Berenjak Dubai

From JKS Restaurant Group behind some of London's most awarded Indian and South Asian restaurants. Group founded 2008 by three siblings, currently hold eight Michelin stars and six Bib Gourmands. Baron Jack opened Soho neighborhood London 2018. Chef and founder Kian Samiani wanted to bring food he loved from trips to visit family in Iran back to London. Currently ten Baron Jack locations: four UK, two Dubai, two Doha, one Los Angeles, one members only Dumbo House Brooklyn. Three of those have Michelin Bib Gourmands (Michelin's way of recognizing restaurants with exceptional food at reasonable price). Only four Persian restaurants in world with any distinction from Michelin, three of those are Baron Jack locations.

The visit to Berenjak in Dubai was marked by anticipation, especially since the Brooklyn location is only accessible to Dumbo House members. The reviewers were impressed by the freshness and quality of the dishes, noting the meal as fantastic and memorable. The experience was enhanced by a variety of traditional Persian offerings, each executed with attention to detail and flavor, making the journey to Dubai worthwhile.

Baron Jack Dubai earned its Michelin Bib Gourmand through the $35 lunch deal that delivers a crazy amount of food with incredible quality. The signature black chickpea hummus stood out as unlike any other hummus they had ever tasted. It looked like peanut butter and had an earthy, savory flavor with walnuts physically ground on top. The jujeh kebab showcased perfectly tender chicken breast that stayed moist thanks to the yogurt marinade. The saffron really shined through with charred pieces adding subtle caramelization. The koubideh kebab had almost a gamey flavor with just enough fat to keep every bite flavorful while staying tender. The bread portions were massive. They received two full loaves of barbari for one person, which seemed crazy. The clay oven gave the taptun a smoky, earthy flavor you cannot replicate in a regular oven. The kashk bademjan delivered mostly earthy and smoky flavors rather than tasting strongly of eggplant, with a nice crunch from fried onions on top. The potatoes were fried to perfection and paired surprisingly well with the cooling yogurt sauce. Nothing was really that spicy despite expectations. Even the red sauce on the potatoes was more citrusy than hot. The rice with berries was a unique touch that added sweetness and tanginess. The drinks were refreshing, especially the pomegranate sharbati with its fuzzy basil seeds adding texture. They finished with complimentary grapes on ice that were perfectly sweet and cold. The whole experience made it painful that they cannot visit the Baron Jack location at home in Brooklyn since it is members only.