2 minute read
Sirali, Habtoor City, Dubai
BACKGROUND One of the city’s latest openings, Turkish restaurant Sirali is situated in the ever-growing Habtoor City, on the Al Habtoor City Boulevard. Launched in March, the Dubai newbie is a rare licensed Turkish restaurant in the city, whereas most are more casual dining a airs.
WHAT’S IT LIKE? Sirali has found the perfect balance of sophisticated/casual – a restaurant where heels and suits are as welcome as jeans and T-shirts. It’s café meets restaurant; the interior has a lush green feel to it and the outdoor terrace, a European/Turkish street-café vibe. It’s sprawling and expansive space, but still feels homely; the kind of place families or groups of friends can hang out for a long lazy lunch or to celebrate a special occasion. The artwork is authentic and gives a real sense of Turkey. Even the porcelain, designed with traditional motifs, is sourced from Turkey.
THE FOOD The menu is vast with a huge array of classic dishes, but with a Sirali twist. Even the simplest dishes like hummous are given a new lease of life. We tried one topped with roasted sesame seeds and pastrami – a delicious and unique take on one of the region’s most loved foods. Also, as a licensed restaurant, Sirali o ers a wide range of Turkish wines, which is a rare treat for wine fans as the grapes from that region having a distinctly di erent taste to their European counterparts and are hard – if not impossible – to come by in the UAE otherwise. To start, the Baharatlı Mersin Patates, a basket of home-made crispy potato chips served with yogurt,
was a great example of how simple can be delicious. The starters alone are a meal in themselves, with classics like stu ed aubergine dolma oozing with flavour and everything served in generous portions. Feta with cashews and roasted chickpeas, as well as the olives salad, were also to die for. Meat lovers will be enamoured by the perfectly marinated cuts. We had the rolle adana (kebab roll) for mains and the cheese and pastrami stu ed kebab rolled with tenderloin, which were both mouthwateringly magnificent.
THE SERVICE Sta are super keen to please and very attentive. Attention to detail, like decanting the wine and an expert sommelier on hand, made it feel like a special experience.
THE WORKSPACE With huge tables, as well as more intimate corners, this is a great spot for a lunch, a meeting or even for team building, as well as a bright, open space to spend some time working.
VERDICT A very welcome addition to the dining scene in Dubai and well located near business hubs such as DIFC and Business Bay. Melanie Swan
HOURS Open daily from 12pm to 1am
LOCATION Habtoor City Boulevard
CONTACT T: +971 58 582 7092/+971 4 456 1760; Instagram: @siralikebapdubai
