Restaurant Review: J&G Steakhouse

An intimate setting and a fairly broad variety of meats sourced from different parts of the world, the J&G Steakhouse at St. Regis Dubai offers an exceptional dining experience, finds Anamika Chatterjee

"Are you really a steak person?" asked my dining partner as we made our way to the J&G Steakhouse at St. Regis Dubai. I have had my fair share of steaks, even enjoyed them often, but do not owe any special allegiances to them. With its reputation of serving a variety of steaks, I was curious about whether I'd discover a new love for steaks. Entering the gorgeously designed J&G Steakhouse, the thought of food - for a brief second - takes a backseat. The dim lighting, vintage furniture, elaborate cutlery lend themselves to an intimate experience - with the food as well as the company. The menu is exhaustive. Deciding to have some variety on our table, we asked for black truffle fritters, seared scallops, a 240-gram cut of the Queensland beef tenderloin and black cod. My partner, who gave steaks a miss, was thoroughly enjoying his share of seafood. I paired the cuts with black peppercorn condiments. a combination so delightful that I gave desserts a miss just to be able to retain taste of the meat. The best part of the evening, however, was a selection of gorgeously designed knives that was brought to our table to dig into the steak. Felt as though the act of eating is as much a work of art as the food itself.
Taste: It's not always that I dote on everything that makes its way to my table. The texture of the tenderloin cut was smooth and though it was well-cooked, the flavor of the meat stood out. The black truffle fritters served with comté cheese were addictive too!
Ambience: There isn't really much of an outdoor view, but the indoors more than make up for it. The dim lighting along with music (there was blues and a bit of jazz) playing in the background was the deal clincher for me. There is a cosy vibe to the place that draws you in!
Service: Like clockwork. A special mention to the manager Thor (not to be mistaken with the Marvel superhero) and Luxolo - very polite, and deeply invested in educating their guests about the processes behind the preparation of each dish.
Presentation: The attention to detailing is worth an applause. Be it a smattering of pepper with a grilled bell pepper that accompanies the cuts or generous amounts of caviar spread over the scallops, it is obvious that the folks here do not take presentation lightly. I loved the vintage cutlery too.
Value for money: An average meal for two here, sans any beverages, costs about Dh700. Though it may sound steep, the overall experience (the food, the ambience and the service) is worth it. Something to indulge in on a special evening with a loved one!
Rating: 4.5/5
anamika@khaleejtimes.com

• Food and Dining