Surprisingly good iftar at an affordable price

  DUBAI – I had a guest transiting through Dubai the other day and since it was too hot to let her go on a desert safari, I took her to experience something that was still traditional but more enjoyable, particularly to the palate: iftar. So off we went to Loumi, the all-day dining restaurant at Millennium Airport Hotel. The concierge at the valet parking was alert as soon as our car pulled up at the entrance, so we didn’t spend too long out in the hot and humid evening and were already at the reception desk in no time. I had already made reservations for three people, so the smiling head waitress led us to our table in a corner. I loved the vibe here. The restaurant was fully booked, but not uncomfortably crowded. To our left was an Emirati couple, while at a long table sat a group of people in office attire—presumably there for corporate iftar. An Indian family at the next table was already eating with gusto. Our group started with dates and water served at the table. “Did you know that according to tradition, you’re only supposed to eat one date, but that if you want more, you’d have to eat three, or five… as long as it’s an odd number,” I told my companions. “I’ll keep that in mind,” my guest said thoughtfully. “May I offer you anything to drink?” the smiling waitress asked our group, “if you like, there’s also a selection of Ramadan refreshments over at the buffet”. We ordered some soft drinks and were quickly off to check out the iftar spread. The buffet that greeted us was more than what I expected for Dh149. The food presentation was really good, with hot food neatly served on chafing dishes on top of display tables fitted with electric hot plates. loumi restaurant, millennium airport hotel There’s something here for everyone—from starters to desserts—and you can tell that a lot of thought and effort went to create this wonderful spread. In one section were platters of delicious prawns, mussels, sushi, cold cuts and cheese. At another section were Arabic starters, including my favourites moutabel, baba ghanoush and some pickled vegetables. There was also a whole section of bread, some health shots, a live cooking station for meats and grills, a shawarma station, pasta and an array of Middle Eastern, Asian and International cuisine. While my guest opted for the more familiar chicken and noodle soup, I started with a deliciously smooth and flavourful lentil soup, which I quickly followed with a plate of cold cuts and cheese. The meat lover in me was already dancing in delight. I also tried some penne pasta in creamy sauce and some minced meats hot off the grill. Delicious! I could not skip the lamb ouzi, which was served separate from the flavourful yellow rice. After I told the chef to give me a smaller serving so I’d still have more room to try the rest of the items in the buffet, he gave me the “tender meat parts” that I liked, along with a scoop of rice and a dollop of yogurt on top. Super delicious! The dessert station was just as varied, with some Asian, Arabic and International sweets. My companions went for a sugar rush with some jalebis, kaju katlis and cakes. The fresh slices of fruits, macaroons and Arabic sweets beckoned, but I only had eyes for warm and smooth um ali—my all-time favourite. desserts at loumi restaurant, millennium airport hotel

RATINGS

Taste: 4.5/5 Presentation: 4.5/5 Quantity: 4/5 Price: 5/5 Service: 4.5/5 Verdict: Delicious and value for money

THE DETAILS

Price: Dh149 per person, including soft beverages Location: Airport Road, Casablanca Street, Al Garhoud, PO Box 13018 Dubai, United Arab Emirates Timings: 6 a.m. until 12 a.m. Telephone: +971 4 702 8822 Email: dining.mahd@millenniumhotels.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