Swankiest sliders in town

Slider Station, which is famous for serving up delicious burgers in wacky colours - like black and red - just introduced their new menu. We take a closer look

Walk in and you know there's something very special about the place. The lighting is dim, the music loud and upbeat, and the interiors, gilded. But intermingling with this very suave ambience is another theme altogether - that of a very grunge workshop or gas station from the 40s. You can see it from the way the lighting comes from a series of black pipes made to form a chandelier of sorts. Or the giant artwork on the wall depicting a welder. Even the waiters are dressed in jumpsuits, left halfway unbuttoned to reveal plain black tees. This is industrial chic at its finest.
Of course, if you're paying a visit to Slider Station, the upscale eatery located in The Galleria Mall, Al Wasl Road, chances are you're not going for the ambience (although, trust me, it is pretty good). You're going because the food is legendary. Slider Station is well known for constantly pushing boundaries when it comes to their dishes. Not only will you find the oddest pairings, chances are your slider will look like it was prepared on another planet altogether.
My dining companion and I showed up on a Saturday evening to find the place completely packed. In fact, don't be too surprised to find people lining up outside if you show up on a weekend. The service is more than friendly (although you may have to shout a bit to be heard), and so we decided to get to the important stuff - the food.
The sliders may be their best sellers, but we couldn't resist choosing from their new Tapas menu as well. The Coney Jacket Potato, loaded with ground beef, melted cheddar and mustard, was like a warm, satisfying lasagna stuffed within a potato - so satisfying. The Sticky Maple Buffalo Shrimp is another classic, and we could see why. The shrimp, served with a side of ranch, were somehow crispy beneath their delectable layer of sticky sweet-and-sour sauce. Their Hot Honey Chicken came to the table sizzling, and with our expectations quite high, we did feel rather disappointed - deep fried to a crisp, the chicken felt rather dry, with the taste of pepper enveloping that of the honey.
Now, the place is most famous for its Instagram-worthy sliders that are bite-sized, multi-coloured and completely unique. A staple from the old menu is the Tiger Shrimp Handgun, which features a deep fried tiger shrimp with sweetish mango pepper, enveloped within a single black bun. With the bun oddly shaped like a taco, this is probably unlike anything you've ever seen before. Another favourite on the list is Dangerous, and with tender butterfried chicken served between bright red buns, this is perfect for those who like a twist without getting too adventurous.
With the overall popularity of their black tiger shrimp burger, Slider Station has introduced yet another 'black burger' in their new menu. Their Crispy Tempura Seabass slider has a very Japanese vibe. Not only is the fish perfectly fried, the texture is transformed with the use of crispy slivers of beetroot. We also tried out their Korean Chicken slider, and although the slider was piping hot and the chicken slathered in sauce, it was a bit too sweet for our liking.
Dessert was another grand affair, courtesy their high-end, in-house chocolateire - the Cocoa Room. Try their thin Nutella Shake, and thank us later. We also couldn't resist ordering their Cereal Killer - a delicious vanilla soft serve, drizzled with copious amounts of caramel and coated with crushed cornflakes. Delicious, but don't believe the waiters if they tell you it's light - it took two of us, and we still couldn't finish it. I also managed to take a few bites out of their Popsicle Nostalgia, and it's a winner - chocolate icecream enveloped within a hard chocolate shell, drizzled with caramel and crushed oreo.  
Slider Station has definitely made itself stand out, and in UAE's burgeoning food market, that's no mean feat. Every dish is unique, from their drinks (we spotted a Black Lemonade on the menu!) to their desserts. Those expecting greasy burgers at fast-food rates may find themselves disappointed, but true connoisseurs will see Slider Station, and its fare, for what it really is - a stroke of creative genius.
janice@khaleejtimes.com

• Food and Dining