The Chinese restaurant with a big reputation at Emirates Palace has just opened up a new section dedicated to the enjoyment of bar bites and beverages. Angela Beitz went along to check it out
Since opening in the capital, Hakkasan has established itself as one of the most successful restaurants in the UAE. Stepping inside this chic spot at Emirates Palace is a bit like walking into a secret society of cool. You’ll be greeted by friendly waiters, dark timber screens stretching up to the ceiling and soft lighting. Apart from being well known for its creative Michelin star Chinese food, Hakkasan also serves up some very creative drinks. To combine these two, they’ve recently introduced bites in their Ling Ling Lounge which sits behind the bar.
Service
Staff here are renowned for their expertise and their great service, always greeting you warmly and suggesting certain food and drinks according to your taste. We meet Vinicio Alberelli, the manager, and he explains to us the reasoning for opening up the Ling Ling Lounge.
‘The restaurant is very popular but sometimes people just want to stop by for some drinks and something light to eat which is why we are now serving bites in Ling Ling Lounge. The menu contains similar dishes to the restaurant but in more of a chic bar setting. We are also offering a selection of cigars and loads of signature blends that are exclusive to Hakkasan.’
We start off with the strawberry and basil mocktail which is packed with flavour and goes down nicely. We also try the Bitter Fortune mocktail which is a mix of pink grapefruit juice, lime and mint and has a real zesty taste. Another standout to try is a version of the signature beverage the Hakka, made with passion fruit, lychee juice, coconut cream and lime. Drinks are nicely presented and served with gusto by the staff.
Décor and atmosphere
The interior at Hakkasan is very sleek, featuring dark timber dividers carved in Chinese motifs, pale jade-green leather upholstered seats, low pendant lights above tables which lend to the dimly lit feeling of the venue. The atmosphere here is always buzzing no matter what night you visit but it gets really packed with a great vibe on a Thursday or Friday night. DJ Moe Turk plays a range of house music every Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.
Food
The bar bites at Ling Ling Lounge mainly consist of dim sum, duck rolls, salt and pepper squid and prawn toast. Our steamed dim sum platter had four different types of dumplings made with seafood, chicken and vegetable. These were tender little parcels with fantastic flavour. Our favourite was the prawn and chive dumplings, but they were all very good with another standout being the pumpkin and black pepper. We also indulged in the prawn toast which were delicious. Both selections came as a very substantial serving, so you will not go hungry.
Pros
The service here is top notch, the atmosphere is always great and the bar has a really nice feel about it. The fact that you can now grab bar bites in Ling Ling Lounge means you can sample some of the amazing food without having to fork out for dinner if you don’t fancy it. Perfect for after work drinks or catch-ups with your friends for an elegant evening out.
Cons
The bar can get a little smokey and if you don’t like busy bars and prefer a quiet drink then Hakkasan is definitely not for you.
Hakkasan, Emirates Palace, Ras Al Akhdar (02 690 9000).
