8 restaurants in the UAE offering sumptuous Diwali spreads

Courtesy La Porte des Indes Restaurant

Courtesy JW Marriott Marquis Dubai

Courtesy: Mövenpick Hotel Ibn Battuta Gate

Courtesy Yas Viceroy

Courtesy Armani/Amal

Photo by Anisha Varma

Mint Leaf of London in DIFC is offering a special three-course menu with dishes such as mutton bhoona; dal panchmel (five-lentil stew); and murgh kaju korma with braised chicken thighs and cashew nuts. Desserts include a gajar halwa tart with carrot and fudge and rasgulla. Lamps will be lit throughout the restaurant to add to the festive mood.

• Dh225 per person, call 04 706 0900; until Wednesday November 11.

La Porte des Indes in The Address Dubai Mall has two set menus until Thursday November 12. Highlights on the meat menu include Malabar fish curry (sea bream cooked in a curry leaf flavoured coconut sauce); and methi murgh (chicken thighs braised with onion, tomato, ginger and fenugreek leaves. Vegetarians can feast on dishes such as the mushroom galauti or bhutta aur shimla mirch ki subzi (baby corn and bell peppers stir-fried with green onions and coriander).

• Available for dinner only, Dh335. For every booking made, one meal is complimentary. Dh95 for children; call 04 438 8610

Rang Mahal by Atul Kochhar in the JW Marriott Marquis Dubai has two five-course set menus created by chef Amrish Sood (one meat, one veg). With a range of Indian classics served in contemporary ways, the menu features lamb masala with stewed chicken and shrimps in Tamilian spices; grilled lamb loin with lime, tandoori chicken tikka and walnut, pan grilled fish in coastal spices; paneer dumpling with masala baked yam, lotus stem and mushrooms; and baked vegetable stew with poached milk koftas in curry, walnut and lentil cake masala).

• Available from 6pm to midnight until November 15, Dh295; call 04 414 0000

For a frugal feast, try Claypot in Citymax Hotel, Bur Dubai. You'll get a culinary journey through India with a special menu that includes Hyderabadi mutton biryani; Bengali fish curry; Shikampuri subz seekh; and cauliflower milagu pirati.

• Dh79 per person, available Saturday through Wednesday from 7pm to midnight until November 21; call 050 100 7065

Chor Bazaar is hosting a three-day Diwali food festival at Moevenpick Hotel Ibn Battuta Gate from Wednesday November 11 until Friday. Browse the market-style live cooking stations serving up an array of traditional Indian appetisers, curries, tandoors and more. Highlights include jhinga kali mirch (prawns with black peppercorn gravy) and chicken achari tikka (chicken cooked with pickling spices). The restaurant will be filled with marigolds, mango leaves and oil lamps.

• From 7pm to 11pm; Dh175 with soft drinks. Call 04 444 5613

At Angar in the Yas Viceroy Abu Dhabi, diners will sit among colourful candle lights while enjoying special dishes like quail stir-fried with south Indian spices and steamed chickpeas cake; sweet pickle and chilli-marinated tandoori lamb spare rib; lamb cubes stir-fried with coconut, and biryani rice; and pan-fried tiger prawns marinated with costal spices and coconut chutney. The vegetarian menu has tandoori corn seekh kebab and spiced yam patties; Indian pav (soft rolls) filled with masala potato and chutneys; and courgette stuffed with spiced paneer.

• Dh165 per menu, from 7pm to 11pm, available through Wednesday November 11. Call 02 656 0600

Armani/Amal in the Armani Hotel in the Burj Khalifa will celebrate the Festival of Lights against the backdrop of the Dubai Fountain every night until November 14. Chef Ashwani Kaw and his team have designed a special sharing menu with classic Indian flavours.

• Vegetarian menu is Dh325; non-veg is available Dh350. Armani/Amal is open nightly from 7pm to 11pm. Call 04 888 3888

Avasa, the upscale Indian restaurant at The Collection in the St. Regis Saadiyat Island Resort, Abu Dhabi will offer a five-course special Diwali menu for one day only. The menu starts with welcome drinks and includes options such as spicy street style lamb curry; spiced fish curry with orange and raw mango, fresh coconut milk and curry leaves; and Tandoori baked cottage cheese marinated with spiced yogurt.

• The set menu is available on November 11 from noon to 11pm for Dh150. For reservations, call 02 674 2221