The interiors of the restaurant. Courtesy Ramusake
The interiors of the restaurant. Courtesy Ramusake
The interiors of the restaurant. Courtesy Ramusake
The interiors of the restaurant. Courtesy Ramusake

Restaurant review: The innovative Japanese bites at Ramusake in JBR are worth seeking out


  • English
  • Arabic

Ramusake is not a restaurant you are likely to stumble across unless you know it is there.

Technically, it is in the Hilton DoubleTree, Jumeirah Beach Residence, but on a parking level. After wandering around the car park for a while, we eventually found it – but not before asking for help to locate it. Twice.

The adventure just to find Ramusake’s front door already makes it feel like it is a hidden gem. This is a feeling that lingers once you step inside. The aged concrete floors, the worn wood and the dim lighting peeking through oversized abacuses on the ceiling work together to achieve exactly what Ramusake is going for – a cool, izakaya-style eatery where the social element is just as important as the food.

An izakaya is the Japanese version of a casual gastropub, where co-workers and friends gather after work for drinks and, usually, inexpensive food. Ramusake does indeed emit a casual – yet chic – vibe with an overall informal atmosphere.

Yet it is decidedly trendy too, as such places tend to be in Dubai.

The first Ramusake, from nightlife entrepreneur Piers Adams, opened in London in 2014, but as of last April, it has been permanently closed.

The Dubai version is beautiful – the expansive terrace is inviting but it is too windy for us, so we opt to sit inside. We are comfortable at our table for two, until later in the evening when two diners are seated at a table that is uncomfortably close. So close, in fact, that we engage in conversation with them as it seems rude not to.

We order five tapas-style plates, which is plenty of food for two, we discover. The best among them is the tuna sashimi pizza. A light, but filling dish, the pizza has a thin, crispy crust topped with deep-pink, soft tuna slices, chives, red onion and a heap of wasabi tobiko that adds a spicy, textural punch. We love it.

The chicken and ginger gyoza is less exciting. I regret not ordering the more interesting cheese and truffle gyoza, but for dumpling lovers, the chicken and ginger version should satisfy, and the chilli oil keeps it from being too bland.

We love the must-try ­sesame- soy glazed black Angus short rib from the robata grill. The flavour-packed meat is rich and tender, if a bit dry. We asked for more sauce to compensate, which made all the difference.

The aptly named panko pocket is the epitome of bar food. This crispy pocket, packed with Wagyu beef, is a fusion of ­Indian and Japanese flavours. It is what you would expect a ­Japanese-style samosa to be. The chilli J dog piqued our interest and did not disappoint. It looks fairly typical on arrival – but this is no rubbery dog made with meat of questionable origin. The soft bun is packed with smoked chilli beef and topped with melted cheese and spicy mayo. It is a perfect combination of sweet, spicy and savoury.

The kinako doughnut holes I order for dessert (made with roasted soy flour) are warm and soft, filled with a bit of jelly and with an additional dollop on top. They are served with a pot of Chantilly cream and I gobble them up.

The mochi selection – we get strawberry, vanilla and green tea – is a little more straightforward, but tasty nonetheless.

Ramusake’s menu serves up plenty of innovative bites, ­including a range of sushi, maki rolls, ceviche and hearty mains from the robata grill, ­such as dashi-braised octopus, ­miso-brined baby chicken and teriyaki salmon.

Well-executed food paired with a buzzing atmosphere (it was packed by the time we left at 9pm) means you will need no excuse to return – and I plan to.

• Our dinner for two at Ramusake at Hilton DoubleTree, Jumeirah Beach Residence, Dubai, cost Dh530. To book, call 04 559 5300. Reviewed meals are paid for by The National and conducted incognito

sjohnson@thenational.ae

THE SPECS

Engine: 3.5-litre V6
Transmission: six-speed manual
Power: 325bhp
Torque: 370Nm
Speed: 0-100km/h 3.9 seconds
Price: Dh230,000
On sale: now

Honeymoonish
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Elie%20El%20Samaan%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarring%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ENour%20Al%20Ghandour%2C%20Mahmoud%20Boushahri%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%203%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
What are the main cyber security threats?

Cyber crime - This includes fraud, impersonation, scams and deepfake technology, tactics that are increasingly targeting infrastructure and exploiting human vulnerabilities.
Cyber terrorism - Social media platforms are used to spread radical ideologies, misinformation and disinformation, often with the aim of disrupting critical infrastructure such as power grids.
Cyber warfare - Shaped by geopolitical tension, hostile actors seek to infiltrate and compromise national infrastructure, using one country’s systems as a springboard to launch attacks on others.

Our family matters legal consultant

Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais

Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.

The advice provided in our columns does not constitute legal advice and is provided for information only. Readers are encouraged to seek independent legal advice. 

Jetour T1 specs

Engine: 2-litre turbocharged

Power: 254hp

Torque: 390Nm

Price: From Dh126,000

Available: Now

 

 

Getting there

The flights

Flydubai operates up to seven flights a week to Helsinki. Return fares to Helsinki from Dubai start from Dh1,545 in Economy and Dh7,560 in Business Class.

The stay

Golden Crown Igloos in Levi offer stays from Dh1,215 per person per night for a superior igloo; www.leviniglut.net 

Panorama Hotel in Levi is conveniently located at the top of Levi fell, a short walk from the gondola. Stays start from Dh292 per night based on two people sharing; www. golevi.fi/en/accommodation/hotel-levi-panorama

Arctic Treehouse Hotel in Rovaniemi offers stays from Dh1,379 per night based on two people sharing; www.arctictreehousehotel.com

Company%20profile
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%20name%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20FinFlx%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20January%202021%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Amr%20Yussif%20(co-founder%20and%20CEO)%2C%20Mattieu%20Capelle%20(co-founder%20and%20CTO)%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%20in%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Dubai%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EIndustry%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20FinTech%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EFunding%20size%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20%241.5m%20pre-seed%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Venture%20capital%20-%20Y%20Combinator%2C%20500%20Global%2C%20Dubai%20Future%20District%20Fund%2C%20Fox%20Ventures%2C%20Vector%20Fintech.%20Also%20a%20number%20of%20angel%20investors%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
F1 The Movie

Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem

Director: Joseph Kosinski

Rating: 4/5

Three ways to boost your credit score

Marwan Lutfi says the core fundamentals that drive better payment behaviour and can improve your credit score are:

1. Make sure you make your payments on time;

2. Limit the number of products you borrow on: the more loans and credit cards you have, the more it will affect your credit score;

3. Don't max out all your debts: how much you maximise those credit facilities will have an impact. If you have five credit cards and utilise 90 per cent of that credit, it will negatively affect your score.