Agreed. Every time I go to an upscale (invariably overpriced) place, I am disappointed. There isn't really any place that I get excited about. The trendy food halls like Depachika and Time Out Market are poor.

Among Mexican options, Maria Bonita in Madinat Jumeirah is pretty good. Tablita at the Hyatt Regency Healthcare City and Muchacha's at the Holiday Inn Express Safa Park are passable. A few of my other favorite mid-range places: Lola Taberna in Barsha Heights, McCafferty's in Wafi Mall, Siam Restaurant in Port Rashid, Al Falamaki in Jumeirah, Miyako at the Hyatt Regency Deira, Calicut Notebook Abu Baker Al Siddique location. Can't think of a sushi (there are extremely fancy places in Bulgari and Caesar's Palace that I haven't tried), Chinese, or steakhouse that I'd recommend.

Thanks for your feedback. I'm writing some of these down for my next trip there. It's just disheartening to spend a good sum of money on lunch or dinner and it's not up to par. I feel like a guinea pig every time I try some food there and waste my money. That's why I like staying at the Hyatt Diera and just eat off the club lounge buffet for breakfast and dinner and hit the Shawarma place down the street other times. Food is good and didn't break the bank 😀

On edit: I just pulled up Al Falamaki on google maps and I'm definitely checking out that place. The outdoor bright decor looks very nice and their dishes. And the fact it's regional type food, the type I enjoy more.

The golden rule of eating in Dubai is to find places with decent scenery and calmness. Getting away from the bustle, concrete and sand will leave a more lasting memory than the food. A calm meal at Jones the Grocer's, Flamingo Room or similar places is usually a winning receipe!

Make sure you go to the one in Jumeirah near the Four Seasons hotel. (I think there is or was a place by the same name in Port Saeed.) The outdoor terrace is nice.

Yes. That's the one I have marked. Thanks for the clarification.

So for food, If you want some authentic food, I have a couple of OG bakeries - Al reef bakery, has great cheese and meat pies, and of course Shawarma. Same cuisine with Al Mallah. If you want a good seafood experience with some spice and asian flare, there's an awesome place by the corniche in Sharjah called Mama Machi. It's a bit of a hole in the wall but flavor has been great and they have been around for over 30 years!

Are there any favorite higher-end Indian restaurants that can be recommended? Preferably in a hotel so we can have some adult beverages.

I like Gharana. It's surprising because it's kind of pan-Indian as opposed to focusing on a region and it's in the relatively dumpy Holiday Inn in Al Barsha. I have been to a handful of five-star-hotel Indian restaurants and none have been any better.

Also someone upthread recommended Asha's. I agree it's solid, though not spectacular, and they have alcohol.

Will post a longer review at some point, but I ate at Moonrise in October and felt that it was one of my top 5 lifetime dining experiences, and I've eaten at some great places... Phenomenal in every single way, and hands down the most thought provoking (in a fabulous way!) "Middle Eastern" food I've ever had. It's made me rethink what Middle Eastern food is in completely unexpected ways. It's not cheap, but I'm already planning for my next trip to the region via Dubai so I can eat there again.

Have you been there, mecabq?

No. I was prejudiced against this place because of a presumption that it was just another overseasoned, overpriced, overhyped gimmick. But thanks for the tip, maybe I will try it.

My favourite of all time is LOWE — bit of a trek out of the city, but brilliant, creative seasonal plates