My dining experience at Nobu has been a good three months in the making. Something or the other always got in the way. But as I finally experienced the award-winning food at Nobu last night, I realized good things really do come to those who wait. Possibly the best Japanese food in town paired with great service, Nobu is on my list of Dubai favorites.
We were running slightly late on our reservation, and were seated promptly by our smiling hostess as soon as we arrived. It helped that I had a Nobu frequenter with me, who knew exactly what to order. We started off with some ‘Nobu bites’: Shishito peppers with den miso and spicy Edamame. We also got the yellowtail sashimi with jalapeño. The shishito peppers were mildly crunchy and spicy, with a mix of sweet and salty den miso paste, one of Chef Nobu’s staple seasonings. The yellowtail sashimi was fresh and zesty, although one could argue that there is very little on the plate for the price you pay.
Then came along the Rock shrimp tempura with creamy spicy sauce. Divine. With a crisp and ever-so-light coating, the shrimp was succulent and tender. The spicy but also slightly citrus-y creamy sauce perfectly complemented the shrimp by being rich but still light. Almost every Japanese restaurant has their own version of the rock shrimp tempura, but nobody does it like Nobu. A must-have.
For mains, we ordered the signature black cod yuzu miso Himalayan honey. Hands down the best black cod I have ever had. This is one of Nobu’s most popular items and once again, Nobu outdoes any other version of this traditional Japanese dish. A mix of crispy and moist, the fish is dulcified in a flavorful miso sauce.
From the sushi rolls, we asked for a yellowtail jalapeño cut roll and a classic California roll. Personally, the yellowtail cut roll was probably my least favorite dish of the night – the sourness of the roll seemed to overpower the other flavors. The classic California roll however was a palatable add-on to our meal.
It was now time for dessert and being a regular at Nobu, my partner recommended the chocolate bento box: simply a chocolate cake and ice cream served in a bento box. Typically served with green tea ice cream, we asked to switch ours to vanilla. Simple yet sophisticated – the chocolate cake here is truly a food lover’s delight. We couldn’t have had a better ending to our meal.
The quieter, sophisticated ambience of the restaurant adds to the great tasting food and makes it great for catching up with friends and date nights. If you haven’t yet tried this world-renowned restaurant, I would recommend it for a unique culinary experience. It’s not at all light on the pocket, but unlike some of the extremely overpriced restaurants around Dubai, Nobu is actually worth your money. I would also suggest taking note of their most popular dishes beforehand, or dine with someone who’s famliar with Nobu classics.
FilmyFarah 