Ray’s Grill is sharp and chic. The restaurant on the 63rd floor of Jumeirah at Etihad Towers supposedly offers some of the best steaks in town with dizzying views of the city.
Some of the prices for the signature grills on the menu are pretty dizzying too. We start our night with seafood: prawn cocktail for my companion, crab cakes for me. The hazelnut vinaigrette with avocado and orange puts a punch in the classic appetizer, which comes with three large prawns atop a handful of babies. The crab cakes have a subtle flavour bolstered with a Peruvian chilli sauce.
Roll on those signature grills: The Grade 9 Australian wagyu fillet (my jaw has just about risen after reading the AED 320 price tag for 200g of meat) is for me. My friend’s jaw is still on the table after seeing “AED 550” against his 200g Australian master Kobe beef fillet – admittedly the Godfather of the steak family. Knives selected from a deep mahogany box, we tuck in.
And it’s, well, very tasty. The meat is unreservedly tender and parts at the sight of our knife, while the beef jus heightens the already marvellous flavour of the fillets. Buttered carrots and peas, sautéed mushrooms and potatoes are pleasant bystanders.
Both the chocolate surprise and apple crumble prove to be a delicate end to our dinner. My chocolate surprise comprises of varying textures, temperatures and cocoa strengths: indulgent to say the least. But the self-professed crumble expert opposite me feels the deconstructed version of another classic isn’t quite up to scratch.
It’s almost problematic to eat such pricey cuts, or more specifically, to enjoy the meat simply for its taste. I find myself constantly asking if the taste justifies the price. But for all the bother of weighing the pros and cons of 200g of expensive meat, is it safer to pick something you know you’ll enjoy and won’t be perturbed by until the bill comes?
Ray’s Grill offers some fabulous food and some beef to die for. Just make sure you’re not the one paying at the end of the night.
Location: Jumeirah at Etihad Towers, Corniche West
We say: Go for the wagyu over the master Kobe
Cost: AED 1,095 (ouch) for two starters, two mains and three side dishes
Opening times: Daily noon-3.30pm and 7pm-11.30pm
Contact: 02 811 5666
