As the name suggest, Asado, is not the kind of place to visit if you’re a vegetarian. Sure, this handsome Argentinean barbeque restaurant offers a rather delightful selection of meat-free empanadas and a couple of creative salads, but to say that it is a pro-carnivore venue is an understatement.
For clarity’s sake, ‘Asado’ is a South American term for cooking meat on an open flame – so naturally an open firepit hold prime position in the Palace Hotel’s restaurant interior. It must be stated that the interior of Asado is world away from the authentic backyard BBQ that they kitchen serves up.
Worthy of its location in a five-star hotel, the restaurant’s elegant dining room is decked out with wooden parquet flooring, light stone-brick walls, exposed wooden beams and floor-to-ceiling arch windows. In terms of where you should sit, we’d recommend taking full advantage of its Burj Khalifa-facing location by booking a spot on the outdoor terrace, where the views of the Dubai Fountains and the Burj Khalifa are nothing short of epic.
The beautifully marinated cuts of meats on offer come in every way, shape and form, but the chef’s speciality is the whole baby goat roasted over the Asador fire pit for four hours. You can order it as a starter or main portion, and you really should make sure that at least one of your fellow diners has ordered it.
The rest of the menu is essentially a case of the chef showcasing his credentials as the captain of team carnivore: braised pigeon, slow-cooked veal brisket, 81-day smoked chicken and seabass are all on offer, without even mentioning the Parrilla-style, made-to-order selection of beef steaks, and a wine list boasting an excellent range of South American bottles.
All things considered, for a classy, meat-heavy night of Asado has everything you could expect. An elegant setting (with or without views of the Dubai Fountains), some world-class meat dishes and a decent sized bill to go along with it.
Asado, The Palace Dubai, Downtown Dubai. 7pm to 11.30pm. Tel: 04 428 7888. Website.
