Esca, Qamardeen Hotel

Esca restaurant in Qamardeen Hotel in Dubai's Old Town offers a traditional iftar experience for people in search of the cultural as well as the culinary tastes of Ramadan. A world away from the many manic iftar buffets around town, Esca is set in contemporary Arabian surroundings overlooking a pool. At sunset the room is filled with the light calls of the Adhan (call to prayer) alerting diners it is time to break their fast. On offer are all the staples of a traditional Arabic iftar. From tamarind, apricot and date milk juices to start with, to baklawa, umm ali and atayif (clotted cream or walnut-filled deep-fried dumplings) to finish. A truly pleasant touch is the moderation in which the food is served. Although the buffet lacks nothing and comes complete with generous salad, main course and dessert stations, the customary decadent portions found at most iftar buffets around town is nowhere in sight at Esca. The warm lighting with the soft Arabic background music in an Arabesque setting gives the food a home-cooked feel. A must-try is the flawless lentil soup with pita bread croutons and a squeeze of lemon, followed by the lamb ouzi topped with laban bil kheiyar (cold yoghurt and cucumber dip). Lamb ouzi is a dish consisting of sliced roasted lamb on a bed of spiced rice topped with green peas and fried cashew nuts. If you happen to miss anything at the buffet, the attentive waiters will bring it right to your table, as they come by with fresh hot finger foods, like Arabic sambousiks, for you to sample.     Location: Qamardeen Hotel, Old Town, Dubai     Price Dh145 per person.     Call: 04 4285888