Healthy eating, an unlicensed Italian, a JBR bar opens for food service and a new menu at a Jamaican hotspot…

From unique dining experiences to wallet-friendly dinner deals perfect for pairs, we seem to have it all when it comes to new restaurants.

But as the foodie scene gets bigger and bigger, we’re seeing both old and new concepts bringing a fresh approach to dining in Dubai.

So here are four restaurants on our radar to check out this week (here are the fresh places we pointed out last week).

The Brand New

Larte: Unlicensed Italian opens in Dubai Design District

As much about contemporary design as it is about Italian food, there’s a new casual cafe to check out in d3. Following the flagship concept in Milan, LARTE Dubai offers an all-day dining experience combining counter service and a full-service trattoria. As well as a selection of traditional vegetarian, vegan, seafood and meat options, expect some more uncommon Italian dishes, including the oven baked Ziti Ragu, the Truffled Clams Casarecce and their take on a French toast using Italian Panettone for dessert.

Building 10, Dubai Design District (D3), Sun to Thurs, 8am to 11pm, Fri and Sat, 10am to 11pm. Tel: (04) 240 0441. More info on website.

Poke & Co: A new healthy eating spot for DIFC dwellers

Poke has been having a moment in the Dubai foodie scene all the way through 2017, and it shows no sign of going away so we’re excited to see another new place throw open its doors in DIFC. This home-grown healthy food café serves up Hawaiian Poké bowls along with a variety of breakfast options, salads, super-food acai bowls, cold-pressed juices, specialty coffees and vegan desserts. Whether you are looking for gluten-free, dairy-free, vegetarian, vegan alternatives or healthy goodness, Downtown and DIFC dwellers make note of this one.

P2 level, Central Park Towers, DIFC (Opposite Spinneys Super Market), daily 11am to 10pm. Tel: (800) 7653. More info on website.

Now Serving

Lock, Stock and Barrel: The kitchen opens at the JBR super bar

It’s fast become one of Dubai’s most popular watering holes, and now the second serving of Dubai’s Lock, Stock and Barrel is firing things up in the kitchen too. It’s a menu of international pub bites served from food containers from around the world; Jacks serves up British pub grub, Habibi has a Middle Eastern theme, The Taj boasts Indian favourites and Chopsticks, you guessed it, is Chinese food. They’re kicking things off with ‘The Big Fat Brunch’ this Friday.

Rixos Premium, JBR, Sun to Thurs 4pm to 3am, Thurs and Fri 2pm to 3am. Tel: (058) 836 2891. More info on website

The New Menu

Miss Lily’s: New dishes add to an already great menu

It’s hard for Miss Lily’s to get any better than it already is. The Downtown restaurant and bar was one of the first to bring Caribbean cuisine to Dubai two years ago, and it’s kept up the quality ever since. For the new season, there’s a new menu, and it’s worth checking out. There’s a twist on a Kale salad for the health buffs, King Crab “Rundown” with sweet corn porridge and roasted cashews, and a new salmon dish that’s cooked in rum.

Sheraton Grand, Sheikh Zayed Road, daily, 7pm to 2am. Tel: (04) 354 4074. More info on website

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