This is a seafood place which suffers from a fast-food facade. Not that we have anything against fast-food (tell a lie, we do, but we won’t hold it against anyone that doesn’t.) The setting feels a bit like Pizza Hut, but with an aquarium in the centre, and the music is something we could have done without. If you can get passed all that though, it gets better from here.
We ordered the Ocenia platter for two, which is as glorious as it sounds, with one problem. The menu outlined six queen prawns, nine medium butterflied prawns, grilled calamari, tender steak strips, six creamy mussels, tender line fish, grilled squid heads, steamed rice and crispy chips. We got everything minus the grilled squid heads. Staff interrogation followed, but they weren’t too apologetic. Apparently it’s a mistake on the menu and no big deal. We think it’s a big deal and a tad misleading, but not being in the mood to make a fuss, we just dug in.
The prawns really are killer. Succulent and flavoursome, they are wonderfully complimented by the garlic sauce and lemon, butter sauce. The line fish is indeed tender and the creamy mussels make you want to slurp up all the remaining juices at the end. Add to all this, some decent calamari and we’re curious (and a tad disappointed) about those grilled squid heads the menu promised.
Now we did wonder what the steak strips were even doing on a seafood platter, and after a bite or two, decided they were a waste of space. The same can be said about the ‘steamed’ rice, which by all accounts looked and tasted like easy-cook microwave stuff.
A note to the posh, you will be given heavy-duty napkins and a brass bowl because you are expected to use your fingers, and things will get messy. No fret, a waitress comes along in the end with two shot glasses of hot water and two little tablets. Now watch this part carefully, it’s a fascinating operation. When dropped into the hot water the tablets expand into warm wet-wipes. Magic!
The bill (for two)
Oceania Platter Dhs239
Large sparkling water Dhs15
Total Dhs254
Jimmy’s Killer Prawns has changed pricing policy since this review was first published. Please call ahead to check current prices.
