Souk Al Bahar

We were trying to find a good time to try this new Lebanese restaurant. Zahr El Laymoun is oriental kitchen and grill café that offers simple grilled, baked and healthy Lebanese cuisine.
I really liked the restaurant concept of providing nice calm simple interior along with lots of healthy items that could satisfy variety of choices. Actually, Zahr El Laymoun (try saying that five times fast) goes further; the patio overlooks the Address Old Town and the soothing, shimmering moat that surrounds it. It may be the most relaxed spot in Dubai. Add sweet, knowledgeable waiting staff plus a healthy Lebanese menu (not a single thing is fried), and you have a seemingly ideal spot for a lazy weekend meal.
There is something to be said for Lebanese done light. Often it’s almost impossible to leave a Lebanese meal feeling anything other than extremely heavy and unpleasantly bloated. Not the case at Zahr El-Laymoun, where kibbeh comes grilled, fattoush is topped with toasted pitta and mixed grills are adorned with roasted veggies and a baked potato. At times, it is a most welcome change but sometimes the lighter approach doesn’t quite work. Such was the case with the fattoush, which came doused in pomegranate molasses and vinegar, and which was far too sharp as a result. Makanek was given a similar treatment. Though these Lebanese sausages are typically served in an oil bath, here they came in a sweet, tart puddle of that same molasses. While the sausages themselves were plump and dense, the sauce absolutely overwhelmed them.

Kibbeh were different than the typical deep-fried meatballs; the meat was not coated in a wheat crust, but rather formed into flat patties and stuffed. My date and I tried the labneh-filled and tabbouleh-filled versions. Usually, there isn’t enough space on the page to contain the amount of ‘mmmmmmm’ that comes out of my mouth when biting into a truly glorious take on fried kibbeh. These kibbeh earned three ‘m’s by comparison. They were pleasant, but not overly inspiring.
There were two particular areas where the cuisine sung at Zahr El Laymoun: the juices, and the kebabs. My glass of thyme lemonade was blissful – it was a sharp drink, packed full of flavour and sunshine, perfect for a warm day such as this and the kind of beverage that could easily induce a nostalgic trance.

Moutabel

Grilled Haloumi Cheese

For those looking to lighten their load, Zahr El Laymoun has much to offer: a beautiful setting, healthy food and a generally warm vibe. But even the most avid health nuts should anticipate a slightly hit-or-miss menu, unless they stick to the grilled meats.

Location: Souk Al Bahar, Downtown Burj Khalifa, Dubai
Tel: 04 448 6060
Travel: Al Doha Street