AriO'Rotti - Mutton Biriyani - Dhs 20 - Madina Mall Dubai

[caption id="attachment_3417" align="aligncenter" width="705"] Ariorotti interiors[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_3421" align="aligncenter" width="705"] Biriyani - chicken(dhs 15), mutton(dhs 20) and fish(dhs 19)[/caption]

So here I am at one of the most hyped keralite restaurant this month called Ariorotti. Ariorotti claims to deliver some of the best Thalassery dishes onto your plate. To some of you, Thalaserry(currently known as Tellicherry) is located in the northern part of kerala and is very famous for their tantalizing dishes. So here's a restaurant trying to breath and bring the spirit of Tellicherry to Dubai which has been started by a bunch of entrepreneurs. The restaurant was inaugurated few weeks back and the marketing has done a good job in getting the reach to their audience. Now let's see if the restaurant can stay up to their hype.

[caption id="attachment_3418" align="aligncenter" width="705"] Telicherry - The Paris of Kerala[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_3420" align="aligncenter" width="705"] Ariorotti interiors[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_3419" align="aligncenter" width="705"] Ariorotti interiors[/caption]

It's my first visit to Madina Mall. Out of the restaurants located in Madina Mall food court, Ariorotti had an elegance to it with its interior design of beautiful wallpaper along with pictures, frames, chandeliers and colored windows. The history of Thalasssery is told well on their walls and you can actually begin to feel the spirit in them. Their menu had some very interesting dishes which you might not find else where and we decided to try a little of everything. The disappointment came when the restaurant informed us that they could only offer us biriyanis, 2 types of curry and only porottas for saturday lunch. Too late, I've driven all the way to Madina mall so bring what you have!

[caption id="attachment_3422" align="aligncenter" width="705"] Biriyani - chicken(dhs 15), mutton(dhs 20) and fish(dhs 19)[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_3423" align="aligncenter" width="705"] Fish Biriyani - Dhs 19[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_3425" align="aligncenter" width="705"] Mutton Biriyani - Dhs 20[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_3424" align="aligncenter" width="705"] Chicken Biriyani - Dhs 15[/caption]

The first came the biriyanis and they came with the expected bells and whistles such as the pickles, curd and pappads. The biriyanis tasted impressive. The mutton biriyani was my favourite out of the lot. The biriyani taste did take me back to Thalassery. Surely they got that one right. I also specifically enjoyed their pickle, it tasted more like a homemade pickle and making pickles at home is quite trendy in Tellicherry. Mind you the portion size of the biriyani is limited to one person only, I felt the portion size was a little less compared to other restaurants.

[caption id="attachment_3427" align="aligncenter" width="705"] Alsa - Dhs 10 - Traditional dish based on wheat grain and chicken[/caption]

Then I tried their Alsa which is normally the starter at any Thalassery weddings before the maincourse. You pour sugar and have it licking. It looked pretty but we really couldn't feel the wheat grain and chicken in it. This one could have been better. My guests that accompanied me had the same impression.

[caption id="attachment_3428" align="aligncenter" width="705"] RIGHT - Fish Mulakitttah - Dhs 15 and LEFT- Chicken Malli Curry - Dhs 20[/caption]

The only 2 curries that were available for the afternoon were impressive enough. I was specially happy with fish mulakittah cause not all restaurants get it right. Normally they just throw lot of color and spice in it but the one here was well prepared and definitely went well with the hot and crispy porotas. By the way I loved their porotas and unfortunatley I missed taking pictures of it :( We did get some complimentary sweet called mambayaram payasam at the end which needed improvement. I've had better ones from Thalassery and I am sure they can work on it.

[caption id="attachment_3426" align="aligncenter" width="705"] complimentary sweet[/caption]

Overall I am happy with their maincourse and it does taste homemade. This restaurant is definitely worth a visit specially those who are not from Thalassery. The one downside is that they still can't offer all that they mention on their menu. Even the basic milk tea is not available. Right now they have an excuse of newly opened restaurant but not sure how long they can keep that excuse. Otherwise I'd like to visit them again specially if they can deliver what they mention on their menu. Click pictures below to view the full screen view:

[gallery type="rectangular" ids="3417,3428,3427,3426,3425,3424,3423,3422,3421,3420,3419,3418"]

Mousse Tarts - Dhs 24 - ICONS Cafe - Souk Al Bahar - Dubai Mall

Sticky chocolate cake - Dhs 26/piece

Icons: A cafe who proclaims to have guilt-free items on their table. They use only natural sweetener which adds no calories.

Of course when you look at the picture above it doesn't look like it can maintain such low calories.
I tried a few of their cakes and coffee. Out of the cakes my favorite was Choco Mousse Tart - Dhs 24/piece and from the drinks I enjoyed the Hot chocoloco - Dhs 18(regular size). Sticky chocolate cake was the most attractive looking cake but unfortunately since it's made from organic sweeteners it doesn't reach the expectation of a chocoholic. There is a layer of chocolate lava hidden inside this sticky chocolate cake which gave me a surprise.

I've tried almost all their possible tarts starting from strawberry, choco and yoghurt. All their short biscuit tarts is good and you tend to eat more thinking the fact it's less in calories. I'd say if i am visiting here again I will be ordering their tarts for sure. My 5 year old son enjoyed the snow white frappe - Dhs 21(regular size)

For Hot drinks there is an additional benefit having at Icons as you get to choose the kind of milk you need like skimmed, low fat, full fat, Soya or Organic which is an option you don't find at other cafes. Besides coffee they also have protein drinks with fruits at price range of Dhs 19 - Dhs 25.

website: https://www.facebook.com/iconscoffeecouture

Chocolate Mousse Tart - Dhs 24

Strawberry Mousse Tart - Dhs 24/piece

Order what you like

My cappuccino and sticky chocolate cake

Pretty server with pretty cakes

Mousse Tarts - Dhs 24 - ICONS Cafe - Souk Al Bahar - Dubai Mall

Sticky chocolate cake - Dhs 26/piece

Icons: A cafe who proclaims to have guilt-free items on their table. They use only natural sweetener which adds no calories.

