A taste of Argentina in the Middle East

If you’re planning a trip to Dubai and wondering what type of food you might come across during your stay, then rest easy. Whatever cuisine you’re after, this city has got you covered.

As a meat lover, there are an abundance of restaurants promising the best of the best. But when the opportunity came up to review Asado, a restaurant marketing itself as a ‘tribute to the culture and history of Argentina’, I was sold immediately. Some of the best steaks I’ve ever had the pleasure to enjoy have come from the land of “Che” Guevara and Maradona.

The first thing that will strike you about this restaurant is its incredible location. Situated within Palace Downtown, Asado’s outdoor lounge seating looks out across the Dubai fountains lake and up at the towering Burj Khalifa. It’s very easy to become blasé about the stunning backdrops in this city, but this is truly a view to enjoy.

Inside the restaurant we were greeted by the Head Chef who showed us around the kitchen and vast wine cellar, and explained the process behind Asado’s number one dish, baby goat. Prepared on a ‘parrilla’, an open grill in the centre of the restaurant, the goat meat is cooked for several hours and is one of the most popular dishes on their menu.

At this point I’ll sheepishly (no apologies for tenuous pun here) admit that neither of us opted for the baby goat. Instead we went down the less adventurous route of selecting two of the highly recommended steak cuts, which had been displayed at our table by the waiter before cooking. Both were beautifully presented and after eating, gave us yet another reminder of how satisfying Argentinian steak really is.

With a wonderful ambiance throughout the restaurant, this was a sophisticated dining experience that I’d recommend to anyone visiting the city.