NARBON

NARBON can pride itself on a beautiful space tucked away on a side street in the historic part of town, where the clean design of the exterior flows seamlessly into the interior. Inside, earthy tones and a striking mosaic are highlighted by a neon light stretching along the ceiling. The menu showcases Mediterranean cuisine, occasionally surprising diners with items like Japanese wagyu, which appears not only in pasta dishes but also in burgers. The variety is well-suited to its location and is likely to please a broad spectrum of guests. That does not detract from the quality; the wild seabass soup, played with complex flavours, is complemented by olive-oil-roasted croutons, adding a welcome crunch. The grilled octopus, a bestseller for good reason, features tender meat paired with an unusual potato-paprika purée, grilled baby gem salad, and salsa verde. The salad could have benefited from slightly shorter preparation, and the octopus a touch less salt. For dessert, the pistachio crème with kadayif and raspberries reflects the “Dubai boom” trend. The cream was slightly tart, balancing the sweetness of the pistachio, though some portions of the kadayif were a little too soft. The wine list offers interesting options, yet the service could be more polished; waiters sometimes struggled to present it consistently, and wine served by the glass was not poured at the table. With its beautiful interior and charismatic, thoughtfully crafted menu, NARBON has many positives. A more refined service would firmly establish it among the best restaurants in town.