Well-heeled, well-placed

The stylish surroundings of the Rib Room in Jumeirah Emirates Towers attracts the local DIFC crowd, giving it the air of Wall Street in the Gulf

My dinner companion shot me a warning email before going to visit The Rib Room: “There’d better be more than ribs,” she wrote, clearly concerned the restaurant had backed itself into a corner, only serving one dish. 
I responded with assurances that I’d heard it was reputed to serve a fine steak. Come the night she did what women are prone to doing — she ignored my advice, went her own way and ordered fish. Good on her. It turned out to be a fine choice.

On the other hand, as the stubborn man in this tale, I had to order the steak, having given assertive advice that needed following, regardless of whatever else was on the menu. As it was, the special of the day turned out to be T-Bone Steak, an old favourite that needed revisiting, leaving us without any ribs on the table in a restaurant called The Rib Room. The rib-only concern having been firmly laid to rest, it was time to enjoy the environment.

This stylish restaurant on the ground floor of Emirates Towers has a decidedly business feel, created by the numerous businessmen in attendance. The ubiquitous blue, pink and white double-cuffed shirts evoked a professional atmosphere, hardly surprising considering its proximity to DIFC and location within the prestigious twin towers of Dubai. Next door is an incredibly chic bar, The Agency, where the post-work crowd imbibes, many then moving onto 
The Rib Room.

Service is attentive, 
quick and knowledgeable; the lighting and setting relaxed; and the steak? Well, it’s very good. Is it 
the best steak in Dubai? That’s a tough one. It’s certainly in the top ten, but competition is fierce. Location, though, is almost everything, and The Rib Room has a fine location, attracting a well-heeled crowd.

Whilst not ideal for 
dating, it’ll certainly impress the boss.

wknd@khaleejtimes.com

• Food and Dining