Le Cirque Dubai restaurant review

If you’re still looking for a romantic restaurant this weekend then put Le Cirque on your shortlist. We’re not here to judge your tardiness in making plans – we’re here to help.

The French fine dining joint out of New York has been at the top of its game for over 40 years. It has hosted Hollywood royalty such as Robert De Niro and Sylvester Stallone as well as eccentric artist Andy Warhol, pictures of which are hanging on the walls here.

This Dubai version is just as cool and is a superb spot for a romantic evening. Your better half will treasure the experience.

The ice-white interior undergoes a visual makeover when the sun goes down. When we step inside, and are whisked past the stylish New York-style bar, we find the moody lighting in the cosy dining area around the back creates an intimate setting.

There was a worry that the music at Le Cirque’s livelier neighbour, Flair No. 5, would seep in and distract from the mood, but thankfully you can’t hear a peep from it. Hot tip: Flair No. 5 is a great spot to carry on the evening after your meal.

Seasonings greeting

For starters, we order the sugar snap salad and the burrata. Both are deliciously light and great examples of Le Cirque’s flavour packed menu.

The burrata is paired expertly with the tanginess of the balsamic vinegar and fresh slices of heirloom tomato. And the mustard that comes with the salad of avocado, quinoa and feta is delightful. It seems odd to say this, but a lot of the top restaurants still struggle to get the seasoning balance on point. But the same criticism can’t be levelled at Le Cirque.

Take the wagyu ribeye steak for another example. Although you can order béarnaise, bordelaise, pepper or mushroom sauce, the cut is tasty enough on its own. Seriously, we’re still thinking about it now. Each mouthful of the tender beef was so outstanding, we didn’t want it to end.

The same can be said about the succulent confit salmon too. Flakes of perfectly pickled fish were great, and so too was the red pepper sauce is came with.

Dessert is a classic tiramisu and passion fruit cheesecake, which, again, shows the love and care it puts into every dish on the menu. These were the perfect bookends to a fantastic evening – both of them were rich and flavourful.

So for a complete romantic experience of excellent food and a cosy ambience, you can’t go wrong with Le Cirque. Just make sure you don’t leave your plans to the last minute again, OK?

Le Cirque
Where: The Ritz-Carlton DIFC
Reservations: + 971 4 372 2323