Mayrig – Downtown Dubai – Iftar Buffet – Dhs 140

After being at many arabic buffets this ramadan I finally am in a restaurant that served me arabic with a different taste. Mayrig, an armenian restaurant that serves popular armenian cuisine along with influences from lebanese and Mediterranean cuisines. It was a wonderful experience. Actually I thought very few people knew about this restaurant but the day I was in for Iftar, it was running at 90% capacity. Such was the demand for their cuisine and after having my Iftar I am not surprised that I want to come back here for more.

We made a reservation before we went to the restaurant so as soon as we got in the restaurant, our table was all ready with Iftar starters. The interiors very much stuck to their tradition with distinct pillars, colorful wall and lights. Once we sat they asked what ramdan drinks(laban, qamaradeen and jallab) we preferred. This was the day I had jallab the most. I probably would have had alteast 3 glasses of their Jallab as it was well made. This was the first Iftar in a restaurant that I comfortably sat through out my Iftar hour without having to get up frequently to fill up my plate. Everything was brought to our table one by one as we finished. As I’ve never been through their menu before, it was quite exciting anticipating each of their upcoming dish.The servers have been very kind describing each dish to me.

Their starters and appetizers were the catchy ones on their Iftar menu. We could select either of the 2 soups which was vegetable and lentil soup. Surprisingly I enjoyed their vegetable soup more than their lentil soup. They make excellent tasting vine leaves. If you are one of those who don’t enjoy vine leaves then maybe you should come here and try this one. The lentil kebbe was an interesting one too. They had some aremnian specials like the aremnian tabouleh or the kebabs with egg plant on it which was different and tasted great. It surely is some good healthy food and felt great in the stomach.

My children enjoyed their Keufteh very much. The layered pastry stuffed with cheese was easy to eat and nicely presented. There is no arabic without cheese I guess 😉 There was also something called spicy potatoes which was pretty good but I generally try to avoid potatoes.

Then came their maincourse. The kebab with wild cherries surely stole the show. I am not a big fan of cherries but I did make sure I completed the kebab in it 😀 I preferred the rice that came along with shrimps which was on a bed of little vegetables. In short I felt there wasn’t much spice in their food and me being an Indian I am  a die hard fan of spicy food. So to me it was a little too blank in flavour but surely it’s very healthy and great feeling. The meat brochettes was well done and very tender.

Their Ashtalieh Ice cream was freshly made in house and tasted great! but their pastry which was filled with ashta didn’t reach up to it’s killer looks. The pastry skin felt a little dead to me. Maybe it was the sugar syrup on it that kills it but the inner ashta was delicious.

It’s been a wonderful Iftar at Mayrig and surely a restaurant that you must try if you generally enjoy arabic food. To view pictures in full screen view click on any pictures below.