When we first heard of Al Fanar, we thought it would be the usual Emirati food experience. Set inside the Town Centre mall, this branch of Al Fanar is a seafood only experience. And we were pleasantly surprised when we entered and were transported back to 1960s UAE.

Our verdict: Gorgeous setting that transports you back in time for a delicious Emirati seafood experience. Not to be missed.

The Food

Al Fanar’s seafood experience lets you select your cuts of fish and seafood, the preparation and the accompaniments.

If you followed our experience on Instagram Stories, we went through the following steps:
Step 1: Select the fish
Step 2: Select the style (in a curry, grilled etc.)
Step 3: Select the type of rice, your options are white, yellow or biryani

We chose cuts of kingfish to be prepared in a curry and got white rice to accompany it. The curry has an intense but captivating smell that watered our palates immediately. The fish is soft and well prepared and thanks to its freshness, it falls apart and tastes delicious. The curry isn’t spicy, but is packed with flavour. It was a tad bit saltier than we would like it, but mixing it with the rice balanced it out.

We also decided to have a whole grilled sea bream as well. Deliciously succulent and well cooked white fish. Very tasty option.

Fried Calamari: T is a bit apprehensive to have Calamari as he hasn’t had good experiences with it in the past. But we were assured that it’s really good. Nothing can beat fresh calamari that’s been battered well and has a good crispy exterior. It comes with a side of spicy mayo. T was happily gobbling these down. We both loved it and its a delicious starter even if you are a group of 3 or 4 as its a decent quantity.

The Drinks

Vimto Slush: Usually popular during Ramadan, this vimto slush is a great icy, sweet drink option to accompany your meal.

Lemon and Mint: refreshing drink that’s more sour than sweet which we liked, but nothing extraordinary.

Mint Tea: We had a pot of tea along with the dessert. It was a perfect way to finish off our meal.

The Dessert

Khabisa: This is a popular Emirati cardamom semolina pudding. It’s soft and grainy and very rich. One serving is enough to share for two people. We loved the use of cardamom and the right amount of sweetness this dessert has.

Service

The service was great. Our servers were very helpful through the process and made great suggestions. The person at the fish counter ensures that you choose the right fish for the right preparation with the correct rice. They have the perfect knowledge. The servers in the dining area are very attentive but not intrusive. They are polite and extremely helpful making the entire experience a breeze. Usually in venues the outdoor seating can be neglected, but we felt that even the seating in the corner got the right amount of attention.

The Venue

We absolutely loved the venue and decor. From the old pickup truck at the entrance, the separate section marked as a ‘fish market’ where you select your fish and a model of a life size camel with its Emirati handler. The floor is cobblestone and the walls are made with real coral embedded into the concrete. There’s also a tree in the middle of the restaurant amongst the seating area that just brings the space to life.

How to get to Al Fanar

Al Fanar is located in Town Center, which is on Jumeirah Road and quite close to Mercato Mall. When heading in the direction of Dubai, Town Centre is just before Mercato Mall. When heading in the direction of Abu Dhabi, once you pass Mercato Mall on your left, you need to take a u-turn and go into the first service lane. On the right will be the entrance to the underground parking.

By Car: Town Center has free underground parking which makes visiting Al Fanar by car the best option.

By Cab: You can tell the cab driver Town Centre Mall on Jumeirah Road and he should ideally take you right to the mall itself. Alternately you can tell them to head in the direction of Mercato Mall.

Public Transport: Not the best option, however there is a bus stop right in front of Town Center, so if there is no other alternative then you can catch one of the following busses: 8, 9, 88, C10 and X28 and get off at the Mercato Mall stop.

Google Map: https://goo.gl/maps/5jzBwMC183u