[Dubai, UAE] La Petite Maison is one of the two restaurants from Dubai ranked in The World’s 100 Best Restaurants 2014 at No 81, the other restaurant behind Zuma just steps away.
When it comes to restaurants and food, Dubai is known for importing brand-name restaurants and chefs, many known to have amazing views and grandeur décor. At DIFC alone where La Petite Maison is located, there are many than 40 restaurants and chains, many belonging to known international chains.
When I first walked into what many would say is the best restaurant in Dubai, I was slightly caught off guard.
The general ambience was more casual than others listed in the Top 100, with a more brassiere vibe rather than upscale French restaurant (though price is quite upscale). Mood was romantic, though tables were placed rather close apart. You could possibly hear the next table if they spoke in the same language.
There wasn’t any of those Chef’s degustation tasting menus, but an Ala Carte one where all food is presented on a single sheet.
I don’t mean this in a bad way, because many “best restaurants” would belong to a certain type, with a treatment of what some would call ‘pretentious’, and not exactly this.
Reservation was fuss-free via email, though the waitress told us to “Wait!” when we arrived promptly at 7:00pm. 15 minutes later, we were seated.
La Petite Maison’s cooking style belongs to “old Genoese” (a city in Italy), serving French-Mediterranean cuisine. There is large use of local produce such as artichokes and tomatoes with its dishes mainly comprising of seafood, meat dishes and fresh pasta.
The quality of the food bordered between above the average and excellent execution.
Some of dishes I were recommended from the Salad Niçoise (90 dirham, SGD$30.80, USD$24.50), Calamars Frits Deep (45 dirham, SGD$15.40, USD$12.25) and Homemade Pasta (95 dirham, SGD $32.40, USD$25.90) were fresh, balanced in taste to the light side, some interesting touches, but I wondered if it warranted that kind of price.
The best dish we had was a Canard a l’orange – Slow Cooked Duck Legs with an Orange Glaze (145 dirham, SGD$49.50, USD$39.48) in which the orange sauce brought out the loveliness of the fork-tender duck meat. In its all, glazed, juicy and flavourful.
Food and dessert wise, better than the norm, and likely to be the best meal I had in my short trip in Dubai. But is better than norm enough for Best 100? Maybe I was missing something there.
La Petit Maison
Gate Village 08 Dubai International Financial Centre DIFC, P.O. Box 506711 Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Tel: 00 971 (0) 4439 0505, info@lpmdubai.ae
Opening Hours: 12pm-3pm, 7pm-11:30pm
Other Related Entries
World’s 100 Best Restaurants 2014
Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants 2014
I will be in Dubai in February. I have two free nights and afternoons for eating. I want to go to Petit Maison one night. What do you suggest for the other three meals?