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The image most people have of Tahiti will likely include beautiful girls
in grass skirts and waves gently rolling onto a white sandy beach.
Although the beach and skirts are missing from the Tahiti restaurant at
the Metropolitan Palace Hotel, the rest of this South Seas dining
experience makes up for it.
The Tahiti is a heavily themed restaurant. Wander into this extravagant
outlet and arrive in another world. A four-person band, authentic
Tahitians no-less, play in the background. The walls are adorned with
bamboo and lush tropical greenery.
I had the Hot Bora Bora, a spicy, icy and very fruity concoction while
my friend consumed a Hawaiian Punch and a Bahia. Watch out for the
delayed reaction you’ll get from the Hot Bora Bora!
After cocktails we moved to our table. This was next to the footbridge
that crosses the stream.
Cold towels were served, as was a ‘compliments from the chef’ dish. I am
always wary of these free dishes: a fatty chicken wing is the norm but a
big, succulent prawn on a stick arrived. Tasty.
We ordered our starters from the bar and by the time we sat down the
food was delivered. The hawaiian barbecued chicken with coconut rice was
pretty good but the mango and papaya salad with crab meat shui mai and
orange chilli sauce was even better.
It took a full 20 minutes deciding on our main course due to length of
the menu. Choosing the meal for four persons, accomodatingly reduced to
portions for two, we ordered crispy beef, soya ginger chicken and
matutonga fried prawn and chicken. The matutonga is like spanish paella,
minus a few kinds of seafood, but very nice nonetheless. The crispy beef
was excellent.
While we ate the band played in the background and unlike many
restaurants was not so loud that it drowned any conversation.
We passed on dessert as the previous courses were so generous we were
too full up to eat anymore. If you go, you’ll have to try those for
yourself.
The verdict? Go and check it out. Even if you do not like the sound of
Tahitian cuisine, the trip is worth it just to take in the extravagant
interior.
The Tahiti restaurant is located in the Metropolitan Palace Hotel,
Deira. For reservations call +971-4-270000.
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Aloha!
My companion and I had cocktails prior to eating, prepared by ‘flair’
barman, Steve Spooner. For those not in the know, ‘flair’ barmen are the
guys who toss and juggle their bottles before delivering your cocktail.
Entertaining, but somewhat disoncerting. I’m always convinced one of the
shakers will end up flying towards my head, although Steve assured us
this has only happened once before.