Dubai Downtown is famed the world over for its futuristic skyline and immaculate polish. It’s a place of constant motion – where deals are made, social calendars filled, and where, at first glance, the relaxed charm of a Parisian brasserie might seem out of place.
Yet, it’s this unlikely niche that Brasserie Lutetia now occupies. Having opened in May, in Sofitel Dubai Downtown, it brings a side of the French dining scene that for me is too often overlooked – its guarantee of excellence even in the most casual of settings.
French food is synonymous with quality. Whether you’re in a Michelin star restaurant or pulling in for a sandwich at a Marseille petrol station, there’s a hallmark of high standards whatever the situation.
Brasserie Lutetia doesn’t occupy either of the above spaces. Its pitch is casual-chic in a clean and modern venue that offers top food and service while dodging some of the pomp and pomposity you might want to avoid if you’re here on business or seeking a quick catch-up with a friend.
It’s with this backdrop that my dining partner and I settle down for lunch on a quiet Saturday afternoon.
Where to sit and what to expect
Brasserie Lutetia can be found on the second floor of Sofitel Dubai Downtown on Sheikh Zayed Road.
Take an immediate right at the lifts and the host desk is unmissable. From there, you can’t help but be struck by the sheer enormity of the venue.
There are three distinctive parts of the restaurant, each with its own personality and offering a variety of seating options.
The central room has a grand buffet area lined with booths and counters, lending itself well to a quick hotel breakfast or casual lunch. Then there’s a more intimate dining area towards the back that’s more suited to a traditional dinner feel. Last but not least, there’s La Terrasse, which offers outdoor seating that’s perfect during the winter months.
Throughout the restaurant there are views overlooking Downtown Dubai as the Dubai Metro whizzes by which gives it a real urban, and almost European, feel.
The menu
One of the beauties of Brasserie Lutetia is how it transforms throughout the day with menus for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Our visit is for lunch and we’re settled down in the quieter dining area towards the back of the restaurant.
Our server, Robert, recommends we start with the Brasserie salad (Dh55) and the beef tenderloin carpaccio (Dh75), which we share.
The salad is wonderfully refreshing and a brilliant way to start a lunch. Chickpeas, sweet potato, cherry tomato and toasted hazelnuts served together with a white balsamic dressing. What’s not to like?
The beef carpaccio takes things up a notch. It has that unmistakable tenderness that only high-quality beef truly brings and it’s served with truffle moliterno cheese, which makes this variety of the dish stand out in a crowded pool of what’s become a popular Dubai starter. With the addition of wild rocket, cherry tomatoes and truffle aioli, the dish combines the aged elegance of the cheese and meat with a touch of fresh sweetness.
The serving size here is extremely generous, too, making it a perfect dish for two people to share. In fact, I’d go one step further and say there’s plenty here for three or even four to share, just maybe take a closer look at the selection of side dishes if you fall into that camp.
For dessert, Robert’s recommendation is the rocher (Dh45) and he outdoes himself with this tip-off. It’s a wonderful mix of chocolate and cream that brings a perfect lunch to an end.
My only complaint would be that we’ve had so much food at this point that we almost have to ask Robert to roll us out of the restaurant.
Standout dish
This one isn’t a contest. It has to be the beef bourguignon. The braised short rib is tender, rich and packed with flavour from the long, gentle cooking process, while the mash is as elegant as it is moreish.
It’s a hearty meal that would go down well on any Parisian table, it’s sociable given you can share, and it’s a bargain at Dh85.
Save or splurge
A three-course meal at Brasserie Lutetia can cost between Dh130 to Dh245. On the high end of the price spectrum lie the salmon sale (Dh70) and milk-fed veal (Dh130).
The three most reasonable dishes across starters, mains and desserts are the pain Lutetia (Dh25), the shell pasta (Dh60) and every dessert costs Dh45.
A chat with the chef
The main man at Brasserie Lutetia is chef Edward Mair. A proud Scot, he has worked across Europe and the Middle East, having recently moved back to Dubai after a stint in Saudi Arabia.
Asked about his favourite ingredient, he speaks fondly of how much he enjoys working with slow-cooked meats.
“They allow you to build deep layers of flavour and create dishes that feel both comforting and refined,” he says.
Chef Mair describes his cooking style as simple and ingredient-driven. “I like to let the natural quality and flavour of the ingredients speak for themselves,” he says.
“My food philosophy is all about simplicity and respect for ingredients. I believe in letting high-quality produce speak for itself, enhancing flavours through thoughtful techniques rather than overcomplicating them. The goal is always to create dishes that are honest, flavourful and memorable.”
For vegans, he recommends the psiti – a hearty roasted vegetable dish full of flavour. For vegetarians, his top tip is the Brasserie salad, while for seafood lovers it’s the shell pasta with shrimp.
For meat lovers, Chef Mair says you “shouldn’t miss” the classic beef bourguignon and the dessert option is another timeless classic – creme brulee.
Contact information
Brasserie Lutetia is housed in Sofitel Dubai Downtown. It is open daily from 6.30am to 10.30am, 12.30pm to 3.30pm and 6.30pm to 10.30pm. Reservations can be made by calling 04 503 6666.
This review was conducted at the invitation of the restaurant.
