Brunch may be one of the UAE’s best loved meals, but that doesn’t mean lunch should take a backseat.
From being able to enjoy a restaurant's best dishes on a fixed budget to taking a well-earned break from the office, there are a lot of benefits for opting for a business lunch on a weekday. And, luckily, a number of the UAE's top restaurants have set menus and deals for just about every palate and wallet.
Thinking of giving business lunch a go? Here’s a look at some of the best on offer:
Dubai
Asil
The Arabic restaurant in Rixos Premium Dubai offers a blend of Lebanese, Turkish and Moroccan cuisine and UAE residents can enjoy some Middle Eastern classics with its business lunch menu (think hummus and chicken kofta). The indulgent five-course meal includes a selection of hot and cold starters, a main and a dessert.
Cost: Dh99 for a five course lunch.
Sunday-Thursday; 1pm-3pm; Rixos Premium Dubai, The Walk, JBR; asilrestaurant.com
BB Social Dining
The homegrown restaurant’s business lunch is all about four “Bs” – bites, baos, bowls and barbecues.
Head over to the DIFC restaurant to try its modern-eastern inspired dishes like the super green hummus, Wagyu ramen, all-star pho and chicken katsu in the restaurant’s easy, stylish interiors. Extra bonus? Dishes promise to be served within 45 minutes, and there are ample vegetarian and vegan options as well.
Cost: prices start at Dh30.
Sunday-Thursday; 12pm-4pm; Gate Village 8, DIFC; 044074444; www.bbdifc.business.site/
Carnival by Tresind
The restaurant known for its progressive Indian food has separate vegetarian and non-vegetarian menus for its business lunch experience. The quirky set menu includes dishes like papdi tacos, quiche, Bihari burger, chicken laal mas and much more. Guests can also expect sorbets as palate cleansers to add something extra to the entire experience.
Cost: Dh89 for both the vegetarian and non-vegetarian set menu.
Saturday-Thursday; 12-3pm; Burj Daman 312, DIFC; www.carnivalbytresind.com
Couqley French Bistro
If you’re working around Jumeirah Lake Towers and you’re looking to sample some fuss-free French fare on your lunch break, Couqley is the place to be. The restaurant has a business lunch on weekdays that gives guests the opportunity to pick from favourites on the menu. This includes (but is not limited to) the onion soup gratinee, grilled portobello, salade de lentilles for starters, and steak frites, free-range chicken or salmon for mains. For dessert, tuck into their pain perdu, chocolate fondant or mousse au chocolat.
Cost: Dh99 for two starters; or a starter and a main; or main and a dessert.
Weekdays; 12-3pm; Cluster A, JLT; 04 5149339
Hutong
The contemporary Northern Chinese restaurant has designed a business lunch to be served within 45 minutes, perfect for employees on the go.
Guests choose between a wide variety of starters and mains, including a selection of baos, like the wild mushroom and truffle bao, the spiced beef xiao long bao and the signature sichuan pepper spiced lobster bao. Main courses include kung pao prawns and wok-tossed beef tenderloin. There are options for vegetarians too, like the crispy eggplant or the wok-tossed lotus toots.
Cost: Dh125 for one starter, one non-vegetarian main course and one vegetarian main course
Sunday- Thursday; 12.00pm – 2:30pm; Gate Building 6, DIFC; 042200868; www.hutong-dubai.com
Indochine
If a trip to the busy French Vietnamese restaurant is on your to-do list, then why not head there during business hours, when it will be considerably easier to book a table? The restaurant has an a la carte menu as well as a business lunch menu. Dishes on the set menu include the beef and papaya salad, vegetable summer rolls, jungle curry, shaking beef and Indochine's famous amok cambodgien.
Cost: Dh120 for one salad, one roll and one main. Dessert can be added for an additional Dh30.
Sunday-Thursday; 12.30-3.30pm; Level 2, Gate Precinct Building 3, DIFC; 042089333; www.indochinedxb.com
Intersect by Lexus
The DIFC restaurant and lounge launched a new menu featuring what could be best described as modern comfort food - and guests will get to sample some of its classics in its business lunch. The appetiser section includes dishes like the carrot ginger soup, roasted tomato soup and burrata. For mains, pick between options like butter chicken with saffron rice and salmon served with Veloute sauce and edamame. Vegetarian options include the miso braised portobello mushroom, homemade tofu and roasted cauliflower. Dessert options include Basque cheesecake with blueberries or chocolate flourless cake.
