Junoon - Shangri La Hotel - Brunch - Dhs 175

[caption id="attachment_5046" align="alignnone" width="470"] Me with Client Service Director of Junoon restaurant[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_5041" align="alignnone" width="470"] Me about to have my non veg thali -[/caption]

Junoon has been making lot of buzz recently. With Michelin-stars all over it (thanks to it's first store in New York, USA) it's been easy to convince everyone to try this new restaurant.  This will be Junoon's second restaurant world wide. They have done a good job so far. Vikas Khanna who is a celeberity chef has also helped boost the visiblity of this new restaurant in Dubai and the reviews have also been very positive. The Indian cuisine served here comes with a little twist. It's a fusion concept and a welcome change to all those who love Indian cuisine.

[caption id="attachment_5037" align="alignnone" width="470"] Junoon - Interiors[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_5042" align="alignnone" width="470"] Junoon Interiors[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_5027" align="alignnone" width="470"] From left: rejuvenate (cucmber juice, lemon juice, simple syrup, basil, lemonade), Rose cardamom lassi - dhs 20, spooky manja(pineapple juice, vanilla syrup, berry, passion fruit) - dhs 35[/caption]

The interiors had a touch of traditional India along with a modern design. It's an open kitchen so you get to see what's cooking. Their mocktails were pretty good especially the Spooky Manja(pineapple juice, vanilla syrup, berry, passion fruit). A little over loaded with ice but it tasted great. Their rose cardamom lassi wasn't very convincing. I strongly recommend to try their mocktails instead.

[caption id="attachment_5028" align="alignnone" width="470"] TANDOORI PANEER POTLi - house made paneer, red chili, cinnamon, tamarind chutney.[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_5029" align="alignnone" width="470"] TIKKI CHAAT -
potato patty, date chutney, mint chutney, sev, carrot raita[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_5032" align="alignnone" width="470"] SAMOSA CHAAT - beet, roasted onion, kabuli channa, coriander chutney[/caption]

As a part of Junoon brunch, you get to try items from three categories(snacks, breakfast,wraps and rolls) and their thalis(veg and non veg). Once you've enrolled for their brunch you can have as much as you want with no limits :D Being Indian food it's a bit challenging to eat all of it, as our food is easily filling. From the snacks menu I was quite impressed with their beetroot samosa chaat and tandoori paneer potli. The tikki chaat was also unique and the nice part everything had a new taste to it. It's not the typical chaats we find everywhere. After starting with snacks I really began to appreciate their fusion concept.

[caption id="attachment_5031" align="alignnone" width="470"] CHANNA BHATURA - green chili chickpea curry, fried bread[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_5030" align="alignnone" width="470"] BREAD PAKODA - crispy vegetable tikki, meetha chutney[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_5033" align="alignnone" width="470"] PAO BHAJI - vegetablecurry, red onion, coriander,green chili, soft roll[/caption]

Their bhatura felt just made at home. It came along with mango pickles. The bread pakoda made my son's day. He just wouldn't stop eating it. Pao Bhaji tasted typical, didn't find that taste different.

[caption id="attachment_5036" align="alignnone" width="470"] KEEMA & PARANTHA - mutton keema, boiled egg, roasted tomato chutney[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_5035" align="alignnone" width="470"] MUSHROOM GALOUTI ROLL -[/caption]

The mushroom Galouti roll was my favourite. Both the mushrooms and the roti were amazing. They were telling me that the roti for mushroom galouti roll is made from saffron and milk which makes it extra smooth, soft and really something you will appreciate when you have it. It's a must try, please do not skip this one.

[caption id="attachment_5038" align="alignnone" width="470"] Thali - veg[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_5039" align="alignnone" width="470"] Thali - veg[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_5040" align="alignnone" width="470"] Thali - non veg[/caption]

Then came their ultimate thali. Love the presentation of the thali that came in a nice fancy plate. By the time I reached the thali I was literally full. But my curiosity never allowed me to give up. You have selection of rotis as well. Overall you will be satisfied. If you are here just eating their thali then you might feel the items a little less compared to the typical thali served else where. Guess the focus is on quality than quantity.

[caption id="attachment_5044" align="alignnone" width="470"] Falooda - Dhs 54 - (CHOCOLATE MATKA , SAFFRON , BLACKBERRY JELLY , ROSE , ALMOND MILK SORBET)[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_5043" align="alignnone" width="470"] Plate of mini desserts for Junoon brunch[/caption]

For desserts by default you get the dessert platter as complimentary with your brunch at Junoon. All that chocolate you see in the dessert platter is all made at Junoon. The chocolate date was my favourite from the dessert platter. The falooda for Dhs 54 is an additional order not included in the brunch menu. As you can see the falooda came uniquely presented. I had to break the chocolate matka to get the rabri flowing out. I would still say falooda is more fun in a glass than in a plate.

Click here to visit their official Dubai website and see their menu. Click pictures below to see them in full screen view:

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