Zest, One & Only The Palm, Dubai

Zest is the last of the culinary concepts at One & Only The Palm, its all-day restaurant that serves international cuisine. We had several of our meals here, most of which were excellent, with only a couple of so-so dishes.

Always ask for the Daily Chef's Special, as our Lunch Special recommendation of Seared Tiger Prawns (180AED = S$66) with sunchoke puree and grilled root vegetables turned out stellar. These shellfish were plump and springy and swimmingly fresh.

We weren't expecting much of the Mushroom Risotto (120AED = S$44) because you know, Italian food in the Middle East??? However, this panned out commendably, with a lovely rounded base lightened by fresh chives, and mushrooms aplenty.

The Chicken Milanese (150AED = S$55) drizzled with a spiced tomato sauce, and balanced by a piquant olive and rocket salad. The chicken was properly flattened but retained a tender lushness.

Dinners were served with a trio of amuse bouche: vine cherry tomatoes, wasabi mayo, and sesame sticks.

The Zest Mixed Seafood (180AED = S$66) a melange of scallop, prawn, seabream, calamari, all beautifully charred, and slathered in a chunky harra sauce, was a must-try for dinner.

The perfectly seared Sea Bream 'Sayadiyah' Style (180AED = S$66) was topped with caramelised onions and layered on top a fragrant saffron-spiked Arabic risotto.

Skip the Beef Lahem Meshwi (140AED = S$51) cooked with a kash kash sauce dotted with coloured peppers, and accompanied by lamb Ara'yes. It was gamey and insipid.

Freshly baked crusty bread, a standard complimentary filler that arrived shortly after orders were taken. Ask for olive oil should you be so inclined, instead of the standard butter.

The restaurant, an opulent but never garish Moorish-styled setting.



Zest
One & Only The Palm
Dubai
Website

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