Of course when you look at the picture above it doesn't look like it can maintain such low calories.
I tried a few of their cakes and coffee. Out of the cakes my favorite was Choco Mousse Tart - Dhs 24/piece and from the drinks I enjoyed the Hot chocoloco - Dhs 18(regular size). Sticky chocolate cake was the most attractive looking cake but unfortunately since it's made from organic sweeteners it doesn't reach the expectation of a chocoholic. There is a layer of chocolate lava hidden inside this sticky chocolate cake which gave me a surprise.

I've tried almost all their possible tarts starting from strawberry, choco and yoghurt. All their short biscuit tarts is good and you tend to eat more thinking the fact it's less in calories. I'd say if i am visiting here again I will be ordering their tarts for sure. My 5 year old son enjoyed the snow white frappe - Dhs 21(regular size)

For Hot drinks there is an additional benefit having at Icons as you get to choose the kind of milk you need like skimmed, low fat, full fat, Soya or Organic which is an option you don't find at other cafes. Besides coffee they also have protein drinks with fruits at price range of Dhs 19 - Dhs 25.

website: https://www.facebook.com/iconscoffeecouture

Chocolate Mousse Tart - Dhs 24

Strawberry Mousse Tart - Dhs 24/piece

Order what you like

My cappuccino and sticky chocolate cake

Pretty server with pretty cakes

Fish meal - Dhs 15, Calicut Paragon Karama Dubai

Fish meal - Dhs 15

So i went for lunch today at Paragon expecting to eat some onam special but it turned out that it's happening tomorrow only. So i ended up eating their regular Dhs 15 Fish meal which comes with 8 items. You can either have rice or chapathi. Honestly their meal isn't that great compared to other restaurants. It's better to try their rotis(valappam, chapathis, wheat porota ..etc), individual curries(sea food curries), fries. In other words besides their meals anything else you try should taste better. Even their desserts are good but the taste is not always consistent. The first time i tried their falooda was mind blowing, the next time i didn't get the same taste. Never the less I enjoy eating at paragon, the sound of plates, rush, noise of people all get's your appetite going. I would recommend everyone to try their sweet n spicy raw Mango Carrot Salad - Dhs 10 only. Mutton varattiyath - Dhs 22 was a little spicy but people who enjoy such curries would like it. It comes with only 2 piece of mutton though. Wheat porota is exactly same as what we get in kerala today. 

https://www.facebook.com/calicutparagon

 close up of the Fish meal curries.

Appam - Dhs 1.50

sweet n spicy raw Mango Carrot Salad - Dhs 10

Mutton varattiyath - Dhs 22

wheat porota - Dhs 2.50

Close up of Fish meal items - Dhs 15

Chapathi - Dhs 1.50

Hot water served at paragon

Fish meal - Dhs 15, Calicut Paragon Karama Dubai

Fish meal - Dhs 15

So i went for lunch today at Paragon expecting to eat some onam special but it turned out that it's happening tomorrow only. So i ended up eating their regular Dhs 15 Fish meal which comes with 8 items. You can either have rice or chapathi. Honestly their meal isn't that great compared to other restaurants. It's better to try their rotis(valappam, chapathis, wheat porota ..etc), individual curries(sea food curries), fries. In other words besides their meals anything else you try should taste better. Even their desserts are good but the taste is not always consistent. The first time i tried their falooda was mind blowing, the next time i didn't get the same taste. Never the less I enjoy eating at paragon, the sound of plates, rush, noise of people all get's your appetite going. I would recommend everyone to try their sweet n spicy raw Mango Carrot Salad - Dhs 10 only. Mutton varattiyath - Dhs 22 was a little spicy but people who enjoy such curries would like it. It comes with only 2 piece of mutton though. Wheat porota is exactly same as what we get in kerala today. 

https://www.facebook.com/calicutparagon

 close up of the Fish meal curries.

Appam - Dhs 1.50

sweet n spicy raw Mango Carrot Salad - Dhs 10

Mutton varattiyath - Dhs 22

wheat porota - Dhs 2.50

Close up of Fish meal items - Dhs 15

Chapathi - Dhs 1.50

Hot water served at paragon

Black Forest Cake - Dhs 16, Paul Bakery Burjuman

Black Forest Cake - Dhs 16

Firstly I apologize for not taking the photo of the complete slice. My emotions went on it as soon as it was served on the table. Instead of grabbing the camera I grabbed the fork and few minutes later I realized I haven't taken any of the snaps. So the picture starts from cake being half eaten. the strawberries, chocolate bars have all vanished into my mouth for this photo. 

My favorite cake at Paul. Wish i could eat it every day. It's a must try for anyone. 

http://www.paul-bakeries.com/ 

Black Forest Cake - Dhs 16, Paul Bakery Burjuman

Black Forest Cake - Dhs 16

Firstly I apologize for not taking the photo of the complete slice. My emotions went on it as soon as it was served on the table. Instead of grabbing the camera I grabbed the fork and few minutes later I realized I haven't taken any of the snaps. So the picture starts from cake being half eaten. the strawberries, chocolate bars have all vanished into my mouth for this photo. 

My favorite cake at Paul. Wish i could eat it every day. It's a must try for anyone. 

http://www.paul-bakeries.com/