Having two worlds under one roof, that is how you would probably describe a gastronomic experience at Bertin Bistro and Andalusia Restaurant. Located in Al Manara at Sheikh Zayed Road, the place is housed in a 2-storey building where each floor serves different palatable cuisines to explore.
One thing to note about is that you need to hail a taxi to reach this place. There is a cheaper option which is to alight at Noor Bank Metro Station and have a long walk or from there you can ride a taxi. If you have been to Jones the Grocer, then you can easily spot the place out since both are just neighbours.
When we arrived, a staff welcomed us with a warm smile and gladly assisted us inside. The venue has an outdoor seating which is perfect to enjoy a breezy breakfast in Dubai this winter season.
True enough, the first floor is themed as a bistro cafe that specialises in serving succulent pastries that are worthy enough to drool over. It has a chic, vibrant and minimalistic ambience that is covered with marble linings. Definitely, one good spot to dine out.
Upstairs is an entirely different realm where you get to feel a Mediterranean touch in every aspect. Bertin recently renamed the second deck and called it "ANDALUSIA". It specialises in Moroccan-Spanish dishes and is famous for serving delectable tapas. For those who don't now, tapas are snacks or finger foods that originated in Spain.
Our food session starts at the second floor where we were offered to try out the ANDALUSIA's BONANZA. This feast contains around 18 different tapas, good for 2 people and priced at AED 198. You might think that it's a bit expensive but when food starts to march at your table; you'll probably think twice.
There were around 18 tapas served at that moment. You really get a lot of food with this offer. Some tapas were good and there were some that I didn't like but the outstanding ones were the following:
Smoked Feta This feta cheese is very tasty and addicting. The smoked flavor was very evident and it complemented the other tapas pretty well. Eggplant Fatteh I never realized that I was eating eggplant until I began reading the menu. I thought I was munching some tofu up until I sensed that familiar eggplant taste. Two thumbs up for this dish. Mini Kashkawan Flammeukueche The reason that I love this dish because it's similar to a pizza but the crust is much thinner and crispier. A single bite and there goes the cheese and tomato flavor bursting in your mouth. Empanadas At first bite, I thought it was just dough and air inside but when you decided to eat it whole you would taste the strong flavor of this dish. I pretty much liked this dish as I was the only one who managed to finish it all up. Chicken Croquettes Minced chicken mixed with some vegetables and coated with bread crumbs is all you need to create a masterpiece. Grilled Octopus This one is best seasoned with lime juice. The squid was so tasty and tender. A very succulent tapa dish. Paella A seafood paella served in a small pot. I liked the flavor of this dish and the seafood that comes with it. The squid is tasty and the rice is marinated very well.
After the feast, they offered us some desserts and we just can't say no. It was time for BERTIN to present tell us their part of the story. The menu gave us a wide array of choice so we ended up choosing the following:
Fondue Chocolate [AED 74] - A rich and creamy warm chocolate fondue that is served with assorted fruits, bread and some marshmallows.
This is by far the best fondue that I had in Dubai. I highly recommend all of you to try this. The chocolate was very rich and the fruits served were fresh. We simply can't get enough of this and every bite lures you to have one more. :'D
Oreo Triple Decker [AED 44] - An oreo cheesecake with oreo crumbles for its base and is served with lemon sorbet.
Another good dish to try. The oreo cheesecake was absolutely good and the lemon sorbet helps balance out the sweetness of the cheesecake. A very good combination indeed.
Pistachio Fondant [AED 55] - A fluffy pistachio cake that is served in a small pot. It is served with a warm pistachio sauce, pistachio sorbet, and some tangy lemon peels.
For some reason, I didn't like this dish. The fluffy cake tasted weird for me but the pistachio sorbet was amazing.
Tiramisu [AED 33] - Your classic tiramisu that is served in a glass topped off with mixed berries.
It is a normal tiramisu dessert. having mixed berries to heighten up the experience. This also tasted pretty good.
Hot Chocolate - A warm hot chocolate mixed with cinnamon.
Chocolate and cinnamon make up a pretty unique hot beverage drink. The taste was okay but there was too much cinnamon for me to enjoy the taste of the chocolate but I love the presentation so much. I asked them for a camel design which they made perfectly.
Overall, I had a very wonderful dining experience at ANDALUSIA and BERTIN. I am a fan of almost all the dishes served right in front of me. Every single tapas was worth the try and every pastry was worth the carbs. Having these two restaurants under a single roof makes it a powerhouse. You need not to go elsewhere to enjoy a hefty meal and indulge into some sweets.
What do you think are other well-loved food at ANDALUSIA and BERTIN? Share your thoughts.
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AuthorPeople who loves to eat are always the best people.
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