I remember Muhanna Damascus to make the tastiest Baraze2 one can ever have, along side a selection of sweets my parents always got with them when they visited the Syrian capital. Al Muhanna is now open in Dubai on Sheikh Zayed road offering a selection of Syrian specialties in an oriental upscale ambiance.
The menu, printed on thick paper and set on a wooden board proposes a selection of local specialties. salads, soups, cold appetizers, from the kebbeh juren, hot appetizers, fatteh, shamyiat, the grill and desserts.
The place is simple, set under a high blue ceiling; you can feel the light oriental notes. Yellow lights pend from the ceiling, wood designs decorate the walls and square tables surrounded by blue sofas fill the space. Oriental music plays in be background.
Lunch starts by a plate of nibbles. Very dark black olive tapenade, tomato sauce and sour cream served with toasted bread fingers. A delicious non-garlic tapenade, crunchy bread and the other sauces. A good first impression...
Food is very good!
- Harak Asbao is a mix of crunchy fried bread balls mixed with lentils in lemony juice, slowly cooked with pomegranate molasses and piled high with fried onions and fresh coriander. A superb combination of super tender lentils, crunchy balls, enjoyable onions and fresh pomegranate.
- Stuffed grapevine leaves are totally different than the ones we know in Lebanon. The leaves are thicker, it’s sweeter, a bit more acidic but interesting.
- Beetroot moutabbal is also different if I may compare but again very good! Beetroot mashed to perfection in a puree style served with tahina on a rectangular plate.
- Mouhammara has a certain class to it, lightly sweet, smoothly spicy… it's a beautifully mashed and mixed with pomegranate molasses. Yummy!
- Eggplant fattoush made of fried eggplant, tomato cubes, onions, crispy fried bread, sumac and red vinegar. Cubes of eggplant mixed in their sauce and fresh tomatoes. A very interesting kind of Fattouch which I recommend you try.
- The Fattet Makdous is to die for! Balls of eggplants, thin and light eggplants stuffed with minced lamb meat served on toasted bread with tomato sauce and tasty at sauce combined. Oh so delightful, the Laban quality, the tomato sauce acidity, the meat taste, the eggplant flavor... Two thumbs up for this unique dish.
- Well cooked moudardara, rice and lentils with fried onions.
- Very good tabbouleh, very good hummus, perfect quality of meat, delicious taste and beautifully presented plates.
- Try the spicy kebbeh, red colored, spicy, flavorful and stuffed with tender lamb meat. Pomegranate adds the touch of finesse needed.
- Finally the hot main dish, the freekeh, green colored freekeh that's lightly smoked served with tender meat chunks like butter. A delicious plate I would recommend to my friends.
When I thought I was impressed enough, we were offered dessert. What a dessert! A one of a kind Knefeh made of melted cheese and a layer of tender flour mixed with turmeric; lightly sweet the knefeh is enjoyed without a bun, as fine as it can be.
Then comes a ball of crunchy vermicelli wrapped around Kashta ice cream flavored with rose water. Crunchy esmalliyeh and premium ice cream made with mastika. Excellent!
Halawat et Riz with Kashta is as good as it should be. Congratulations on desserts made in Dubai that put a smile on my face.
30$/person worth every penny and today desserts were offered.
Delicious food and much more. I was impressed by the quality and taste, by the service and presentation. Recommended for sure, a restaurant I'll talk about to my friends and will visit back soon.
