Authenic Arabic Cuisine 

The Hyatt Regency, Dubai Creek Heights, is to celebrate the Holy Month of Ramadan by hosting an Iftar buffet at its Sufra restaurant. Iftar will be marked with a wide range of Arabic cuisine, and by wide, we mean everything you can think of… and then some. The buffet costs AED 140 including Arabic juices, soft drinks and water. Children between 6 and 12 dine for AED 70 with those under six eating for free.

Food created by chefs hailing from Egypt, Morocco, Lebanon, Syria and Jordan (to name a few) will be available, adding an authentic and traditional touch to everything served. Having native chefs means that every aspect of the buffet feels genuine because of the use of traditional spices and cooking techniques. There will be live cooking stations, so you’ll be able to enjoy freshly made and still sizzling grills. 

What to expect

The selection of starters looked like a feast in itself and there was something for everyone. The buffet was vast and if you like authentic Arabic cuisine, this really is an Iftar you should visit. The colours alone made the food look tempting and the mix-your-own-fattoush station was fun. Huge tagines and platters that we picked food from were a nice touch, different from the normal silver buffet dishes. You’re essentially sharing your food from a huge plate, not unlike the kind of traditional Iftars you’d have at home.

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There were TWENTY items that made up the cold mezze alone, and the ones we tried were lovely. There were live stations for the Whole Lamb Ouzi, Lamb Kofta, Shish Tawouk and Saj. The Tagines (actually presented in tagines!) were gorgeous and the couscous was a delicious mix of sweet and savoury. It was exciting seeing the food being made and dished out in front of us and just enhanced the Middle Eastern vibe. We explored the main courses moving from Syria to Lebanon and then back to Morocco. 

The dessert counter was international but still included the classics. Um Ali and Baklawa sat next to Tiramisu and Cheesecake. It was nice to have freshly made desserts, rather than items you know have been bought in. They rounded off the meal nicely and didn’t disappoint.

Why you should go

The highlight of the whole experience was seeing just how much fun the chefs were having and how seriously they took their food. They took the time to explain what dishes were and would try and tempt us towards their stations and away from others. Cue top banter. It was kind of like being in a souq, except you knew that whatever you picked up would be worth it (and there’s no need to haggle)!

The chef’s enthusiasm was apparent in their preparation and it just went to show that behind the fancy presentation, it’s pure skill and passion that made the Hyatt’s Iftar great.

Hyatt Regency will also offer a Suhoor menu in its @The Living Rooms venue. There will be an extensive a-la-carte menu including Arabic dishes, light snacks, and hot drinks, available from 8:00 PM until 4:00 AM.  Shisha will be served and set menus will be available for groups. The cover charge is AED 20 on weekdays and AED 30 during weekends (Thursday – Saturday).

For reservations, you can call 043172222