Expanding at Elia

Elia, Dubai, Cuisine: Greek

Posted on June 29th, 2010 by Hisham Wyne

In strange environs is great food found. The Majestic Hotel, slouching next to the Standard Chartered Bank building in Bur Dubai, houses a brilliant Greek restaurant, Elia. I’d heard great things about it, and was raring to try it out for myself. I’d been to the same hotel just the day prior, but to review the rather more earthy Music Room on the ground floor.

I was supposed to be joined by company – Sami and Habib, winners of the 104.8 Channel Four Food Explorer competition. It turns out that the UAE Food Explorer were engaging in not-so-gentle leg pulling, for I was confronted by Samy (female) plus friend from Iceland. Not that I have much against male company, but it was at that juncture the evening took even more of an upturn.

Eli has an indoor area, plus an outdoors. But even the outdoors is ensconced in a wooden cabin, with hearty air conditioning. The only difference is the outdoor area allows smoking – a convenient loophole we were much enamoured by.

But onto the food at hand. We decided to go the smorgasbord way, where everyone ordered different dishes and shared them around. Eventually, mussel kefta, potato salad, and grilled calamari made its way to our table. On mutual sharing, it was decided that all three were brilliant.

With stomachs bordering on the full, we nevertheless decided on the chocolate fondant was suitable for dessert. And it was utterly sublime, served in two cups – one for the vanilla ice cream, and the other for the molten chocolate. While negotiating between the two in the throes of gluttony can be a messy task, it was nevertheless utterly fulfilling. Though to be honest, I rather suspect the fondant at Zuma narrowly edges the Elia version. But that’s a bar placed high.

A good meal, and with good conversation. Elia is a place that certainly merits a second visit. It even has a decent wine selection, and offers food that is good without breaking the bank. Strongly recommended.

So, if you’ve eaten there, what’s your favourite thing on the menu? Apart from the conversation, I mean.