed rather than grilled. The peanut sauce was chunky, quite unimpressive but also not repulsive like the satay meat.

I hate to waste food, but I didn't finished half of my portion [despite, that I had a healthy appetite]. This doesn't happen often.

WOW or MEH:                  Meh
Ambiance:                          6
Value for Money [1-10]:     1
Deliciousness [1-10]:         1
Staff Helpfulness [1-10]:    5
Going back:                        definitely not
Overall Score:                    3

Categories are scored from 1 to 10 - 1 being totally inedible and 10 being the best, what you could put between your teeth].

Sorry - but whimsical design and thoughtful packaging doesn't make up for bad food. I guess, I would not even have worse food in almost any cheap cafeteria. Please don't go.

Very near is the Ravi restaurant, which got the best scores in this category of restaurant. I will very soon go and will let you know, if the hype is justified.