No, it’s not Italian.
Having grown up in the UAE, the Caesar’s brand is synonymous to my childhood – their cakes, snacks and of course, and of course, their food, although they’ve ventured into very different types of cuisine ever since. They now offer Persian food in addition to the traditionally provided Indian, (Indo-) Chinese and sizzlers.
The place hasn’t changed much in terms of ambience and service, but that’s not a bad thing at all. I’ve been to the Raha branch only a couple times, and it’s never been too busy, probably because it’s tucked away in the back corner of the mall. Walked in for dinner with a friend last night, in the mood for some desi Chinese. We were served fresh and crispy poppadum with chutney and achar (pickle). Caesar’s stopped giving out free poppadum in their Dubai branches years ago, so this was a pleasant addition.
We stuck to the Chinese selection, as I’m still a little skeptical of how their Persian food would be, and honestly, that’s what we came for. We started off with their classic ‘Drums of Heaven’ – chicken lollipops essentially (see image below). They were cooked to perfection, and had a delicious tandoori-ish marinade, and went well with the schezuan sauce. A must try if you eat at Caesar’s!!
For mains, we got the Mixed Fried Rice and Beef Manchurian and skipped the sizzlers (their specialty) this one time. The portions are very decent. My cravings for desi chinese had been satisfied and although the manchurian was not as spicy as I would have liked it to be, it was still very appetizing and hit the spot. I’ve previously had their Fish and Garlic sauce, and absolutely love that too.
Overall, Caesar’s is a great quiet place with emphasis on good service (they will make sure you’re comfortable and serve for you), good ambiance and food that you may randomly crave a few days later, and will come back for. I think, it’s a great Indo-Chinese option for those in the Raha-Khalifa-Masdar area.
Drums of Heaven
FilmyFarah 