Tucked away in one of Dubai’s most talked-about locations, Ina is a restaurant that should be a conversation starter just as much as J1 Beach itself.
With a name that means fire in Nigerian Yoruba, Ina opened in April and houses the largest open-flame grill in the emirate. Its beachside location, inside-outside seating, and reputation as a venue that offers both dining and dancing make the restaurant and beach club a go-to location during the cooler months.
My dining partner and I head down on a Friday evening anticipating an eclectic menu and a party atmosphere.
First impressions
One of Ina's standout features is a retractable roof, meaning summer guests are able to retreat from the heat under a climate-controlled canopy, while those who visit in winter can enjoy an evening under direct starlight.
Opening daily at 6.30pm, Ina is unashamedly an evening venue with its lighting, decor and floor-plan coming together to invite a sense of fun.
The circular layout gives it a theatre-like aesthetic, with dining tables emanating outward from a central dance floor in a large room flanked by a bar on one side and a DJ booth on the other.
Handcrafted woodwork lines the walls and customised artwork adds to the restaurant’s ornamental jungle-beach theme.
We opt for a high-backed table on the circle’s exterior, facing inward, which proves a good spot to soak in the lively atmosphere.
The menu
Yes, it’s a grill, but don’t fall into the trap of thinking this is a typical steakhouse where you’ll sit down for one large main course and end up rolling out. Instead, picture it as more of a South American, sharing-style tapas bar.
We start with a basket of homemade brioche before tucking into a selection of small plates recommended by our server, Matthew.
We have Japanese hamachi (Dh95), grilled Medjool dates (Dh120), scallops on the half shell (Dh190) and Westholme beef carpaccio (Dh380).
The hamachi, served with blood orange dressing, is wonderfully fresh and an ideal opener while the scallops meet the high standards set across Dubai for quality seafood.
It’s the dates and the beef carpaccio that leave their mark.
The dates are grilled with Wagyu beef bacon and manouri cheese. The beef carpaccio, meanwhile, is immaculately presented.
My tip would be to ask your server to plate it for you, so the cold meat is delicately balanced with caviar on each spoon. Each bite is better than the last, meaning we can’t help but argue over who has the last piece.
Next we have the oven-baked crab with Spanish rice, tomato sauce and sour cream (Dh380) that we are told is particularly popular with Russian diners. It's a light sharing dish that is well balanced as the tomato and sour cream work in tandem to emphasise the sweetness of the crab.
While standing by my earlier point that Ina has a lot of strings to its bow, no visit would feel complete without trying a steak.
I share the 50-day dry-aged Dierendonck porterhouse (Dh650) with my dining partner, which is 600g of some of the finest Belgian beef money can buy. We have this cooked medium, as recommended, and served alongside a side of mixed vegetables. Additional sides here would be overkill, given the meat is so substantial.
We’re hard pushed to find room for dessert, but have a taste of the creme brulee (Dh50) and pavlova (Dh40). The first is served Catalan-style, with a touch of cinnamon and lemon, which makes it a touch lighter than its Gallic sibling, while the pavlova is plated up alongside maple and cinnamon ice cream, which essentially acts as a delicious palate cleanser to bring the dinner to a close.
Standout dish
If any dish encapsulates what Ina is all about, it's the grilled Medjool dates, which blend the restaurant’s aesthetic with an authentic regional taste. There's also that delicious blend of sweet and savoury making this sharing plate something that combines both flavour and culture. It's not just tasty, it's a talking point, and a wonderful way to kick off your evening.
Save or splurge
A three-course meal at Ina can cost between Dh280 and Dh2,320. On the high end of the price spectrum lie the Scottish langoustine (Dh400), 1kg Saroma Wagyu A5 rib (Dh1,850) and smoked chocolate tart (Dh70).
The three most reasonable dishes across starters, mains and desserts are the tomato carpaccio (Dh60), small sea bream (Dh180) and spiced pavlova (Dh40).
The verdict
A booking at Ina guarantees excellent food and high-quality service, but it’s much more than that. It’s a trendy spot in one of Dubai’s most lively locations and you can stay long after the kitchen has closed.
A chat with the chef
Glen Ballis is an internationally celebrated Australian chef with over four decades of experience, including successful projects in Moscow, such as Glenuill, Zupperia and Cutfish.
With a nod to his proud Greek heritage, he picks an ingredient almost synonymous with the Mediterranean as his favourite to cook with: the tomato.
“It’s the foundation of my creativity and a base in many of my recipes,” he says. “It enhances the flavour profile of every dish.”
Chef Ballis likes to keep things simple, describing his cooking style as one that is product-driven, seasonal and fresh. “Ingredients come first, everything else follows,” he says.
For vegetarians, he recommends the chargrilled asparagus small plate. For meat lovers, it’s the Westholme Wagyu strip-loin steak that gets the nod, while for seafood lovers, the chef suggests the Japanese scallops are the best choice.
Contact information
Ina at J1 Beach, Dubai is open from 6.30pm to 1am from Sunday to Thursday, and 6.30pm to 2am on Friday and Saturday. For reservations, call 04 570 4766 or visit ina-restaurants.com.
This review was conducted at the invitation of the restaurant
Infiniti QX80 specs
Engine: twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6
Power: 450hp
Torque: 700Nm
Price: From Dh450,000, Autograph model from Dh510,000
Available: Now
THE BIO
Favourite book: ‘Purpose Driven Life’ by Rick Warren
Favourite travel destination: Switzerland
Hobbies: Travelling and following motivational speeches and speakers
Favourite place in UAE: Dubai Museum
Types of bank fraud
1) Phishing
Fraudsters send an unsolicited email that appears to be from a financial institution or online retailer. The hoax email requests that you provide sensitive information, often by clicking on to a link leading to a fake website.
