"Mezlai, in the opulent Emirates Palace hotel , is designed to look like a Bedouin tent-turned-royal residence. The menu takes traditional Gulf ingredients like za'atar, saffron, and rosewater and whisks them into elegant, upscale renditions. Highlights include couscous with scallops, garlic, and saffron; barley with cardamom and veal; and lamb machboos, a popular Arabian Gulf meat-and-rice dish with onions, turmeric powder, and dried lemon." - Jenna Scatena