The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Draw
Quarter-finals
Real Madrid (ESP) or Manchester City (ENG) v Juventus (ITA) or Lyon (FRA)
RB Leipzig (GER) v Atletico Madrid (ESP)
Barcelona (ESP) or Napoli (ITA) v Bayern Munich (GER) or Chelsea (ENG)
Atalanta (ITA) v Paris Saint-Germain (FRA)
Ties to be played August 12-15 in Lisbon
Auron Mein Kahan Dum Tha
Starring: Ajay Devgn, Tabu, Shantanu Maheshwari, Jimmy Shergill, Saiee Manjrekar
Director: Neeraj Pandey
Rating: 2.5/5
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Company%20profile
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India squads
T20: Rohit Sharma (c), Shikhar Dhawan, KL Rahul, Sanju Samson, Shreyas Iyer, Manish Pandey, Rishabh Pant, Washington Sundar, Krunal Pandya, Yuzvendra Chahal, Rahul Chahar, Deepak Chahar, Khaleel Ahmed, Shivam Dube, Shardul Thakur
Test: Virat Kohli (c), Rohit Sharma, Mayank Agarwal, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane, Hanuma Vihari, Wriddhiman Saha (wk), Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Umesh Yadav, Ishant Sharma, Shubman Gill, Rishabh Pant
Pots for the Asian Qualifiers
Pot 1: Iran, Japan, South Korea, Australia, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, China
Pot 2: Iraq, Uzbekistan, Syria, Oman, Lebanon, Kyrgyz Republic, Vietnam, Jordan
Pot 3: Palestine, India, Bahrain, Thailand, Tajikistan, North Korea, Chinese Taipei, Philippines
Pot 4: Turkmenistan, Myanmar, Hong Kong, Yemen, Afghanistan, Maldives, Kuwait, Malaysia
Pot 5: Indonesia, Singapore, Nepal, Cambodia, Bangladesh, Mongolia, Guam, Macau/Sri Lanka
Thor: Ragnarok
Dir: Taika Waititi
Starring: Chris Hemsworth, Tom Hiddleston, Cate Blanchett, Jeff Goldblum, Mark Ruffalo, Tessa Thompson
Four stars
How to join and use Abu Dhabi’s public libraries
• There are six libraries in Abu Dhabi emirate run by the Department of Culture and Tourism, including one in Al Ain and Al Dhafra.
• Libraries are free to visit and visitors can consult books, use online resources and study there. Most are open from 8am to 8pm on weekdays, closed on Fridays and have variable hours on Saturdays, except for Qasr Al Watan which is open from 10am to 8pm every day.
• In order to borrow books, visitors must join the service by providing a passport photograph, Emirates ID and a refundable deposit of Dh400. Members can borrow five books for three weeks, all of which are renewable up to two times online.
• If users do not wish to pay the fee, they can still use the library’s electronic resources for free by simply registering on the website. Once registered, a username and password is provided, allowing remote access.
• For more information visit the library network's website.
The specs: 2018 Audi Q5/SQ5
Price, base: Dh183,900 / Dh249,000
Engine: 2.0L, turbocharged in-line four-cylinder / 3.0L, turbocharged V6
Gearbox: Seven-speed automatic / Eight-speed automatic
Power: 252hp @ 5,000rpm / 354hp @ 5,400rpm
Torque: 370Nm @ 1,600rpm / 500Nm @ 1,370rpm
Fuel economy: combined 7.2L / 100km / 8.3L / 100km
What can victims do?
Always use only regulated platforms
Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion
Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)
Report to local authorities
Warn others to prevent further harm
Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence
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EA Sports FC 26
Publisher: EA Sports
Consoles: PC, PlayStation 4/5, Xbox Series X/S
Rating: 3/5
Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.
Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.
“Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.
“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.
Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.
From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.
Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.
BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.
Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.
Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.
“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.
“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.
“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”
The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”
Results
Ashraf Ghani 50.64 per cent
Abdullah Abdullah 39.52 per cent
Gulbuddin Hekmatyar 3.85 per cent
Rahmatullah Nabil 1.8 per cent
Indoor Cricket World Cup Dubai 2017
Venue Insportz, Dubai; Admission Free
Fixtures - Open Men 2pm: India v New Zealand, Malaysia v UAE, Singapore v South Africa, Sri Lanka v England; 8pm: Australia v Singapore, India v Sri Lanka, England v Malaysia, New Zealand v South Africa
Fixtures - Open Women Noon: New Zealand v England, UAE v Australia; 6pm: England v South Africa, New Zealand v Australia
Jetour T1 specs
Engine: 2-litre turbocharged
Power: 254hp
Torque: 390Nm
Price: From Dh126,000
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How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
More on Quran memorisation:
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
UK’s AI plan
- AI ambassadors such as MIT economist Simon Johnson, Monzo cofounder Tom Blomfield and Google DeepMind’s Raia Hadsell
- £10bn AI growth zone in South Wales to create 5,000 jobs
- £100m of government support for startups building AI hardware products
- £250m to train new AI models
The specs
Price, base / as tested Dh1,470,000 (est)
Engine 6.9-litre twin-turbo W12
Gearbox eight-speed automatic
Power 626bhp @ 6,000rpm
Torque: 900Nm @ 1,350rpm
Fuel economy, combined 14.0L / 100km
Company%20Profile
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House-hunting
Top 10 locations for inquiries from US house hunters, according to Rightmove
- Edinburgh, Scotland
- Westminster, London
- Camden, London
- Glasgow, Scotland
- Islington, London
- Kensington and Chelsea, London
- Highlands, Scotland
- Argyll and Bute, Scotland
- Fife, Scotland
- Tower Hamlets, London
The%20specs
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Skoda Superb Specs
Engine: 2-litre TSI petrol
Power: 190hp
Torque: 320Nm
Price: From Dh147,000
Available: Now
