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SEA FU AT THE FOUR SEASONS DUBAI

Sea Fu is in a class of it’s own

Definitely a top contender for a Special Occasion restaurant in Dubai, find out what makes Sea Fu a bit classier than some of Dubai’s other top seafood venues. Come with me to Sea Fu at the Four Seasons.

Sea Fu Hall way Four Seasons

The Location of Sea Fu

Sea Fu Dubai is located on the ground floor of the Four Seasons Resort in Jumeirah, Dubai. It’s a beachfront restaurant that has tables both inside and out. The inside dining area constitutes a medium sized elegant space with an open seafood counter where French Vietnamese Chef Pierre Barusta runs an assured and confident kitchen.

Four Seasons Sea Fu Chef Pierre

The Food at Sea Fu

As it’s name suggests Sea Fu is all about sea food. I think Sea Fu stands out because of the skills of the French Vietnamese chef Pierre Barusta. He has managed to combine Dubai’s love of Asian style sea food with a French Haute Cuisine style that’s really evident in a lot of his dishes. Try the humbly named Lobster Macaroni and some of the sashimi that has slightly seared pieces of salmon sitting on top of little mounds of rice. The oysters from Brittany in France really tasted of the sea and made an excellent starter.

Four Seasons Sea Fu Oyster Eye DID 800

The line caught Sea Bass crudo was perfect and is the best carpaccio type fish I have eaten in Dubai so far.   Similarly the soft shell crab with spring onion and honey sauce was generous and perfectly cooked. I urge you to try the potato fondante as a side, forget bread, make this your carb of choice. Deliciously French again but worked brilliantly with the seared black cod and roasted Chilean seabass made with Balquees honey.

Four Seasons Sea Fu Black Cod Miso DID

The Ambience at Sea Fu

Sea Fu isn’t a huge restaurant (about 50 or so people could be seated inside and the same number outside) so the staff are able to make you feel important and special and the service offered is very personal. There was a large, quite dramatic display of vivid purple coloured orchids cascading down a set of vases in the centre of the room which I fell in love with. The ambience is relaxed, classy and elegant without being overbearing or stuffy. The open plan kitchen adds to the restaurants informality that is in complete contrast to it’s food!

Sea Fu Orchids large

Good to Know About Sea Fu

There is an extensive outdoor bar area where you can have a drink before or after dinner and you can sit outside and eat as well. I think this restaurant would have a completely different feel in the day to the evening as you get the spectacular sea views. That said, I think it’s a great choice for a romantic evening out. Sea Fu currently (September 2015) has a Spanish themed Paella based Friday and Saturday brunch that seems excellent value for Dhs 250 considering it includes some Cava, main courses and dessert. Timings from 1pm to 4pm on Fridays and Saturdays. This seems like a perfect way to spend a Saturday afternoon in light of the delicious weather about to descend on Dubai.   Perhaps bank on skipping dinner if you intend doing this brunch!

Room for Improvement at Sea Fu

  • The desserts at Sea Fu that we tried were elegantly constructed but I would have preferred a little less variety on one plate and something more simple. My top dessert is still the Macha caramel at Novikov.
  • The indoor lighting in the evening could have been slightly warmer to make even more of the gorgeous flower arrangements and seaside setting.
  • There is limited choice for vegetarians but the few dishes they had sounded really tempting to me based on the Asian herbs and spices that would be used. But the restaurant is called Sea Fu!

Sea Fu Chocolate Dessert

Prices at Sea Fu

3 spicy tuna maki rolls for Dhs 30 seemed excellent value (ask for the sushi menu) and  all sides including the potato fondante were Dhs 35 (around half the price of some other top seafood places in Dubai!)  the very high quality Sea bass crudo was Dhs 135. Main courses are around Dhs 200 or so.

Four Seasons Sea Fu Close up Spicy Tuna roll DID

Sea Fu is open for  both lunch and dinner and I am very excited to try the Saturday barbecue starting on October 17th but till then try the Paella and Cava brunch for Dhs 250, FAB value I think for a meal at the Four Seasons and food from Chef Pierre Barusta. Maybe you want to stay at the Four Seasons in Dubai, check out if Hotels.Com can give you a deal on a package there. Remember you can earn free nights if you book via them as well.

Would you agree that this a a good choice for a  Special Occasion restaurant in Dubai?

Let me know what you think, maybe I’ll see you at Sea Fu!

