The recently opened Soho Bar & Grill
in Century Village claims to offer a concept original to Dubai but not unknown
in other parts of the world. The, as yet unnamed, SoHo Cow welcomes food lovers to a unique, industrial surrounding, a carefully designed tribute to a New York urban steakhouse.
The beautifully set outdoor area in the shadow of the Dubai Tennis stadium, is paradoxically vibrant, yet laidback. The butcher shop curtains indoors are without a doubt my favorite decor element.
And the music sets the tone: its funky blend of oldies, soul, pacey jazz and the occassional rock and roll beat, is definitely food for the soul. With a motto like "If we're not supposed to eat animals, how come they're made of meat?", you are expected to be a carnivore here.
Even though, this is primarily a steakhouse, you are spoiled for choice: from New York style flatbread to inventive salads, calzones, pizza, burgers, chicken wings, seafood and ribs, plus homemade desserts.
Must tries include the Boerewors, a traditional spiced South-African sausage which was a new experience for me; the delicious Buffalo Wings, cooked in their own juices and served with the chef's signature Monkey Gland sauce; and for the more adventurous, the Steak "On the Stone" is a fantastic DIY food experience.
The menu needs navigating and while the staff - dressed in-theme - are ever helpful, if you really need some expert advice, SoHo's resident chef, Jean Strauss, is often at hand to help. Strauss - whose cooking career started with a loaf of banana bread at the age of nine - brings an experimental flair to the menu.
SoHo Bar & Grill certainly is a refreshing new addition to Dubai's dining scene.
