Spice Bowl - Dubai

Spice Bowl – Fashion Parking level P1, Dubai Mall, Downtown - Dubai

Cuisine: Indian (Predominantly Kerala with a good flair for North Indian) & Asian

All reviews will be based on the Cuisine and Fare the restaurant/outlet is known for / specialised in.

This review is based on inputs from myself as well as fellow foodies who have accompanied me to this restaurant.

ALL RATING ARE IN THE SCALE OF 5. A rating of 5 mean Excellent while 1 is Poor.

The art of creative cooking can be quiet tricky at times for creativity and fusion of ingredients usually tend to go off tangent. Spice Bowl along with their Creative chef Anil has taken on the tangent to make a parallel world of unique food in the spheres of Indian / Asian cuisine.

I happen to be one of them individuals from the sphere of foodies who happen to be interested in geometry and got myself to Spice Bowl for a little tasting session!

So here I go with my linguistic sketches of Spice Bowl’s food platter!

PS: Since this was a very elaborate tasting session with numerous menu items, I had to use the good old voice recording technique in my phone to note down my reviews.

Hence this review is almost a Running Commentary Review please bear with me!

FOOD: RATING 3 OUT OF 5.

Item 1 – All Time Snacks & Starters – Teriyaki Wings: Terikayi is now one of them usual suspects in the Sauce world but being usual makes it a tough sauce to judge because the flavour varies from place to place. It seems like Spice Bowl has made it in their unique way. It was good!

Teriyaki Wings

Item 2 – All Time Snacks & Starters – Chemeen Kolakuthi: Cheemeen is the south Indian name (Malayalam name to be precise) for Prawns. Kolakuthi, well, google translate failed!

Luckily that was the only thing that failed for the Prawns was absolutely delish! The Mallu in me is impressed.

Chemeen Kolakuthi

Item 3 – All Time Snacks & Starters – TNT Prawns:

Inspiration from Legendary Fare is a wonderful emotion.

Replicating it in a New Avatar is a risky venture.

Spice Bowl TNT Shrimps does make a taste bud commotion

The black sesame seeds take you to a new taste adventure.

TNT Prawns

Item 4 – All Time Snacks & Starters – Aloo Tikki: YUM! I rest my case! Slurp!

Aloo Tikki

Item 5 – Breakfast Item – Porotta Stuffed with Kheema: Now this was very rich dish that was well buttered / oiled with ample ghee. I am not sure I can call it a starter for it was indeed more than that. Flavour wise it was good but then a Punjabi / Lucknowi cuisine lover may take have a WOW! Moment.

 Porotta Stuffed with Kheema

Item 6 – Breakfast Item – Egg Porotta: I love my breakfasts and Spice bowl has just given me yet another reason to love it more!

  

Item 7 – Main Item – Thai Chicken Curry (Red) – The Thai food scene here in Dubai is making huge waves and Spice Bowl has taken there menu for a surf in those waves. The curry is definitely a worth wave surfer. Aromatic, Flavourful and Feel but I felt the Rice on the side was dragging the taste surfing down.

Item 8 – Main Item – Dragon Chicken – My voice recording captured only the crunch of the cashews and sizzling reaction from me on the spice. To be honest I cannot give a verdict on this. Apologises, I am human after all.

Dragon Chicken

Item 9 – Main Item – Mini Oyster Steak on Noodles: I love my steak, medium rare with a side of slaw or mashed potatoes. Please put the sauce on the side.

I am not sure if the South Asian cuisine use tenderloin cuts for their dishes, if they do I am a bit disappointed on how Spice Bowl has interpreted it. The sauce was wow! But overall, this dish felt more like a fusion that could have been served separately.

Mini Oyster Steak on Noodles

Item 10 – Main Item – Nasi Goreng: Nasi Goreng to Indonesian is what Pizza is to Italians. They are proper home-breeds that need to stay within the realms of their motherland. There is no harm in bringing them out of that realm but one has to be wise. Since I was not an expert, I asked a fellow foodie of mine to do a check on the same. He visited Spice Bowl and he said it was worth the mention.

Nasi Goreng

Item 11 – Main Item – Hakka Noodles: Booyaka!!

 

Hakka Noodles

Item 12 – Mains – Tikka Platter

Chicken Tikka – Teek Hai lekin all boxes tick nahi hua.

Malai Tikka – A Malai Tikka is all about that cream! For me this one did not feel like a dream.

Panner Tikka – I am not a veggie but then I can have some more of these!

Haryali Tikka – Hare Ram! Hare Krishna! Arrey Wah!

 

Tikka Platter

Item 13 – Main Item – Salmon Chutney Tikka: Salmon is not at all Indian and I feel it is never to be mixed with any Indian spice nor should it be made a part of the Indian Fare. Just imagine trying to make succulent Butter Chicken in Marinara Sauce. A mix of the best in the world can cause confusion.

I am not sure if Seahorse Salmon is a species of Salmon. The most common Salmon is Asian fare is the Pink or Cherry Salmon. I may be wrong because Seahorse Salmon may be another name of the Pink Salmon.

 

Salmon Chutney Tikka

Item 14– Main Item – Keralite Beef Curry:

Beef – A Keralite’s (aka Mallu) national pride.

Curry – A Keralite’s Essential dish

Keralite Beef Curry – ബ്രോ! ഇതിലും കിടിലം ഒന്നും ഇല്ല! (Google  translate is a good option)

Spice Bowls takes the Mallu to Food Heaven

Item 15– Main Item – Dhum Biryani:

I am from Thalassery (Kerala,India), one of the legendary towns that is known for their Biryani!

Dhum Biryani is my birth right.

You can try to advocate my birth right in your kitchens but I stay rooted to my motherland!

I rest my case.

Dhum Biryani

Item 16– Desserts – FINALLY!!!!!:

I had to skip the desserts because my taste buds died of overdose but here is a quick take

Asian Lotus – Nice! Very Nice!

SB Trifle Pudding – Hmmm! My voice note only mentions the name and then it is static!

My phone battery is dead. No More Voice Recording made!

SERVICE – 3 OUT OF 5

I came in for a tasting session so it was all served well.

I did have look around on how the Waiters went around with the other customers. It looked good.

LOCATION – 3 OUT 5

Well, it is in the Dubai Mall, hence you will surely get lost.

Unlike all the other restaurants, Spice Bowl is away from the Hustle bustle of the mall.

A little tricky to find if you miss the corridor to the hotel but not as painstaking as walking from the Metro to the Mall!

PRICING: 5 means cheapest while 1 means expensive.

I RATE THIS PLACE 3.5 (Good for the Wallet)

For the serving size and quality of the food that is served, I must say the price is worth it.

Moreover, to get a good food for this price in the Dubai Mall from a dedicated dine in place is indeed a great boon.

AMBIANCE: 2.5 OUT 5

The hotel vicinity can be noisy and the feel of “I am in the Dubai Mall” is evidently absent.

DECOR AND SEATING CAPACITY – 3 OUT 5

Good Standard Décor and pretty well maintained.

OVERALL RATING: 3 OUT OF 5.

Spice Bowl is indeed a good place to dine in when in Dubai mall especially if you are craving for some good Indian / South East Asian fare which does not taste anything like the food court servings!

Spice Bowl is genuinely a multi-cuisine restaurant who is currently a Jack of all Dishes but not a King of all. They have taken the Wok and the Kadai to entice all taste buds. Their effort is valiant and commendable.