Tacos by the beachfront? Yes, please

Taco Tuesdays at The Bungalow is an interesting mid-week food adventure with minor caveats

As soon as I heard the words 'Taco Tuesday' uttered in one breath, I had the mental image of mountains of the Mexican dish coming to the table for the next couple of hours. What made the image all the more alluring was its inclusion of free-flowing signature drinks that The Bungalow - a beachfront restaurant in La Mer, offered up to its diners. And for the friendly neighbourhood cost of Dh99, it was hard to resist.
The Bungalow has the combination of all the right elements in terms of providing a great culinary experience. They've got one of the best musical groups in town - Big Mouth Band playing audience requests, a treehouse-esque motif filled with neon lighting and video game cabinets dating back to the early years of gaming. Some elements, however, need to be improved upon.
But before we get to the nitty gritties, let's talk tacos. From 8pm-10pm every Tuesday, diners can order as much tacos as they want and they could either get served a crunchy fish taco or a succulent beef one. Of the two, I would wholeheartedly recommend the latter as the warm beef is a delicious counter to the winter winds that make their way into the Bungalow's al fresco dining tables. The fish also deserves some recognition though it may sometimes come out having one too many 'crispy' parts.
Food aside, service can be quite slow on extremely busy days and I would say that your mileage may vary. Suffice to say, the tacos don't feel unlimited at all and the service time could surpass an hour. Drinks do arrive slightly quicker but if you're famished, come with loads and loads of patience.  

Taste: The tacos are delish! The beef one is the superstar of the two offerings with the fish also being a good choice. They're on differing ends of the spectrum - one is a braised and stew kind of wonder and the other is a crunchy bite with some spice mixed in. They could however be sauced more liberally.

Ambience: The greatest strength is that it delivers on its image as a beachside treehouse quite well. Dining is completely al fresco giving diners a 360-degree view of Jumeirah Beach. There are vintage game cabinets and one of the coolest bands in town playing; oh, and did I forget to mention that Laguna Waterpark is just behind?

Service: One can instantly discern a busy night. It could very well be chalked off to just being a one-time experience, but from one-hour waits for tacos to the staff failing to recognise diners as they asked for assistance, it hardly feels like Taco Tuesday.

Presentation: Too bad there were only two tacos per plate! That is the only gripe. They are served in modest trays that are more utilitarian than decorative - and that is fine. The dish itself is arranged in a way that I would summarise as 'clean' - lacking the informality and street food roots of the taco - and that is fine.

Value for money: For Dh99 it's not a bad deal on paper. But, I'll take a gander and say that the service variable is where the bulk of an 'unlimited tacos night' hinges on. The two-hour timeframe goes by and it could be extended to midnight - that could improve this offering. But right now, I'd say your mileage may vary.
AT A GLANCE
The Bungalow  La Mer,  Dubai
Reservations: 054-9947971
Cost: Dh198 for two
Rating: 3/5
keith@khaleejtimes.com

• Food and Dining