Ruya, located at the fashionable Grosvenor House in the Dubai Marina, juxtaposes Anatolian food with contemporary innovation to serve up a Friday brunch in a fine dining setting that exudes understated sophistication.
A very modern and expansive interior with live entertainment, Ruya has a designated cold portions section with a carefully curated assortment of everything from Turkish cured salmon with Cacik, Apple and Fennel salad, and my two favorites–the Slow Roasted Baby Beetroot with Goats Cheese and Corn Bread and the Burnt Watermelon and Tomato salad with homemade cheese, tarragon, and sumac, and more. There are also lots of fresh breads with honey, assorted cheeses, clotted cream, and jams.
From their “Eggs to be Ordered” section, I tried a unique take on scrambled eggs served up in the egg shell mixed with vegetables, feta, and fried sucuk. My daughter sampled slow cooked eggs with roasted garlic, yogurt, and drizzled with chili oil. Both had flavors from Turkey and added a nice breakfast touch.
A nice aspect of Ruya’s brunch is a variety of amuse-bouches that are brought to the table which gave us the chance to try everything without overstuffing ourselves. My favorite was the Cig kofta which we enjoyed with the Turkish Gozleme, a pide made of crispy yukka dough with potato and topped with cheese and herbs. The Feta Borek with zucchini and walnut was a rustic fusion of flavors. Our unanimous favorite was Simit crusted fried calamari with avocado labneh and spicy tomato sauce.
From the grill, we sampled the juicy Iskender kebob with tomato sauce and yogurt. The medley of yogurt and tomato sauce balanced out the meatiness of these succulent kebobs. From the “To be Ordered” mains, we had the Marinated Baby Chicken with Pastry Wrapped Rice Pilaf. This was super tender, and the pastry with rice was flavorful. The meat dish we tried was rib eye steak with Turkish coffee and izot rub accompanied by crispy zaatar potatoes; a dish that was hearty and moreish.
Desserts were a mix of East and West; the creamy baked rice pudding hit all the right comfort food notes and then there were crunchy sesame encrusted cookies, baked toffee pudding, and lots of fresh fruit on offer.
Verdict: Ruya celebrates Turkish food with aplomb, adding a twist of gastronomic ingenuity. This is that ideal place to enjoy a leisurely meal overlooking Dubai’s most beautiful neighborhood. Contact: Ruya at The Grosvenor House in the Dubai Marina; 04-399 9123
