The most beautiful season of the year is finally here. Blogliterati.com team decided to beach it out all month, and in the sidelines, also explore some of Dubai’s best beach side brunches.
We are among those who take our food and drinks very seriously, so, when it came to picking a spot to do our weekend brunch, we quite naturally went with The Tap House.
Winner of the WhatsOn Best Pub-Grub award 2017, The Tap House is a beachfront resto bar at Palm Jumairah, serving up an incredible arsenal of craft beers on tap and terrific pub grub. Besides the crafts and the lip-smacking food, the beach terrace and chilled out vibe, totally complement its great location, making it one of Dubai’s hottest resto-bars.
The Food
We went with our usual favorite Heineken in the accompaniment of their signature bar bites viz. a bucket of yummy Parmesan & Truffle Chips, delish Cottage Cheese Empanadas & bite-sized leek & onion Tartlets.
The Starters
For starters we had a sharing platter of Chicken Wings, Prawn Dumplings, Parmesan & Truffle chips along with some interesting house dips.
The Wings :
As a diehard chicken lover, wings have always been near and dear to my heart and I’ve enjoyed some of the best across various pubs in Dubai. And as a true wings connoisseur, I swear by Tap Houses Buffalo wings! Equal parts spicy and equal parts tangy, their buttery-on-the-outside, meaty-on-the-inside wings are so finger licking good! Drenched in sticky sauce, sprinkled with greens, it provoked an eating frenzy as soon as it hit the table.
Prawn Dumplings:
This dish came with a very east Asian treatment with a little western twist. Cracky shell on the outside, succulent prawn on the inside and loaded with flavourful Tom Yum spiced cream, it was perfect for the starter.
Parmesan & Truffle Chips :
Tap Houses Parmesan & Truffle Chips are to-die-for! If you like fries, you will love these crispy, parmesan & truffle laden delights. They were so insanely good that it left us scraping up every single bit of goodness from the last remaining bucket.
The Main Course
For the main course we had Roast of the Day – American-style cuts of perfectly cooked, delicious steak with a generous dose of equally delectable sides incl. Yorkshire pudding, roasted potato, carrot, broccoli, cauliflower and gravy. The steak was juicy, succulent and fresh.
The Dessert
The desserts were a sharing platter of Strawberry Trifle, Mini Chocolate tart and Green tea Matcha Crème Bruelee – insanely delicious dessert that gave us ultimate satisfaction. It was a great way to end a fantabulous brunch.
The Service
Friendly. Prompt. Attentive. They were always around to take care. The Restaurant & Bar Manager Indika Pemachandra was a super nice gentleman who gave us free access to the beach, where me and my dining partner spent the evening, lounging around, till the last rays of the sun bid adieu to the beautiful shoreline.
The Ambiance
Now, to the most interesting part of the review.. the ambiance…
Ambiance is as important a factor for us, as the food. Sure a great design can’t save a bad meal, but it can certainly make a great culinary experience legendary. And that’s the note that Tap House managed to strike with us. Industrial inspired interiors packed with copious features – metal, wood, beer taps, exposed pipes and filament bulbs, all put together, gave the place a totally classic British gastro-pub vibe and us – a very unique and unmatched dining experience.
The neon name signage at the facade gives you a hint. As you move in you can see the industrial vibe continue inside in the form of brick walls, exposed steel pipes, visible installations etc.
A nice inclusion of wood in the form of tall wooden tables, stools, wooden bar menu boards etc. warms up the space. The classic style lighting makes the interior, even more cozy.
You’ll see how charming and inviting the ambiance is, if only you stop over till late evening, like we did. An army of lights encased in small wire cages are suspended from the exposed pipes in the ceiling, making the place look simply gorgeous at night. Even the toilets are something special!
Light bulbs are fixed to the huge, exposed pipes in the restrooms too! These vintage filament light bulbs emanate a very nice and soft light creating a perfect milieu for an intimate evening with the loved one.
We spoke to Indika Pemachandra, Restaurant & Bar Manager. Here’s what he had to say:
The Tap house in picutures
The Food
The Ambiance
The People
The Beach
The Verdict
Tap House is THE place for the best pub grub in town, incredible array of drinks, awesome service and chilled-out vibe. Brunch by the Beach is arguably one of Dubai’s top beach side brunches in terms of value for money and overall offering.
Tips
The place gets super-crowded on weekends so it helps to reserve seats in advance. Choose the terrace if you want to enjoy gorgeous views of the palm. Paying an extra AED 100 will give you unlimited access to the beach. Relax there in one of the lounges till the wee hours.
Ratings
Food: 5/5
Value: 4.5/5
Ambiance: 5/5
Décor: 4.5/5
Service: 4.5/5
Overall Rating: 9
IF YOU’RE GOING…
Where: Shorelinebeach, Club Vista Mare, Palm Jumeirah – Dubai
Hours: Sunday to Thursday 12 Noon to 2.00 a.m.
Atmosphere: Dimly lit with industrial inspired interiors, grafiti, artefacts. Nice music.
Parking: Ample parking space in front of the Club Vista Mare
Prices: AED 320 for two people (approx.) with alcohol
Credit cards: All major credit cards accepted
Sound level: Moderate
Wheelchair access: Accessible
Beverage service: Good collection of craft beer
Service: Prompt, very friendly and hospitable.
Recommended: Brunch by the beach, Parmesan & Truffle fries, Chicken Wings, Roast of the day
Reservations: 04 5143778
Website: www.thetaphouse.ae
Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/TapHouseDubai/
Email: info@thetaphouse.ae