2) Smishing
The SMS equivalent of phishing. Fraudsters falsify the telephone number through “text spoofing,” so that it appears to be a genuine text from the bank.
3) Vishing
The telephone equivalent of phishing and smishing. Fraudsters may pose as bank staff, police or government officials. They may persuade the consumer to transfer money or divulge personal information.
4) SIM swap
Fraudsters duplicate the SIM of your mobile number without your knowledge or authorisation, allowing them to conduct financial transactions with your bank.
5) Identity theft
Someone illegally obtains your confidential information, through various ways, such as theft of your wallet, bank and utility bill statements, computer intrusion and social networks.
6) Prize scams
Fraudsters claiming to be authorised representatives from well-known organisations (such as Etisalat, du, Dubai Shopping Festival, Expo2020, Lulu Hypermarket etc) contact victims to tell them they have won a cash prize and request them to share confidential banking details to transfer the prize money.
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Fixtures:
Wed Aug 29 – Malaysia v Hong Kong, Nepal v Oman, UAE v Singapore
Thu Aug 30 - UAE v Nepal, Hong Kong v Singapore, Malaysia v Oman
Sat Sep 1 - UAE v Hong Kong, Oman v Singapore, Malaysia v Nepal
Sun Sep 2 – Hong Kong v Oman, Malaysia v UAE, Nepal v Singapore
Tue Sep 4 - Malaysia v Singapore, UAE v Oman, Nepal v Hong Kong
Thu Sep 6 – Final
Silent Hill f
Publisher: Konami
Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC
Rating: 4.5/5
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Getting there
Flydubai flies direct from Dubai to Tbilisi from Dh1,025 return including taxes
THE BIO
Born: Mukalla, Yemen, 1979
Education: UAE University, Al Ain
Family: Married with two daughters: Asayel, 7, and Sara, 6
Favourite piece of music: Horse Dance by Naseer Shamma
Favourite book: Science and geology
Favourite place to travel to: Washington DC
Best advice you’ve ever been given: If you have a dream, you have to believe it, then you will see it.
Race card
5.30pm: Maiden (TB) Dh82,500 (Turf) 1,400m
6.05pm: Handicap (TB) Dh87,500 (T) 1,400m
6.40pm: Handicap (TB) Dh105,000 (Dirt) 1,400m
7.15pm: Handicap (TB) Dh105,000 (T) 1,200m
7.50pm: Longines Stakes – Conditions (TB) Dh120,00 (D) 1,900m
8.25pm: Zabeel Trophy – Rated Conditions (TB) Dh120,000 (T) 1,600m
9pm: Handicap (TB) Dh105,000 (T) 2,410m
9.35pm: Handicap (TB) Dh92,500 (T) 2,000m
Bareilly Ki Barfi
Directed by: Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari
Starring: Kriti Sanon, Ayushmann Khurrana, Rajkummar Rao
Three and a half stars
Other workplace saving schemes
- The UAE government announced a retirement savings plan for private and free zone sector employees in 2023.
- Dubai’s savings retirement scheme for foreign employees working in the emirate’s government and public sector came into effect in 2022.
- National Bonds unveiled a Golden Pension Scheme in 2022 to help private-sector foreign employees with their financial planning.
- In April 2021, Hayah Insurance unveiled a workplace savings plan to help UAE employees save for their retirement.
- Lunate, an Abu Dhabi-based investment manager, has launched a fund that will allow UAE private companies to offer employees investment returns on end-of-service benefits.
What is Folia?
Prince Khaled bin Alwaleed bin Talal's new plant-based menu will launch at Four Seasons hotels in Dubai this November. A desire to cater to people looking for clean, healthy meals beyond green salad is what inspired Prince Khaled and American celebrity chef Matthew Kenney to create Folia. The word means "from the leaves" in Latin, and the exclusive menu offers fine plant-based cuisine across Four Seasons properties in Los Angeles, Bahrain and, soon, Dubai.
Kenney specialises in vegan cuisine and is the founder of Plant Food Wine and 20 other restaurants worldwide. "I’ve always appreciated Matthew’s work," says the Saudi royal. "He has a singular culinary talent and his approach to plant-based dining is prescient and unrivalled. I was a fan of his long before we established our professional relationship."
Folia first launched at The Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills in July 2018. It is available at the poolside Cabana Restaurant and for in-room dining across the property, as well as in its private event space. The food is vibrant and colourful, full of fresh dishes such as the hearts of palm ceviche with California fruit, vegetables and edible flowers; green hearb tacos filled with roasted squash and king oyster barbacoa; and a savoury coconut cream pie with macadamia crust.
In March 2019, the Folia menu reached Gulf shores, as it was introduced at the Four Seasons Hotel Bahrain Bay, where it is served at the Bay View Lounge. Next, on Tuesday, November 1 – also known as World Vegan Day – it will come to the UAE, to the Four Seasons Resort Dubai at Jumeirah Beach and the Four Seasons DIFC, both properties Prince Khaled has spent "considerable time at and love".
There are also plans to take Folia to several more locations throughout the Middle East and Europe.
While health-conscious diners will be attracted to the concept, Prince Khaled is careful to stress Folia is "not meant for a specific subset of customers. It is meant for everyone who wants a culinary experience without the negative impact that eating out so often comes with."
