Casa de Tapas

Location: Dubai Creek Golf and yacht Club
Pricing: AED 250- beer- wine- house spirits, AED 299- plus sparkling wine
Timing:12.30-4pm

“Drink what you want; drink what you’re able. If you are drinking with me, you’ll be under the table.”
~ Anonymous

After choosing my package and paying at the door I proceed to our table of 8 which is perfectly placed beside the stage where the Spanish band will be playing. Today I am brunching with 7 Colombians who are notorious for their drinking capabilities. The restaurant is very nicely designed with floor to ceiling windows, wood flooring, and colorful Spanish tiles and plates hanging from the walls and ceiling.

I order an Estrella to start but I am disappointed to hear that it is only available in bottle. The brunch consists of a cold tapas buffet, hot tapas served to your table, roast beef, and Spain’s national dish; the Paella. The buffet is un-proportionately focused on the salads so I fill my plate with tortilla Española, cocktails prawns and a small spoonful of most of the salads to try. Everything is bland and not a single item provokes me to go for seconds so I order a jug of sangria hoping that it will enhance the food slightly. I try the paella and roast beef; both are a massive improvement on the cold bland tapas.

The three man band comes on to the stage and begins playing excellent covers of Spanish pop. I order a round of tequila from our nice Zimbabwean waiter who remarks that is too early for tequila (it’s only 1 pm, I smile and think to myself that it is never too early for tequila). After several rounds of shots the hot tapas begin arriving to the table and include: garlic prawns, fried calamari, chicken wings, and patatas bravas. The tapas are served hot and are satisfying, yet I can’t help but feel the chefs can add a lot more flavor to the dishes.

I notice several of the adjacent tables have followed our lead and were drinking the Mexican liquid gold. A classic from gypsy kings proves the tipping point and all the happy people are now dancing and swinging skillfully around the tables. My Colombian compadres manage to launch a human dancing train around the restaurant and as I jump in I realize that dancing is the ultimate food for the soul.

Rating
Ambiance: 20/20.
Beverages: 12/20.
Food: 10/20.
Service: 18/20
Value for Money: 20/20.
Total: 80%