The name itself evokes a sense of warmth and joy. Per Te… It translates to ‘For you’, something you can mention to your significant other as you both walk into the warm, simple, rustic space with soft lighting and shelves across one side adorned with Italian treats from olive oils to chocolate cigars.
Our verdict: come for the great service, beautifully presented delicious dishes, great romantic low key setting but on a slightly higher budget.
Note: We visited during the holy month of Ramadan and hence there was a special Iftar menu available which was AED 150 per person. Our server, the lovely Sabrina was kind enough to advise us on the portion sizes (which was the usual) and so we decided to just split the dishes amongst ourselves. The prices mentioned below are as per their current menu.
The Food
Got complimentary cherry tomato focaccia with dips.
The bread was lovely and fluffy, we could tell that it was freshly baked. The accompanying dips were hummus, sun-dried tomato (#TMFaves) and pesto. Great start to the meal, and although we probably shouldn’t have filled up on bread at the start (considering how carb-heavy Italian meals can be) we just couldn’t resist devouring every piece.
We ordered the following dishes:
Burrata con pomodorini (AED 69): This was M’s first time at trying out Burrata and since T has raved about the cheese, there were high expectations for this dish. And it definitely didn’t disappoint. The freshness of this dish with the vine cherry tomatoes and fresh basil along with the delectable cheese topped with olive oil and a perfectly tangy balsamic vinegar was a perfect combination of flavours. A must try from their antipasti selection.
Risotto ai funghi (AED 72): A wild mushroom risotto with truffle oil. The consistency was great, one of the best we’ve had (and it’s one of our fave dishes to order!). It was also one of the more beautifully presented risottos we’ve had, with perfect scrapes of Parmesan and micro herbs adorning the dish. We felt that the truffle oil was a bit much, it is a very strong flavour after all but all in all, a great main.
The Dessert
Tiramisu (AED 42):
The dish was a special preparation by the chef and our server. The tiramisu was surrounded by a caramel mesh, topped with berries and mini meringues. It looked stunning, to stay the least. The tiramisu tasted as it should, moist and light, with a great coffee flavour. Slight down side was that there was something lacking in the texture, it felt like there were no ladyfingers. But thats T nitpicking. Definitely a good find and one of the top hits in T’s Tiramisu Treasure Hunt (more on that soon).
Service
The service at Per Te was brilliant. Thankfully the place was not too full, hence we got very friendly and attentive service. When greeted at the door we felt very welcome, as if we were frequent customers. We initially sat on the inner part of the restaurant but later decided to move to the outer part, the staff were very accommodating and happy with every request we made. The server was also super helpful in making the night special by giving us a great deal on the food and preparing a special treat at the end. Impeccable service all around.
The Venue
The venue was split up into two parts. The part that you enter into from the entrance is more ‘earthy’, with a lot of wood used in the furniture and decorations. This part also seems to be like a mini store where you can buy all sorts of ingredients and food stuff. The inner part is a more modern, black-white themed area.
We initially sat in this part, and realised that it really wasn’t for us, so we moved to the outer sitting area. The two areas are divided by a section that has a huge table that can be good for a large group or a party. That table was occupied with such a group who seemed to be thoroughly enjoying themselves. We enjoyed walking around the store side of Per Te. Per Te is quite a romantic restaurant which transports you to a whole new place. This is a venue suitable for families, couples and even business lunch/dinner crowds. Since the venue is split quite drastically into two parts, there is almost something available for anyone. But the huge contrast between the two parts is a bit confusing.
To Book or not to Book
Since this was M’s part of planning the anniversary celebrations, she had to make the reservation. Considering how much she dislikes speaking on the phone and prefers texting, IMing and anything else that doesn’t require her to fumble her words, the Booking tab on Zomato became her fave thing on their website.
When you get to Per Te’s listing on Zomato, you have the option of Booking a table with immediate confirmation (score!). It will ask for the date, number of guests, time and if the guests are celebrating an occasion (birthday, anniversary etc.) along with additional notes where M asked if they could do something special for the evening. Received a text message with a website link asking to confirm the booking and that was that. Easy peasy (and no phone conversations involved).
Considering it wasn’t busy when we arrived with just a few tables being occupied, it’s safe to say one could get a table without having to wait. However as the cooler months arrive there might be more appeal to a stand alone restaurant with outside seating hence weekends might be busy then. Nonetheless we suggest making a booking if going to celebrate an occasion as you can ask for something extra to highlight it.
How to Get there
This Per Te is located in Jumeirah 1 (they have another branch in Business Bay), behind the Jumeirah Plaza.
By Car or Cab: If you’re driving or taking a cab, get on to Jumeirah Beach Road, the restaurant is behind Jumeirah Plaza. When heading north, take the right turn between the Emarat petrol station and the Tim Horton’s that’s part of Jumeirah Centre, then the first right followed by the first left onto Street 12C, as the road curves right Per Te will be on the right side on the bend (Villa 54).
When heading south, take a left at the McDonalds Signal (onto 39B Street). Then take the first left and go straight on till the road start to curve left. Per Te is on the bend on the left side.
Parking can be an issue here as there isn’t really any space to park. We parked on the side of the road where there was some sand. Not ideal, but its workable when the place isn’t busy.
Public Transport: There’s no direct metro line here. You would have to take a metro on the red line to Emirates Towers Metro Station followed by a 25-30 minute walk to the restaurant. There is a bus station thats a 7 minute walk to Per Te. There is another bus station about a 10 minute walk away. You have to figure out the best route from your location (use google maps) as there are quite a few depending on which side of Dubai you are coming from.
Not ideal to get to via public transport, so the Omnom recommendation is to take a cab or drive.
Google Map: https://goo.gl/maps/fX5zcMVLKH12
The Entrance
Being a stand alone venue, nestled amongst Umm Suqeim villas, it won’t be hard to find if you know where to look. It’s on the corner of one of the inside roads, with outside seating and big French windows.
Per Te at Jumeirah 1
