Celebrate St George's Day with one of these roast dinners

What’s On lists the best roast dinners in Dubai, including Ruth’s Chris, Reform Social and Grill, Dhow and Anchor, The Ivy, McGettigan’s.

Most famous for battered fish and chips and greasy fried breakfasts (neither of which we’re averse to here at What’s On), traditional British fare is often regarded as an underdog when it comes to international cuisine. But even the most adamant food snob would struggle to turn down a good old-fashioned roast dinner with all the trimmings. We’ve rounded up some of the best roasts Dubai has to offer, so the next time you find yourself yearning for beef and Yorkshires, you’ll know just where to go.

Ruth’s Chris Steak House
Branching out beyond the steaks that made it famous, Ruth’s Chris has launched a Saturday roast dinner. Choose a huge portion of either prime rib of beef or stuffed chicken, both of which come served with traditional trimmings including parsnips and mini Yorkshires. You’ll also get a choice of two desserts – the apple crumble gets the thumbs up from us.

Address Dubai Marina, Dubai, Sat 4pm to 11pm. Tel: (04) 4549538. Metro: Dubai Marina. ruthschris.ae 

Nelson’s
It’s designed with an English pub in mind, so naturally Nelson’s has roast dinners on the menu. On Sundays you can take your pick from beef or lamb with all the trimmings for Dhs85 between noon and 11pm. The offer conveniently overlaps with happy hour from noon to 8pm – so you can wash down your roast with selected beverages for just Dhs33 each.

Media Rotana, Tecom, Dubai, Sun noon to 11pm. Tel: (04) 43050201. Metro: Internet City. rotanatimes.com/mediarotana  

The D Upstairs at McGettigan’s
A hearty appetite is always helpful when it comes to a roast dinner, especially at this cosy brunch upstairs from the main McGettigan’s bar. In addition to hefty portions of roast beef from the buffet, enormous Yorkshire puddings and buttery parsnips, you can also tuck into oysters and lobster from the seafood bar. For eccentric eaters, why not mix it up with a dish from the a la carte breakfast menu. A roast with a side of French toast? Sounds good to us.

World Trade Centre, Dubai, Fri 2pm to 5.30pm. Tel: (04) 3780808. Metro: World Trade Centre. mcgettigansdubai.com 

Reform Social And Grill
Our favourite thing about a Reform roast – aside from Yorkshires that taste like the ones your granny used to make – is rounding it off with one of their traditional British puddings and custard. If that doesn’t satisfy your sweet tooth, the lakeside gastropub is also home to an old-school ice cream shop, where you can get a scoop of mint choc chip topped with crushed Kit Kats, or even a bag of retro sweets.

The Lakes, Emirates Hills, Dubai, Sat and Sun 7am to midnight. Tel: (04) 4542638. Taxi: Reform Social And Grill. facebook.com/reformdubai 

Dhow & Anchor
The best thing about a roast here is that you can have it any day of the week. The meat changes daily, from leg of lamb, to chicken and stuffing, to roast turkey with cranberry sauce and – of course – beef with Yorkshire pudding. The Saturday roast is special: pheasant with crispy skin and a copper saucepan of redcurrant jelly on the side. It’s worth going back for the deliciously creamy confit cabbage alone.

Jumeirah Beach Hotel, Jumeirah Beach Road, Dubai, daily noon to 1am. Tel: (04) 4068999. Taxi: Jumeirah Beach 

Nineteen
A cross between a traditional roast dinner and a chilled-out brunch, Saturdays at Nineteen require a tactical approach. While you may be tempted to tuck into the seafood buffet, we suggest you save yourself for the platters of roast lamb, beef and chicken with piping hot roasties, Yorkshire pudding and veg. A post-roast visit to the dessert station is, of course, encouraged.

The Address Montgomerie, Emirates Hills, Dubai, Sat noon to 3.30pm. Tel: (04) 8883444. Taxi: The Address Montgomerie. theaddress.com

Table 9 by Darren Velvick
You won’t find any plain old sage and onion at Table 9. Here, your roast chicken comes stuffed with foie gras. The corn-fed chicken is served with leeks and potatoes and is big enough for two to share. The Dhs230 dish is a new addition to the menu since the restaurant – previously Table 9 by Nick and Scott – was taken over by Brit Velvick, who worked with the likes of Gordon Ramsay and Marcus Wareing in the UK.

Hilton Dubai Creek, Baniyas Street, Dubai, Sun to Fri 7pm to midnight. Tel: (04) 2127551. Taxi: Hilton Dubai Creek. table9dubai.com 

Rivington Grill
Be sure to skip breakfast if you’re heading to the Rivi for your roast dinner. The roast beef special, available on Saturday, comes with tangy red cabbage, creamy horseradish on the side, and the biggest Yorkshire pudding we’ve seen in Dubai.

Souk Al Bahar, Downtown Dubai, Sat noon to 10.30pm. Tel: (04) 4230903. Metro: Burj Khalifa/Dubai Mall. rivingtongrill.ae 

The Ivy
This is a roast dinner done right: meltingly tender rib of beef served with Yorkshire pudding, perfectly crisp roast potatoes and gravy on the side. The choice of sides includes creamy cauliflower gratin and sweet honey-roasted parsnips. You will inevitably clear your plate, but try to squeeze in dessert – the apple and blackberry crumble with crème anglaise is delicious.

The Boulevard, Jumeirah Emirates Towers, Dubai, Sat 11am to 9pm. Tel: (04) 3198767. Metro: Emirates Towers. theivy.ae 

Arboretum
Its speciality is Arabic food, but Sunday nights at this restaurant in the lavish Al Qasr Hotel are all about traditional British roasts. You’ll find a range of meats, all accompanied by roast potatoes, stuffing, veg and gravy, plus Yorkshire puddings that are crunchy on the outside, light and fluffy on the inside.

Al Qasr, Madinat Jumeirah, Dubai, Sun 7pm to 11pm. Tel: (04) 3666730. Taxi: Al Qasr. jumeirah.com