Cost: Dh90 for two courses and Dh110 for three. Side dishes are complimentary.
Sunday - Thursday; 12pm-4pm; Gate Village 7, DIFC; 04 355 9524; www.intersectbyleux.ae
La Serre
Looking for a chic option to seal that business deal? Contemporary French restaurant La Serre’s Rendez-vous business lunch is one to try. Choose between dishes like the red bream ceviche marinated in tiger milk, grilled prawns with spinach cream, or a cherry tomato salad with goat’s cheese for starters.
Mains include a fish of the day with crushed potato, asparagus and lobster sauce, chicken breast supreme with mashed potato and green beans, or homemade gnocchi with endive and blue cheese sauce. Save some room for dessert - a blueberry panna cotta topped with crunchy pecans.
Cost: Dh110 for two courses and Dh130 for three courses.
Sunday-Thursday; 12pm-5pm; La Serre; Vida Downtown, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Blvd, Downtown Dubai; 045283779; www.laserre.com
LPM Restaurant
The Dubai institution known for its light and fresh French Mediterranean fare has two business lunch offerings, depending on how much time you have on your hands.
Le Petit Menu is an express lunch that’s designed to be served to the table within 60 minutes. The menu will be updated regularly, with seasonal specials and popular dishes from the a la carte menu such as the warm prawns with olive oil and roast baby chicken marinated in lemon. The restaurant’s famed burrata with tomatoes and basil also makes an appearance.
Those wanting a more leisurely option can go for the Dejeuner d’Affaires menu which includes a salad of the day, two starters each, one main course each, and ice-cream of the day.
Cost: Le Petit Menu is available for Dh135 for two courses; Dejeuner d'Affaires is available for Dh180.
Sunday-Thursday; 12-3pm; Available at both LPM Dubai and LPM Abu Dhabi.
The Maine Land Brasserie
The third outpost of the popular seafood joint has a lunch prix fixe menu for those who want to take in a quick meal in the chic surroundings (think double-height ceilings, cathedralesque windows and crystal chandeliers).
On the menu are starters like the garlic, olive and anchovy flatbread, tuna tartare, crispy fish tacos, Wagyu beef tataki and chargrilled octopus. For mains, choose between roasted eggplant, shrimp linguini, spring chicken, steak frites, pizza verde, and more. Finish with a choice between creme brulee, sticky toffee pudding and sorbet selection.
Cost: Dh130 for one starter, main and dessert, water and coffee.
Sunday-Thursday; 12pm-4pm; The Opus by Omniyat; Business Bay; www.themaineoysterbar.com/the-maine-land-brasserie-business-bay
Roberto’s
One of UAE’s most popular Italian restaurants, Roberto’s launched its Pranzo di Lavoro business lunch in June. The menu changes by the week so it’s always offering something new, but guests can expect dishes like the lentil soup with rosemary croutons, Hamachi carpaccio, Greek salad and pappardelle pasta with veal ragu. For dessert, expect Italian classics like the Dulce ice cream, espresso coffee cream, cookie crumble.
Cost: Dh125 for a starter, main and dessert.
Sunday-Thursday; 12-3pm; Gate Village Building 1, DIFC; 043860066; www.robertosrestaurants.com/dubai/
Roka
If you’ve been thinking about trying the contemporary Japanese Robatayaki restaurant that opened in Dubai earlier this year, why not check out its lunchtime offering? The business lunch offers a selection of a la carte and signature dishes, and there’s also a separate vegetarian menu on offer.
Dishes available include the iceberg salad no wafu, gyuniku to goma no gyoza, followed by dishes such as the sake teriyaki and gyuhireniku wagyu to kinoko.
Cost: Dh115 for four starters and a main course.
Sunday-Thursday; 12-3pm; level 1, The Opus by Omniyat, Business Bay; rokarestaurant.com
Social Company
The hip hangout located on the ground floor of Zabeel House by Jumeirah has a business lunch that’s available daily.
While the menu is subject to change, it includes starters like cheese sambousek, roast vegetables and chicken salad, soup of the day and bresaola with melon. For mains, guests can tuck into the open faced beef sandwich, bucketwheat risotto, barbeque chicken and baked fish. Dessert options include a gluten free chocolate brownie and mango cheesecake. All this, while in the airy space featuring plenty of lush greenery.
