Review: The Biber Lounge at Rixos The Palm Dubai

A handout photo of Biber Lounge at Rixos The Palm (Courtesy: Rixos The Palm)

The Biber Lounge at Rixos The Palm Dubai is an eclectic treat

From Istanbul to Dubai

Fortunately Justin Bieber has nothing to do with it. Located on the lobby floor of the resort, The Biber Lounge is a popular lounge bar concept from Turkey that mixes trending surroundings with tapas style Asian cuisine. Created by entrepreneur Emre Ergani, the concept is a proven hit in Turkey with branches open in Bodrum, Cesme and Kartalkaya.

Mix and Match

Eclectic is the word. The Dubai venue is an ideal place to play “spot the influence.” During my visit I noticed the rustic and wooden decorations of an English pub, a Japanese-styled kitchen counter with a chef cutting up sashimi, some Turkish music wafting through the speakers before a live band plugged in to play a delightful selection of Cuban music.

The food

Don’t let the decor fool you, the Biber Lounge serves some serious Japanese and Asian cuisine. I began with the King Crab Egg Drop Soup (Dh50) and it was splendid. The key factor here was the sweetness of the crabmeat which worked well with the spicy broth. The mini duck wraps were also decent with a balanced amount of exterior crisp and inner moistness. Up next was the sashimi consisting of Atlantic Salmon Fillet with sesame oil, green and scallions. The fillet veered close to being dry but it was rescued with the Ponzu dressing whose combination of rice vinegar and katsuobushi flakes invigorated the pallet. The spicy tuna rolls were also a treat, the freshness of the tuna gelling well with the flavoured rice. The seaweed wrap were sturdy with no rice-spillage when poked.

Don’t forget the dessert

The Japanese Mochi Ice Cream (Dh25) needs to be experienced. Made from pounded sticky rice and filled with ice cream, the desert’s interesting texture is akin to gum. It is something to chew on as opposed to roll around in your tongue. Admittedly, my traditional sense got the better of me when trying the vanilla flavour. But the interesting combination really hit the spot when it came to the green-tea ice cream. It is worth trying for the curiosity and the resulting conversation.

The Wash Up

It may look like it has an identity crisis, but the Biber Lounge offers a comfortable spot to unwind after a long work day. The live group performing that night were exceptional and paired with the Japanese made-to-share dishes, it all made for a decent night-out with friends.

For more details on Biber Lounge at Rixos The Palm Dubai go to www.rixos.com