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A Cappella, Dubai: The Pointe’s Best, Bar None
- Casual Dining, Cheap Eats, Dubai Restaurants, Eat
A Cappella, Dubai: The Pointe's Best, Bar None
A Cappella, six small dishes, 2 mocktails, 1 cocktail, 1 bottle of mineral water (incl. service charge): AED404 (US$110, £89, EUR98). FB 08 East Wing (Upstairs), The Pointe, Palm Jumeirah, Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
Written by Liam Collens // Find other food reviews here
A Cappella stands out as the best bar on The Pointe serving delicious small plate dishes, great cocktails, vibes & Dubai Palm affordability.
The Highs
The Lows
The Highs
The Lows
A Cappella, Dubai: The Pointe's Best, Bar None
A Cappella is the most casual and latest instalment in Dubai of the Passion F&B group. You may not know Passion F&B but you know their greatest hits: Tresind, Tresind Studio and Carnival by Tresind. A Cappella breaks from Tresind’s formal-leaning dining. You can wear jeans, pitch up to sink a beer and nibble on small plates. But more about all this later. It is a risk to break the mould but, all in all, since A Cappella opened just over a year ago, it emerged as one of my favourite and regular haunts in The Pointe.
Regular readers will know that I focus on a specific dining experience. These are exceptional times and, instead, I want to focus my comments on A Cappella looking at over a year’s dining experience.
A Cappella: a triple threat?
A Cappella, in some ways, is analogous to what is known as a triple threat in the entertainment industry. Here, diners can enjoy great views, good food and beautiful cocktails made by Sherine John and ‘vibes’. In A Cappella’s own words: “A Cappella, from the House of Passion F&B, Dubai, is a celebration of life. Offering a super casual, groovy and fun space where, as the name suggests, the bar & kitchen work in tandem, in a rhythmic fashion to create an exuberant & effervescent experience for guests.”
I returned back to The Pointe with Mrs EatGoSee donning our finest N95s looking for somewhere to eat. I walked passed a number of restaurants that are not just closed but, I am unclear, whether they will re-open. A Cappella remains open, partly, because its consumer proposition (and execution) is much clearer to me executed by a team with a record for excellence.
A Cappella succeeds at being the all-rounder: the one who is not best in anything but stretches better than most at each thing. This makes A Cappella the triple threat: fun but informal, communal but atmospheric. It disrobes its Passion F&B structure and strides onto the Palm slurping an Old Fashioned (AED48, US$13, £11, €12) while pulling on a mint shisha while munching on its Ottoman Spiced Chicken with za’atar naan (AED60, US$16, £13, €15). This resonates with me as a discerning man in his late 30s that wants somewhere to collapse on a Thursday evening after a long week. I do not expect perfection during this time but I expect better.
A Cappella succeeds at being the all-rounder: the one who is not best in everything but stretches out as better than most at most things.
The Views at A Cappella
The main draw to A Cappella is for the panoramic views overlooking iconic Dubai landmarks including the Palm Crescent and the Atlantis. The impatient among us know that Nakheel announced it will launch its own dancing fountains in front of The Pointe (not to be outdone by the infamous Dubai Mall Fountains). A Cappella is well-positioned to bear witness to these fountains when they see the light of day.
The generous terrace area easily accommodates couples, friends and large groups (COVID-permitting) to look out onto the water and witness the sunset unfold behind the Atlantis hotel.
Lastly, the Palm is an ideal location for fireworks whether it be New Year’s Eve, Eid or other celebrations. I came here for 2019 New Year’s Eve and A Cappella’s execution stood out above its adjacent peers.
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.
Would I return to A Cappella?
I have come to A Cappella no less than four times since its opening over a year ago and I seldom come to the Palm for anything else. A Cappella is not perfect nor does it seek perfection. It is as close to being an alfresco lounge serving a mixed small plates menu and a strong drinks list as you can get in Dubai at affordable price points.
Who Should Go To A Cappella?
The flexibility here suits more crowds and you can feel the vibe change throughout the night. People who love views and sunsets. Couples looking for this midweek date night, singletons dating looking for a snack and a vibe before pushing onto a club. Residents on the Palm who want something casual but good quality and a break perhaps from Club Vista Mare or another hotel bar. People who enjoy Trésind and their outlets. Anyone looking for a quick bite and a drink and will get change from AED100.
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