LA PARILLA

Location: Jumeirah Beach Hotel
Pricing:
AED 395 (Without alcohol)
AED 495 (With Alcohol, Bubbly & Prosecco)
Timings: 12.30pm-3.30pm

“My favorites animal is Steak”- Fran Lebowitz

This brunch has been in high demand, mainly due to the 2 for 1 offer on the Entertainer. After several failed attempts at booking a table for this Latin brunch we finally succeeded. Thus the expectations were sky high. “Brunch the Latin Way” is how La Parrilla promotes itself and mention that the brunch features” a Ceviche and Pisco bar and a menu of tapas dishes to share, live grill and live entertainment from our new award winning Columbian dancers”. On our visit however; the ceviche and pisco bar, the live entertainment and the Colombian dancers were nowhere to be seen! (Colombia is spelled with an ‘O’ not a ‘U’).

The alcohol package includes a mediocre Prosecco, below average south African red & white wines (Latin brunch should include Argentinian & Chilean wine no?), house spirits, and two embarrassing excuses for cocktails- a pathetic Margarita and the worst Pisco Sour I’ve ever tasted.

Food is served sharing style and to begin with we were served: nachos & salsa, bread & a horrible form of dried beef (bad bresaola perhaps?), Brazilian Pan de queso (small balls of bread stuffed with cheese), three types of empanadas (beef, chicken, cheese), Arepas (type of food made from ground maize dough- very popular in Colombia & Venezuela), and a pan of fried eggs with vegetables. The empanadas were arguably the best of the selection, however not a single item can be described as out of the ordinary.

Main course consists of a selection meats (beef, lamb, chicken, scallop, prawns) that you are supposed to grill on a hot stone. Both the beef & lamb were of good quality, the remaining items I could have done without. Sides consists of French fries, sautéed mushrooms, mashed potatoes with truffle and a salad.

The restaurant is located on the 25^th floor of Jumeriah Beach Hotel with spectacular views of Burj Al Arab. It has been around for quite a long time now (over 15 years?) and this is reflected in the terribly outdated interior of the restaurant. For a whopping AED 500 per head, neither the quality of food nor the beverages matches the expectations. Thankfully our party had sufficient vouchers to pay only half that, otherwise we would all have left La Parilla feeling conned. Frankly the restaurant and brunch are in desperate need of an overhaul.

Rating:
Ambiance: 5/20.
Beverages: 5/20.
Food: 10/20.
Service: 10//20
Value for Money: 0/20.
Total: 30%