Shining a light restaurant

It is like home-made food" said a young Emirati woman after dining at Fanar recently. That's a big compliment for the restaurant, at Dubai Festival City, which serves up platefuls of Emirati cuisine, an often overlooked style of cooking in the UAE. Fanar, the colloquial word for lantern, is the first of its kind in Dubai. Previously, Emirati dishes were availableforcatering or delivery — and of course in homes around the country. For expats looking for a taste of local food, a personal invitation was often the only way to try it. Fanar offers dining in, with a wide variety of Emirati dishes in a fascinating atmosphere and captivating interior design, inspired by the houses the pearl divers of old would have lived in, known as tawashe. Everything in the restaurant seems well-researched and studied to recall a rich culture. From the lanterns dangling from the ceiling to hanging carpets from fake balconies, to a huge cement and plastic tree in the middle of the hosh (the main dining area), to the menu, which is printed on two sides of bamboo fans or mahafa. The entrance of the restaurant, located on the mall's canal side is another story, duplicating what the front yard of an old house in the sixties of the last century would have looked like. A life-size camel, horse and monkey sit alongside a vintage blue Land Rover. The menu offers scores of Emirati dishes — salads, soups and fish and meat cooked in a variety of mouth-watering sauces. Sambosak, the pastry stuffed with several kinds of vegetables, is a must try. It is delicious, crunchy and light. A highly recommended dish is nadhar mashwi — grilled squid seasoned with special spice. It is served with bread and rice. The food is well-cooked and light, to the extent that it would be difficult to decide when to stop eating. Equally difficult would be the decision when dessert time comes. The restaurant offers several types of sweets, so it is a good idea if at least three are ordered, as portions are small. Must-tries include "Bobber mixture" (pumpkin pudding), Khabisah (sauteed flour and molasses mixture) and the Baathith (crumbled dates in roasted flour and butter). Arabic coffee served in traditional cups or tea served in small glasses adds a pleasant final touch. Though the majority of the diners are Emiratis, there are many foreigners and expatriates including Arabs, westerners and Asians. The restaurant offers late lunches and dinners in a relaxing atmosphere. "I don't feel I am in Dubai," a diner said while enjoying her lunch, in reference to the fast pace of life in the city. "When I go to other restaurants, I feel I am there for eating, and I see people eating quickly and leave. But here, I feel I am relaxed and I see people taking there time in eating and chatting." Restaurant Promotions ARMANI hotel Hashi: Indulge in omakase, the chef's tasting menu from Dh450 for a four-course menu, with music by the resident DJ from Monday to Friday. 7pm to 11pm. Phone: 800 276264 Crowne Plaza Dubai Harvesters Pub: Burger Special: choose from a selection of five different burgers, priced from Dh59, from May 14 to 20. Phone: 800 276963 Citymax Bur Dubai Friday brunch featuring three international cuisines starting from Dh59. Play your favourite songs on the jukebox or enjoy a game of pool. Noon until 4pm. Phone: 050-1007065 Emirates Golf Club Le Classique: Saturday brunch featuring live cooking stations and a selection of changing a la carte main courses. Starting at Dh195 and Dh320 inclusive of more than a dozen select beverages. Available from noon until 3.30pm. Phone: 04-4179999 Ibn Battuta Gate Hotel Mistral: Daily seafood nights: a selection of the fresh catch of the day and the chef to cooked to your liking. From 7pm-11pm. Priced at Dh180 with unlimited soft drinks or Dh229 including unlimited house beverages. Phone: 04-4445613 Jumeirah Emirates Towers ET Sushi: Eat all you can sushi, sashimi and tempura off the conveyer belt. Indulge in Japanese cuisine including seaweed and potato salads, tempura, pickles and miso soup. From 6-7pm, Sunday to Thursday at Dh110. Phone: 04-3198088 Le Méridien Dubai M's Beef Bistro: Cool down with chilled soups. Enjoy chilled gazpacho or green apple and cucumber. From May 11 to 17. Phone: 04-7022455 Le Royal Méridien Beach Resort Ossigeno: Chef Marco Lucentini's three-course dinner menu from May 13 to 31 priced at Dh250. A choice of either tea or coffee is included in this offer. Phone: 04-3165550 Jumeirah Beach Hotel Carnevale: Mother's Day celebration dinner showcasing the Italian tradition. VIP masterclass on May 12 from 11am till 1pm at Beachcombers Garden for Dh100. A la carte menu on May 13 prepared by chef Artemisia. Menu is available as daily special from May 14 until the end of the month. Phone: 056-6826719 Sheraton Abu Dhabi Hotel La Mamma: Mother's day celebration on May 13. Italian chef Andrea Molinari will prepare a four-course menu for Dh165 including a glass of bubbly. Phone: 02-6773333