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David Williams sets sail on a culinary search of a unique dining experience in Dubai and gets washed up on the shores of Tahiti

    It is difficult these days to find a culinary experience with a difference in Dubai. The emirate is full to bursting with eating outlets that residents and visitors are spoilt for choice.

    Theme restaurants come and go with startling regularity with few able to maintain a regular flow of custom.

    But a visit to the Metropolitan Palace Hotel on Maktoum Street is all that is required to escape the monotony of Dubai’s plethora of popular choice restaurants. There you will discover Tahiti, a Polynesian Restaurant that serves up one of the most unique dining experiences that the Middle East has to offer.

    Polynesian cuisine is not new to Dubai; several restaurants have been serving it for years, but the entertainment and ambience that is provided as a side dish is something that must be experienced.

    Set in typically South Pacific bamboo surroundings, Tahiti comfortably seats 95 diners with parties of various sizes catered for. The menu reveals a wide range of dishes, particularly with a South East Asian fusion, with a tapinyaki table also offering something a little different. But what sets Tahiti apart from its rivals is the entertainment, which is laid on every night of the week except for Fridays.

    Traditional performers from the Southern Polynesian islands perform a range of energetic dance shows in outfits that are as mouthwatering as the range of dishes available. The four girls and lead man start with an opening set at 9.30pm and continue at various times of the evening before reaching an energetic and spectacular climax late into the night.

    Audience participation is encouraged and after a number of beverages from the extensive drinks list, few can resist the temptation to join in.

    “The overall experience you enjoy when dining at Tahiti sets it apart from most restaurants in Dubai,” said Aynsley Tapuvae, the sole male in the five-piece group. “The service standards throughout the city are exceptional, as they are at Tahiti, but there are not many that provide the unique experience that we offer. The food is first class but we also put an emphasis on ambience and entertainment.”

    Aynsley was born in Samoa but moved to New Zealand with his family as a youngster. But while most of his mates were bidding to become the next Jonah Lomu on the rugby pitch, Aynsley was more interested in theatre and dance. Now, aged 29, he woos diners night after night with his incredible shows accompanied by the four ladies who originate from the Cook Islands.

    “We get a lot of regulars who come to the restaurant every week,” he said. “People love the show and the music. It is quite a unique experience for them to enjoy.”

    Aynsley felt the need to travel after finishing his education and his talents have also been seen in Spain where he performed with a 20-strong troupe. He arrived in Dubai in 2000 and along with his team, has developed a reputation as one of the city’s finest entertainers.

    So after enjoying a chat with the star of the show, 9.30pm approaches, so it’s time to sit back, after enjoying food of the highest standard, and watch the show.

    The group opens with harmonious chords and tones that one can instantly associate to the South Seas. If I closed my eyes, I could almost imagine swinging in a hammock strung up between two palm trees and dangling a foot into the warm Pacific waters below. In reality, the décor is fantastic. Bamboo is abound and the small lake in the middle of the restaurant has live terrapins swimming within. The bridge, which connects the seating area to the food stations, is the focal point for the performers. The show opens with two stunning girls wearing traditional Polynesian dress dancing in unison. As the show continues, the tempo increases and soon members of the audience are up on their feet and joining Aynsley and the two girls on the bridge. But be warned: laugh at the unwitting dancers at your peril because before long your arm will be grabbed and you too will be up there on the bridge! Just have your excuses not to dance ready because Aynsley and the girls don’t take ‘NO’ for an answer! Not even a toddler barely able to walk could get away with it.

    A change of dress accompanies each set and there are plenty of breaks to refill those plates.

    The show goes down a storm and will live long in the memory for all those present.

    “We try to take a piece of Polynesia and bring it alive right here in Dubai and judging by the response we get, it seems to work,” said Aynsley.

“People love the show and the music. It is quite a unique experience for them to enjoy.”

    “We feel the response and the energy from the crowd when we are performing which encourages us to put even more into our shows. We really enjoy getting up there and putting on a show.”

    The highlight of Aynsley’s time in Dubai came in December last year when the entire Samoa rugby 7’s team dined at Tahiti the day after the Dubai Rugby 7’s. Not surprisingly, the evening finished with the whole team joining in with the group, shirts off, performing traditional Samoan dances.

    “It was a memorable night for everyone who was in the restaurant!” remembers Aynsley.

    Despite the five-star entertainment and surroundings, prices are surprisingly competitive which is why Tahiti is established as one of the most popular restaurants in the city. The advice is to book in advance.

    The restaurant is currently in its sixth year having opened in the latter part of 1997, and is open for lunch from 12.30pm-3pm. Tahiti opens for dinner at 7.30pm and closes at 1am. Entertainment starts at 9.30pm and last orders are served at 12.30pm.

    So if you have ever wanted to enjoy a South Seas experience or simply try something different, you do not have to travel to the other side of the world to do so!

    To make a booking at the Tahiti Polynesian Restaurant, call the hotel on (+9714) 2270000. For more information on the Metropolitan Hotel Group, log on to www.methotels.com.