Cost: Two courses for Dh55 or three courses for Dh65.
Daily; 12-3pm; Zabeel House by Jumeirah, The Greens; 045191111
The Beach House
Looking for a setting that will really help you unwind during your lunch break? It doesn't get better than the sand and water views at Anantara The Palm's The Beach House. The laid-back restaurant has a set lunch menu that can easily double up into a business lunch with dishes like a zesty shrimp cocktail, chicken Caesar salad, seared salmon and Wagyu beef burger on offer.
Cost: Dh140 for one main, starter and dessert.
Daily; 1.30-5pm; Anantara Resort & Spa, Palm Jumeirah; 045678316; www.anantara.com
Abu Dhabi
Boa Steakhouse
Meat-lovers can head over to the steakhouse located at Eastern Mangroves Promenade that keeps its weekday lunch menu short and sweet. There are three options within the starters, mains and desserts to choose between, with dishes like the Buffalo Mozarella salad, soup of the day, US black Angus ribeye, Norwegian salmon fillet and vanilla creme brulee to whet your appetite.
Cost: Dh115 for one starter, main course and dessert.
Sunday-Thursday; 12.30-4pm; Eastern Mangroves;www.boaabudhabi.ae
Cafe Milano
The Abu Dhabi outpost of the famous Washington restaurant is the place to be for understated elegance and authentic Italian fare. And its business lunch menus have always been one of its most popular attractions.
The restaurant currently has a menu featuring signature dishes like the Capellini Semsem (angel hair pasta with tomatoes and basil); Costoletta di Vitello ala Milanese (pounded, breaded veal chip in “Milanese” style) and Insalata Milano, a cherry tomato salad.
Cost: Dh125 for two courses and Dh165 for three courses.
Sunday-Thursday; 12pm-5.30pm; Four Seasons Abu Dhabi, Al Maryah Island; 023332222; www.cafemilano.ae
Coya Abu Dhabi
The capital's much-loved spot for modern Peruvian cuisine, Coya is known for its top-notch food and service, all in a lively setting. And the business lunch gives residents a perfect taste of the ceviches and maki rolls it is so well known for.
The appetiser menu includes croquetas de lubina (Chilean sea bass croquettes); ceviche de dorada clasica (Sea bream, red onions, sweet potato, choclo); and maki roll de aguacate (shiitake, aji limo, avocado, quinoa, black sesame). For mains, guests choose between options like the corn-fed chicken and spicy beef rolls.
Cost: Dh110 for two starters and one main course.
Sunday-Thursday; 12-3.30pm; Four Seasons Hotel, The Galleria; 023067000; www.coyarestaurant.com
Fouquet’s
Located within the Louvre Abu Dhabi, Fouquet’s menu has been curated by Michelin-lauded chef Pierre Gagnaire, and guests can expect fusion fare cooked using French techniques. Dishes on offer include a pan-seared organic salmon fillet with butternut veloute kale and braised lamb shoulder with green lentil hummus floured with curry paste.
Cost: Dh280 for a starter, main course and dessert.
Daily (the restaurant is closed on Monday); 12-6pm; Louvre Abu Dhabi, Saadiyat Cultural District 1, Saadiyat Island; 022054200
Dai Pai Dong
Craving Cantonese delicacies in a stylish modern setting? Dai Pai Dong's business lunch menu kicks off with sui mai dim sum, spring rolls and soup, followed by main courses like kung pao chicken, braised eggplant or wok-fire sichuan beef. Finally, end the meal with a sweet mango soup or a refreshing fresh fruit platter.
Cost: Dh98 for a starter, soup, main course and dessert.
Sunday-Thursday; 12-3pm; Rosewood Hotel, level B3, Galleria Mall; 02 813 5588; AbuDhabi.daipaidong@rosewoodhotelscom
Sambusek
If you’re in the mood for Middle Eastern cuisine, the power business lunch menu at Sambusek includes a selection of hot and cold mezzeh dishes, all served within 45 minutes. Expect classics like the fattoush salad, labneh and chicken liver, followed by a platter of mixed grills and end the meal with a selection of seasonal fresh fruits.
Cost: Dh140 for a cold mezzeh, hot mezzeh, main course and dessert
Sunday-Thursday; 12-4pm; Rosewood Hotel, Galleria Mall; 02 813 5550; AbuDhabi.dining@rosewoodhotelscom
