Asian cuisine,

Wakame

15:53 UrbanModish 11 Comments

Wakame, located on level 3 of Sofitel Downtown is the latest Pan-Asian eatery to make its mark in Dubai dining scene.

The moment you walk in, you cannot not notice the ambiance. The entrance is adorned with bamboo, giving it's diners an Asian aesthetic. Wakame is emblazoned in large bold lettering across the slatted bamboo.




The setting of the place is sleek and stylish, with dim lighting. I love how the space has been used, despite being a large room each space has its own vibe. It has a dedicated bar/ lounge area with large chandeliers and artwork, a formal dining area with wooden interiors and an open kitchen that provides a sense of transparency, and beautiful booths for groups and a striking glass encased private room tucked away at the back.The warm natural materials work well with the industrial style, and wait until you check out the beautiful bronze features in the bathrooms.













The menu offers a diverse selection of Asian dishes under categories such as Dim Sums, Small Plates, Sashimi, Salads, Soups, Large Plates, Specialty Maki and Wakame Flame Maki (one of the reasons I went there) and the beverage menu has an amazing selection as well. Kimberly assisted us with her expertise and based on our preferences she helped us finalize our order, and we were extremely happy that she was there to help us out.




We began with prawn scallop dimsum & truffle edamame dimsum. My first impression on seeing the dimsums were the quantity, but as soon as I started eating nothing mattered – They were scrumptious, and tasted ahmazinggg. The prawn scallop dimsums were just the perfect start to our evening. I was a edamame virgin, and I was so glad that I decided to start edamame with Wakame. The truffle edamame dimsums (I may be biased, since it’s my first) were on a different level of taste. I ate the dimsums both warm and cold (owing to having to take pictures), and I must add that the taste was perfect both the times.







Next we had the Rock Shrimp Tempura served with a spicy mayo dip. The shrimps were fried beautifully, the tempura didn’t overshadow the shrimp. It was refreshing to see the flesh of the shrimp shine through as it not normally the norm.  The mayo had a subtle heat which complimented the tempura beautifully. 





Continuing the roll of great dishes, we tried Crispy Japanese Eggplant and Burrata with Yuzu truffle sauce salad. I love eggplant, and the idea of having that as a salad piqued my interest. A thin crisp layer of warm eggplant is topped with cool and creamy Burrata cheese (a fresh Italian cheese made from mozzarella and cream) this is fusion at its very best. The combination of eggplant and burrata was phenomenal, with its own unique textures and flavors. It’s definitely something you should try at Wakame.






I loved how proactive the staff were in clearing the cutlery, and assisting us with placing our order.

From eggplant to Wagyu – we made the move pretty fast. The Wagyu beef  tataki definitely needs special mention. It will tease your tastebuds and make you devour every last morsel. Thin wagyu slices were served with jalapeno and kizami slices and topped with fried garlic. I still think about  three dishes in particular at Wakame and this is one of them. If you love beef as much as I do, then this should definitely be on your list. We literally had a food fight. The Wagyu tataki is downright delectable.





I could thank Kimberly over and over again as she convinced us that we should try the signature Firecracker Roses. (drum rolls). Remember I said three stand outs – this is one of them. Salmon is wrapped to resemble roses, inside is a spicy mix topped with tempura crumbs. The salmon combined with tempura crumbs are a match made in palate heaven.






A specialty at Wakame is the Flame Maki where the sushi roll is blow torched at the open kitchen counter, or if you are lazy to get up they do it at your table. It not only amplifies the taste, but also adds a theatrical element to the presentation of the Maki. We opted for the Salmon flame maki .The maki was good, the taste wasn’t exceptional since we our expectations were sky high post the firecracker roses.






I felt the same for kairuki maki – wagyu beef sushi. Yes I never thought I’d say this for beef. But salmon stole my heart only until we had the mains.






For our mains we had our eyes on the steak, and Kimberly suggested that we should go for something the chef can make for us (which wasn't on the menu). Well, who wouldn’t love that? We nodded in unison and patiently waited to be surprised. It was totally worth it! Our steak was medium rare and was served with jus topped with crispy garlic. It was steak heaven. The meat was juicy and we couldn’t stop admiring how it was done. it was love at first bite. The steak was simply perfect and we took turns trying to click the best picture so as to give you the same experience, but none do justice to the taste and feel of the dish. 






For the finale we had Chocolate Matcha fondant, & Mochi selection






The chocolate matcha fondant is dark chocolate fondant with matcha and white chocolate centre and tonka bean ice cream. The fondant tasted delicious on its own. I liked the combination of Matcha and chocolate and it was very palatable.





The mocha selection included green tea, mango & black sesame. Mochi is a small, round dessert ball consisting of a soft, pounded sticky rice cake formed around an ice cream filling. It was my first Mochi experience, and it was sapid. 




Wakame feels like a hidden gem yet to be discovered. With an interior that can’t fail to impress and a menu that covers ground across Asia. From sushi to sashimi to dim sums and spring rolls to fusion dishes. The food is of a high standard, with well-presented and well-thought-out small plates and main courses coming in at reasonable prices.

Wakame’s USP is their consistency, quality and exceptional service. They epitomize the phrase “service with a smile.” There is not much to complain about here, so it’s difficult to comprehend why Wakame isn’t very busy. 
Contact:

Location:  Sofitel Dubai Downtown, Level 3, Sheikh Zayed Road, Downtown Dubai, Dubai
Timings: 17:00 pm to 01:00 am
Cost: AED 450 for two
Reserve your table at: 042246663

I was invited to Wakame and all views and images are © Urbanmodish, unless stated otherwise.




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Wakame - Sofitel Dubai Downtown Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato

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11 comments:

  1. Great review.. will have to visit them

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    Replies
    1. Thank you Mazahir, I'm sure you will love the place as much as I did :)

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  2. Well explained and definitely have to visit this

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  3. Loved the interiors of this place and the food looks good too.

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  4. Lovely reviews and amazing clicks

    ReplyDelete