Chef Izu Ani is a well known face in the Dubai dining scene and the name linked to some of Dubai’s most treasured restaurants, including La Serre, La Petite Maison and more recently Gaia in DIFC. Another one Chef Izu has put his name to, or should we say his wife’s name to, is Carine, a Mediterranean restaurant with very much a French slant to it along with Italian and Greek elements.
Located in the Emirates Golf Club, the long established golf club went through some developments in its dining offerings during 2018, and one of those was the opening last year of Carine. An elegant and stylish restaurant with an indoor dining area and two terrace areas overlooking the immaculate championship greens, with Dubai’s skyline in the background.
As you take your seat, you are presented with fresh breads and the balsamic and olive oil combination, which is a great addition to the meal, with olive oil produced from Chef Izu’s own farm in Greece. The menu is significant with enough to choose from whether on an individual basis or for sharing.
Our starters were tuna tartare, watermelon and feta salad and grilled harissa prawns. The tuna tartare was perfectly seasoned and a healthy portion, and the watermelon and feta salad were a very refreshing dish to enjoy. The grilled prawns were meaty and juicy, however the stand out was not so much the prawns but the sauce they came in, which was just asking to be scooped up with soft bread.
For mains we opted for lamb cutlets and sea bass. The lamb cutlets were a great thickness and cooked exactly as requested, ensuring tender pieces of lamb. The sea bass was served in a very tasty tomato sauce and accompanied by a spicy rice which all combined made a perfect and hearty dish.
No meal is complete without a sweet to finish off with, and our desserts of passion fruit cheesecake and molten brownie where so tasty that it made you forget how full you were and polished them off easily. Carine offers a menu of food cooked with passion in a great location and setting. Expect to pay around Dhs 275 per person for 3 courses not including drinks.
Call 04-4179885.