Dubai has a new restaurant Cle’ (pronounced Kle) in DIFC, which is now home to some of the top names in the food business. Cle’ highlights the skills and skills of Michelin-star celebrity chef Greg Malouf, who specialises in contemporary Middle Eastern food, with an emphasis on contemporary.
The Best Dishes in the Middle East, Cle, Dubai
My partner and that I were invited for lunch and our first impression was that we had walked into the lounge/nightclub at the wrong time. The restaurant is big, with a lounge, VIP room, party area, regular restaurant and terrace. The interior is finished up in black and silver, which works for a night out on the town but blew us away a bit for lunch time. If you are searching for an avant-garde vibe, then Cle’ is the place for you.
But now we come to the better part. Chef Greg Malouf joined us and we were impressed by his honesty and fervour for his craft. He tells us how he’s a chef, in fact involved in the preparation and serving of dishes for the lunch and dinner service seven days a week.
The Best Dishes in the Middle East, Cle, Dubai
Now for the litmus test – we were presented with a sample tasting menu with a large vegetarian option as one of us is vegetarian. We had the hazelnut falafel (a twist on a classic) and the Persian herb salad with figs and crunchy halloumi, which were absolutely divine. The spices are fresh, the figs are ripe and sweet, and the salad is served with a pomegranate vinaigrette with a hint of chili. Then we had some silky hummus, mamaghanoush (which was Greg’s take on tzatziki) and an incredible spinach and Persian yogurt salad. We also had the lamb and rice in grape leaves, which we were told was Greg’s favourite dish.
The Best Dishes in the Middle East, Cle, Dubai
For the main course we were served zucchini filled with chickpeas and chicken with lemon sumac baked in saaj bread. The chicken is moist, savory and perfectly cooked. The presentation of all the food was perfect and little touches like heirloom tomatoes in the tomato and mozzarella salad and edible flowers in the herb salad. It elevates the entire dining experience to another level.
Will I return to Cle’? A meal for two can run up to $300 without alcohol, so it must be expensive. I will repeat the culinary experience, next time I will sit outside to enjoy the view.
