T. L
Google
I’d been looking forward to this visit, and and let me say … it’s exactly the kind of place you want in your back pocket when you’re planning an evening with a few close friends or hoping to impress someone special. For a view without the noisy crowd, try Sunday evenings around 7 PM to watch the city shift from day to night … it’s quietly stunning. 😍
Service was lovely: warm smiles, polished, and genuinely welcoming from entrance to table. I really enjoyed the way our main server presented herself throughout the whole dining experience. ⭐️
The food? A delight. Martín Berasategui’s croquettes were crisp, hot, and beautifully presented. We tried the mixed mushrooms and Spanish squid … I’m already planning to return for the other flavors. The MB salad surprised me in a good way. The fried shrimp lifted it entirely … my tip is to taste it first without, then with the shrimp to really appreciate the difference. The Txangurro Donostiarra (spider crab stew) was rich and full of that classic, salty Basque depth … though it came late in the meal and we were slightly too full to savor it properly. Anchovy fans should try the Marriage for a salty hit.
One miss for me was the Vegetable Tempura with Romesco. At AED 80, it felt uninspired 🤔… a small plate of basic deep-fried veggies that didn’t match the creativity of the other dishes.
If you want the true Basque experience, don’t skip the charcoal-grilled fish of the day and ask for the Martín Berasategui-style Potato Purée. 👍🏻👍🏻
I respect that they make desserts in limited quantities … assuming to reduce waste. The Basque Cheesecake is great if you’re okay with blue cheese notes, while the MB Torrija was soft, balanced, and not overly sweet.
Cocktails were fun: the El Tomato, a clarified twist on a Canadian Caesar 👍🏻 right up my alley, while the Jara Paloma was a touch too boozy for my taste, while Martin’s Cooler was pleasant but didn’t quite stand out.