If you’re looking for an authentic taste of India in Dubai, it doesn’t get more real than Bombay Borough. The concept has been developed as an international off-shoot following the success of the original, award-winning restaurant in India.
Now, in the International Finance Centre, Bombay Borough adheres to the same classic cooking techniques and atmosphere as its original site to deliver a rich, flavourful Indian meal. The eatery and bar stretches across two floors and while many of the recipes have heritage and tradition at their heart, the space feels incredibly contemporary with innovative design touches throughout. If you’re looking for an ‘Instagram moment’ the first floor is home to a huge blossom tree, nestled in-between tables, contrasting with bold, monochrome floor tiles and soft, blue velvet seating. Lighting seems to be a big focus here, with sculptural overhead pieces illuminating the space and creating a sophisticated vibe.
And, then there’s the food. The menu has been created around the idea that food is for sharing and ‘all the sweeter’ when enjoyed between friends, so expect both small plates and feasting options. The team also do their best to work with local farms and suppliers to ensure the best quality produce is used. The menu is broken up into starters, small plates, hot plates, street grills, specials, big plates, biryani dishes, and accompaniments. To get a feel for what’s on offer, some of the highlights include the aam papad paneer to start which mixes paneer and lotus stem with sun dried mango and street food spices; malai chicken roast marinated in creamed yoghurt and rubbed with cracked Kerala ‘tellicherry black pepper’ butter; or specials such as Mario’s mango prawns and coconut rice with spicy, tangy gravy.
Aside from the food, Bombay Borough takes its drinks offering very seriously with a large selection of cocktails – some classics, some more experimental. The ‘Pauwa cocktails’ use an Indian liquor fermented and distilled from orange, papaya, banana or pineapple. The Bengaluru Kool, for example, mixes south Indian banana infused rum, honey lemon, syrup and pineapple. While the ‘Desi cocktails’ focus on Indian ingredients with a twist, such as the Thundering Thumbs Up which uses white rum muddled with chilli and coriander, desi chaat masala and India’s infamous cola.