Sparking joy? Make that serving joy at Oii. That’s the restaurant and café’s theme. It is a pretty joyful location in Al Qana on Al Maqta Channel, with a quaint terrace for when the weather is fair.
Oii signs (which means “hello” in Portuguese) along with the shattered plates surrounding the pots nod to the Med- and mildly Greek-leaning theme. The menu, meanwhile, is a country-hop of Southern Europe and the vibe is meant to evoke a Mediterranean seaside café – making the Al Qana location a smart match.
The space is intimate (and unlicensed), and feels as though it could be a cute pick for a date, but Oii’s broad menu reflects its attempt a much more broad appeal, with plenty of families and kids milling around.
Throughout, the mood is light with punchy pop tunes and friendly staff who demonstrate strong attention to detail, even with the restaurant being a newcomer to the capital’s dining scene.
Whether you want to start your day, have a lingering lunch or dinner, or stop by for a mocktail or one of the rotating specials, Oii does it all.
Dishes themselves are colourful and vibrant, with plenty of aesthetic appeal. Even a simple Greek salad looks more like a ratatouille or carpaccio with its artful presentation.
Some plates would benefit from fewer ingredients, so flavours don’t compete, but overall the menu offers good variety and value, with starters and salads from around Dhs50, and mains from around Dhs75.
A cute spot in an up-and-coming neighbourhood.