Read More : Sea Food Restaurants

Thanks Monica

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NOVIKOV DUBAI

The very trendy Novikov Dubai restaurant has arrived OFFICIALLY OPEN from 29th SEP 2015 

London’s newest import to Dubai, from Russia via Peking, the uber stylish Novikov Dubai  restaurant will be ideal for a special night out. Read on to find out…

Novikov Crab n Avocado salad

The Location of Novikov Dubai

Novikov Dubai is located right next to the Sheraton Grand Hotel on Sheikh Zayed road. It has it’s own valet parking. You enter from the ground floor but the restaurant is reached via an elevator taking you to a higher floor. You will be expected to have made a booking!

The Food at Novikov Dubai

Food at Novikov Dubai is mainly pan Asian cuisine (unlike it’s London counterpart that also has a Mediterranean menu) but ingredients are sourced from all over the world. From Brazilian coconuts to Portuguese shrimp and Japanese Hamachi fish (yellowtail) Signature dishes include the now legendary Black Cod Miso.

Novikov Dubai Vegetables 800

Have a look at the taster video I made from pictures of what we ate there, all made on the imovie application of my Imac!

What should you try at Novikov Dubai?

I recommend you try the Hamachi carpaccio with truffles. We also loved the spicy tuna rolls, razor clams and crab and avocado salad. It was impossible to try all we wanted at to at one session; so we’ll be returning for the duck.

There is a duck salad on the menu that is definitely worth a try (but the portion looked large) as well as the option of having classic Peking Duck with pancakes.

The razor clams from Spain were cooked with garlic and butter but you can choose your style of preparation. The baby squids chiperones were the best I have eaten outside of Spain.

If you have a sweet tooth then I recommend the gorgeously creamy macha caramel with the side of guava sorbet, not icy or watery but a perfectly tart accompaniment to the smooth caramel. The caramel isn’t eggy at all, it’s more like a mousse. The chocolate lattice (I think) on the side made this one of my top Dubai desserts.

Novikov macha caramel dessert 800

The Ambience at Novikov Dubai

There is a definite red and black type colour scheme running through the restaurant and spherical red lanterns with cut out shades are clustered on the ceiling for lights. A large trough of orchids (fresh I think) act as a partial room divider and you will see plenty of driftwood pieces decorating the entrance lobby and hallway to the Novikov Dubai.

Novikov Dubai nights lanterns

It’s fairly dark as opposed to light and bright but we were able to read the menus without asking for a torch! You can opt to sit in the bar lounge area or the restaurant proper, but there is not as yet a non smoking section in the lounge bar.

Unlike Tre at Robertos further down Sheikh Zayed road which sits on 3 floors, Novikov is on one level. We were told that the guests so far were mainy locals from GCC countries, Moroccans and of course Russians! We visited on a Sunday evening and the restaurant was almost full!

Please note that there are no starched white linen table cloths or silver cutlery on the tables. The look is more clubby, contemporary.

The Prices at Novikov Dubai

The prices at Novikov reflect it’s high end food offerings and the very successful international branding it is has built up. But it’s not the most expensive restaurant in Dubai whilst the excellent spicy tuna maki rolls are priced at Dhs 80 for 5 pieces.

There are also some house wines available at Dhs 50 a glass. That said the black cod miso is Dhs 220  which is around the same price as it is in London. I thought at Dhs 125 the hamachi carpaccio was well worth it. That said I haven’t as yet tried the home grown brand of Sea Fu at the Four Seasons hotel whose menu also has some incredible seafood items on it.

Food news Novikov Sushi

Areas where Improvement may be taken on board at Novikov Dubai

Give diners the option of having a quarter or half duck with pancakes please! At Dhs 250 for 8 to 10 pancakes or nothing, it would be difficult to try many other dishes if we selected the duck.

Slightly larger tables for 2 please! With wine glasses, water glasses, 2 to 3 food items and chopsticks can mean there is a serious risk of something flying off the table!

Food News Novikov Duck

Good to know about Novikov Dubai

At the time of writing the review (20th September 2015) Novikov had still not officially opened although it’s perfectly possible for you book a table and dine there. It’s supposed to officially open at the end of September 2015.

We were informed that they were currently waiting for 15 more Japanese kitchen staff to deal with the unprecedented demand! A great situation for a Dubai restaurant to be in. Definitely a contender for any special occasion in our family. Not yet open for lunch.

There is a large Market Place section that has a lot of fresh food on display  that includes vegetables and fruit as well as fresh fish. Apparently some people do their grocery shopping from here!

Novikov Fresh fish

If you liked this review and found it helpful then please share it, like DoinDubai on Facebook and tell me where you would choose for a special occasion meal in Dubai? Sea Fu at the Four Seasons Dubai review coming soon.

Read More :  Sea Food Restaurants 

Thanks Monica

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