Review: A Cappella, Dubai: Best Bar?

Food and beverage at A Cappella

The key feature that differentiates A Cappella vs its neighbours on The Pointe is the focus on quality in its food and beverage execution. I will be honest: the Pointe offers a deluge of dining quantity but a scarcity of quality. There are many restaurants at The Pointe but A Cappella is the only one I rewards with repeat business, so far.

A Cappella: The Menu

A Cappella rolls out another international concept with small plates or, as they call it, ‘global tapas’. Dubai residents may sigh slightly at the concept of small plates and international dining. When was the last time we ate a whole plate on its own? Seldom do these bedfellows yield positive results and we have heard this song before.

A Cappella’s menu is divided into specific markets which, I am told, are celebrated for their street food culture. Marvellous, I love street food. You can choose between Mexico, India, the UK, China, the Middle East, Spain, Japan, Italy and the USA. There is also a section titled No Man’s Land which, incidentally, is an isolated beach in my beloved Tobago.

There is plenty of choice through A Cappella’s menu of 37 tapas including a stunning 16 vegetarian dishes and 5 desserts. The relatively modest price points vary between AED30 to AED68 (US$8-US$17, £7-£15, €7-€15). These price points mean that A Cappella is still an affordable place to eat: an oasis in a desert of Palm premium pricing.

Chef Paritosh Sharma and his team churn out dishes such as wasabi prawns (AED48, US$13, £11, €12), chicken and cheese croquettes (AED37, US$10, £8, €9) and mushroom tart with a wild mushroom ragout and porcini espuma (AED30, US$9, £7, €8).

My stalwart favourites to order start with the classic pani puri (AED32, US$9, £7, €8) paired with a selection of ‘flavoured waters’ which are herbaceous and tangy in nature. Pani puri is fun to eat and fun to play with. Is it Dubai’s best pani puri? I’ll leave that debate to rage for another time.

The Crab-kari offers a de-shelled mud crab in a Malay curry served with parotta or steamed rice (AED58, US$16, £13, €14). This is my favourite dish at A Cappella for its deep intense crab flavour despite an assault of spices. This is a delicious dish and my only complaint is when it runs out and I would like more of it.

The tandoori lamb chops in shichimi soy and miso dip (AED60, US$16, £13, €15) is a glossy lacquered trio of chops on the bone. The lamb is sticky, it is sweet and carries a hum of spice. It is a thoroughly enjoyable dish and, together with the crab-kari, would be my top two recommendations for any visit to A Cappella.

Mrs EatGoSee and several others I know particularly enjoy the Mac n Cheese served with lobster and truffle (AED63, US$17, £14, €15). First impressions can question whether this is a filling portion, however, it is intensely rich and once that should easily be shared among three or more people among other dishes.

There is a clear thread that lies as an undertone despite the broader international outlook. The South-East Asian influence is unmistakable and, arguably, part of the Passion F&B touch. This includes the tandoori touch to the aforementioned lamb chops. Half of the UK dishes include Curry Nation with roasted tomato curry and grilled cottage cheese (AED53) and a Chicken Tikka masala with a choice of bread or rice (AED68). In this respect, A Cappella plays in familiar territory, it plays to its strengths and, arguably, plays it safe.

The patatas bravas is a novel departure from the well-known Spanish classic with warmer spices and North African influences with yoghurt mousse, pepper harissa and a large potato crisp. This is an enjoyable dish that stretches the recognisable boundaries of the original. The vegetable burger is a thinly disguised vada pav with a zesty lift of tamarind soy ketchup. Both are delicious but people seeking a predictable version of the dish may be disappointed in what actually arrives. I should defend the veg burger however as very enjoyable in its own right, as is vada pav.

A Cappella: Drinks and Cocktails

The cocktail menu here is strong and the prices are very competitive. All cocktails are under AED50 (US$14, £11, €12) which is impressive given the view and location. Mrs EatGoSee opts for their Old Fashioned on tap whereas I am known to drink the house down with their Pisco Peruvian Sours (AED41).

The wine menu includes sparkling, white, rose and red options:

• Three sparkling options include one prosecco available by the glass and the bottle (AED42/195, US$11/53, £9/£43, €10/€47) and two champagnes available by the bottle (AED700-1050, US$191/US$285, £155/£233, €170/€254).
• There are six white wines available including three by the glass (AED32-50, US$9/US$14, £7/£11, €8/€12) and all by the bottle (AED146-350, US$40/US$95, £32/78, €35/€85).
• A pair of rose options are available by the glass (AED35-40, US$10/11, £8/9, €8/10) and the bottle (AED159-187, US$43/$51, £35/41, €39/43).
• Lastly, the red wine selection offers seven options with three by the glass (AED37-48, US$10-13, £8-11, €9-12) and all seven by the bottle (AED177-345, US$).

There is an impressive mocktail menu for people like me who occasionally need a break from the booze. The Kale + Green Apple + Ginger + Honey and the Lychee + Lemon + Rhubarb + Apple Juice (both AED30, US$9, £7, €8) are generous drinks. I can name breakfast cafes and hotels that charge more for a mix of juices.

The Vibes

I first went to A Cappella for its launch party where the indelible impression was formed where this is a restaurant-bar meets party spot. A DJ mixes tracks in the background with everything from Sean Paul to Major Lazer and of course regional music. There is no obvious dancefloor at A Cappella but you will regularly witness people dance near the bar or on the terrace during the cooler winter months. The atmosphere is dynamic; this is easily a place where you can come to graze through the tapas, sinks cocktails and clock off early or stay and party through the night. This flexibility allows A Cappella to attract a broader audience while maintaining a clearer proposition.