St. James Wheelers, DIFC

St. James Wheelers, DIFC

What it looks like: The name of Marco Pierre White on the door may initially attract people to this restaurant, but its food will keep them patronizing. Keep it simple in terms of decoration, classic white linens, marble bar counters, and a tribute to the seafood theme…

What does it look like: The name of Marco Pierre White on the door may attract people to this restaurant at first, but it is the food that keeps them patronizing. The restaurant is kept simple in terms of decoration. The classic white linen, marble bar counter and seafood theme in the wavy ceiling installation create an exquisite atmosphere.

The refreshed summer menu certainly includes a variety of seafood, but there is also a range of meat products to meet the needs of non-fish lovers. I chose grilled quail breast and grilled quail legs with hazelnuts and tender leaves as appetizers-and enjoyed the tender, melt-in-mouth meat. My partner couldn’t resist the pickled burrata and tomato pie that was wiped off in a matter of minutes. For the main course, I chose oven roasted cod with pepper sauce and Grenoble sauce, while he chose corn-fed chicken with creamy cabbage and thyme sauce. We shared both sides of new potatoes with parsley and green beans. The fish is crispy and light, the delicious pepper sauce complements it perfectly, the chicken is juicy and tender, but the most eye-catching is the small potatoes! So delicious, you only know that it is seasonal and fresh, lightly tossed with parsley-I could have eaten it and go home happily! Just to show how delicious simple food is, you can. In fact, I wish I had it because the summer pudding with berries that we shared was fresh, but it was a bit too sour for me. That, and the somewhat intermittent service, will be the only bright spot on my Wheeler radar.

If you want to: A 3-course dinner for two is about AED 600, excluding drinks. Call 04-3860899.

Most suitable: An elegant and relaxing evening

— Sudesna Gosh