Zaroob, Dubai
If you have been to a new city/country, and you haven't really tried their cuisine, why have you even bothered to travel there. It is one of the things that I personally would regret. And hence, this trip would have been incomplete without one. Though technically, I have had the local cuisine before. Not everything but the staple shawarmas, machboos, the grills etc. And honestly, that was what I was expecting when I was taken to this place. Turns out there is much more to the Arabic cusine than what I had known all my life. The names I didn't even recognize and seemed so foreign.
The place even though had walls all around, yet gave the vibe of an open air restaurant, like you might as well be sitting in a garden under a starry night sky. Maybe, something to do with the entrance which was open rather than the typical fancy fine dine type large doors (for lack of better words to describe this in). Also, the color green, plants everywhere and the wooden picnic type seating. It won me over in terms of ambiance. The best I have been to in whatever little I saw of in Dubai.
I had left the order placement to my friend who apparently has more knowledge about Arabic cuisine than me (Disappointed me. I happen to love Arabic cuisine more and my one opportunity to show off was taken away from me. In my defense, they have been here before unlike me! 
) Also, we went a little overboard with the no. of items we ordered and I knew this even when we were placing the order because, we ended up canceling two items in the end I think, after 2 courses. The final order consisted of Hummus, saj o saj zatar, Fateer (with kraft & honey), sammoun (sandwich with chicken and garlic) & the Koshari. My favorite of the lot had to be the Koshari, which is an Egyptian delicacy made up of layers of rice, lentils, macaroni, spaghetti, some tomato sauce (not ketchup) and some chili sauce, fried onions (what we would call the Biryan) on the side. I have never had rice and noodles together before, but boy! did it work well! I actually like how the arabic cuisine is non-spicy yet so flavorful. Though I do love my spices as well! The second in line would be the Hummus, because well, this was the only otherwise thing I recognize and have grown up on. I have also realized that this is something that you develop a taste for over time. Most of my friends take an instant liking to Shawarmas and Tahina but not so quickly to the Hummus. Then would be the Fateer. this we had actually landed up taking as a take-away and I wish I had had the appetite to have it then rather than later. It would have tasted so much better. Khuboos filled with kraft cheese and topped with honey served Hot. I kind of regret not having it hot now. Then would be the Saj-o-saj zatar. I really don't know what kind of bread would this be (reminded me quite a lot of the dosa! )only this was smeared with Zatar, labneh and some veggies. I don't know what zatar is made of (and I am too lazy to google 
but I like it better on khuboos or the pizza kind of bread I have been accustomed to till now). Also, I enjoy vegetarian food but somethings just taste so much better with some chicken added to the mix. This to me was one of those things. (I don't eat a vegetable sandwich which only has lettuce, tomatoes and cucumber. Don't judge me! 
). The last was the sammoun which is nothing but a localized version of the sandwich (You eat cheese chilli toast, you get chicken mayyonaise sandwiches and what not just as easily in every nook and corner in the gulf and hence) Though I would generally say sandwich for the win, because I love the local sandwiches like most Indians do their vada pav (And here, I am a little pardesi because I want my chicken burgers and sandwiches). But, I didn't actually end up trying this because I was too full by this time and had also stuffed myself with the fries (These, now were on point!) served on the side. Though the quantity spelled more than just "side". I actually paired these with the Hummus. You can eat anything with Hummus. Hummus is Love. Oh, yeah, the sandwich, the bread apparently, as told by my friend, didn't really feel fresh and over all there are better sandwiches around. Downed all of this with a 7-UP on the side.
) Also, we went a little overboard with the no. of items we ordered and I knew this even when we were placing the order because, we ended up canceling two items in the end I think, after 2 courses. The final order consisted of Hummus, saj o saj zatar, Fateer (with kraft & honey), sammoun (sandwich with chicken and garlic) & the Koshari. My favorite of the lot had to be the Koshari, which is an Egyptian delicacy made up of layers of rice, lentils, macaroni, spaghetti, some tomato sauce (not ketchup) and some chili sauce, fried onions (what we would call the Biryan) on the side. I have never had rice and noodles together before, but boy! did it work well! I actually like how the arabic cuisine is non-spicy yet so flavorful. Though I do love my spices as well! The second in line would be the Hummus, because well, this was the only otherwise thing I recognize and have grown up on. I have also realized that this is something that you develop a taste for over time. Most of my friends take an instant liking to Shawarmas and Tahina but not so quickly to the Hummus. Then would be the Fateer. this we had actually landed up taking as a take-away and I wish I had had the appetite to have it then rather than later. It would have tasted so much better. Khuboos filled with kraft cheese and topped with honey served Hot. I kind of regret not having it hot now. Then would be the Saj-o-saj zatar. I really don't know what kind of bread would this be (reminded me quite a lot of the dosa! )only this was smeared with Zatar, labneh and some veggies. I don't know what zatar is made of (and I am too lazy to google but I like it better on khuboos or the pizza kind of bread I have been accustomed to till now). Also, I enjoy vegetarian food but somethings just taste so much better with some chicken added to the mix. This to me was one of those things. (I don't eat a vegetable sandwich which only has lettuce, tomatoes and cucumber. Don't judge me! ). The last was the sammoun which is nothing but a localized version of the sandwich (You eat cheese chilli toast, you get chicken mayyonaise sandwiches and what not just as easily in every nook and corner in the gulf and hence) Though I would generally say sandwich for the win, because I love the local sandwiches like most Indians do their vada pav (And here, I am a little pardesi because I want my chicken burgers and sandwiches). But, I didn't actually end up trying this because I was too full by this time and had also stuffed myself with the fries (These, now were on point!) served on the side. Though the quantity spelled more than just "side". I actually paired these with the Hummus. You can eat anything with Hummus. Hummus is Love. Oh, yeah, the sandwich, the bread apparently, as told by my friend, didn't really feel fresh and over all there are better sandwiches around. Downed all of this with a 7-UP on the side. I might be back in the Bay (Bombay) but my heart seems to have taken residence elsewhere.
WHAT WE HAD - Koshari (How I miss you!)
Hummus (The staple! Yumness)
Fateer (Best when had hot, Yumness)
Saj-O-Saj Zatar (I Insist on the chicken feeling)
Sammoun (Avoidable)
DAMAGES - AED 125-150
WHERE - Zaroob Restaurant. ,Shop 1, Jumeirah Tower Building, Sheikh Zayed Road, Trade Center Aria, Dubai
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