Having already cemented itself as one of Dubai’s prime Japanese restaurants since its 2009 launch (no trivial feat in a city awash with upmarket, Asian-infuenced establishments), last year Okku put its culinary pedigree to the final test, with the launch of its Disco Sushi brunch.
Banishing the ‘line-up at the feeding trough’ approach adopted by most brunch spots, following a sophisticated welcome with some French bubbly, Okku serves a bespoke, twelve course menu throughout the afternoon.
Where some of the city’s restaurants can be slightly lazy with their food offerings during brunch (justifiable given the undiscerning pallets of some customers who’ve perhaps just come to enjoy unlimited drink), happily this isn’t the case at all with Okku. The menu is fantastic, with each dish cooked and prepared with the same finesse as you would experience on any other night.
With signature classics like the Miso Black Cod and Wasabi Rock Shrimp all included in the 12-piece- feast, the only concern you should really have is pacing yourself well enough to enjoy each plate.
Don’t let this refined menu lure you into a expecting a similarly low-key, sophisticated vibe however, Okku’s brunch can more than hold its own in the post-dining party stakes. From 3pm (if not earlier) the music is cranked up, and what was a moodily lit restaurant space transforms into an 80s disco. Complete with red, green and orange hues lighting up the en-masse erratic dancing to an era of classic tracks from Prince to Abba. Sure, it’s a simple ploy to entice, but hey – it seems to work.
Our advice? Get your sushi out of harm’s way and hit the dancefloor. Everyone else will have done.
Fridays – 12.30pm to 5pm, Dhs399 with soft drinks