If you’d rather have the food brought to you, then get out of the kitchen and try out one of the many Indian restaurants across the Emirates that are hosting Diwali celebrations.
Abu Dhabi
Celebrate Diwali at Urban Kitchen in Dusit Thani Abu Dhabi on Thursday from 7pm to 10.30pm. Diwali diyas and hanging lanterns will adorn the restaurant as guests are treated to a buffet of dishes from the northern and southern regions of India. There will also be a large selection of sweets. Dh199 per person. For reservations, call 02 698 8137.
Indigo, the Indian restaurant at the Beach Rotana, will offer a special Diwali set menu, separate from its regular à la carte menu. The Diwali menu will feature traditional festive dishes such as dahi gujia (stuffed dumplings in yogurt sauce) and kheer (rice pudding). There will also be traditional Diwali sweets. The Diwali set menu costs Dh195 on Thursday for lunch and dinner. For reservations, call 02 697 9011.
Avasa, at The Collection at The St Regis Saadiyat Island Resort, has two three-course set menus for Diwali. The vegetarian menu includes peanut butter paneer as a main option and the non-vegetarian menu offers three choices for the main, including peanut butter chicken. The Diwali menu will be available until Sunday and costs Dh120 for the vegetarian menu and Dh135 for non-vegetarian menu. For reservations, call 02 674 2221.
Dubai
The Mint Leaf of London in DIFC will host a Diwali-inspired à la carte brunch this Friday featuring Indian specialities such as stuffed Kashmiri gucchi (Kashmiri mushrooms stuffed with masala quinoa) and murg wajid ali (stuffed chicken breast in dry-fruit sauce). Tables will be adorned with rose petals and tea lights to add to the ambience. On Friday, 2pm to 5.30pm, Dh245. For reservations, call 04 706 0900.
La Portes des Indes in The Address Dubai Mall will feature a special thali-inspired menu with a vegetarian and non-vegetarian option. Each menu is priced at Dh195 per person and will be available today until Saturday. For reservations, call 04 438 8610.
Armani / Amal restaurant on the third floor of the Burj Khalifa will celebrate the festival of lights with a sharing menu prepared by chef Sameer Sehgal. Dishes include chargrilled black pomfret marinated with pickled spices, stir-fry chicken tikka and desserts such as chilled rice pudding with mango and raisins and traditional gajar ka halwa. The menu is available from now until Saturday, from 7pm to 11pm, for Dh325 per person. For reservations, call 04 888 3444.
Signature by Sanjeev Kapoor in the Meliá Dubai will host the Great Diwali Festival featuring a degustation menu of Kapoor’s signature dishes, including nariyali prawns and pani puri shooters. The tasting menu is available from Thursday until Saturday from 7pm to 11pm for Dh150. For reservations, call 04 386 8111.