Golf views
The terrace looks across the fairway and putting green, with greenery, breezes and sunset appeal.
261 Restaurant & Bar
Dubai Sports City
261 Restaurant & Bar is a golf-course-view restaurant and bar at The Els Club in Dubai Sports City, with indoor seating and a spacious outdoor terrace. It suits casual lunches, drinks, live sports and family gatherings, with dishes such as steak and Guinness pie and burgers appearing in reviews.
Reputation Score
4.0
★★★★☆
197 ratings
Source: Google Maps
The Good Stuff
Outdoor seating
The outdoor area is a strong draw in cooler weather, with ample seating and a relaxed setting.
Family friendly
One visit comfortably accommodated three families and seven children, making the venue workable for larger family groups.
Dog friendly
Dogs are allowed in the outdoor seating area, though not inside the restaurant.
Food variety
Reviews cover substantial favourites, curries, seafood, burgers and lighter dishes rather than just golf-club fare.
Live music
A live band has helped create an evening atmosphere that reviewers found enjoyable.
Tap beers
The beer selection on tap is a recurring reason one reviewer enjoys returning.
What to Eat at 261 Restaurant & Bar How we choose these items We use AI to find praise and criticism of specific foods and drinks in a selection of Google reviews. For 261 Restaurant & Bar, this list is based on 50 reviews, not every review of the restaurant. The score is positive reviews minus negative reviews. For example, two positive reviews and one negative review give +1. Each review counts once per item; neutral comments do not change the score. A zero score is not a positive recommendation. “Only neutral feedback” means there are no positive or negative votes. “Mixed feedback” means equal numbers of positive and negative votes. The quotes are examples of what people said, not every comment we counted. We use different reviews where we can. We normally show up to 10 foods and 5 drinks with non-negative scores. Items with the same score stay together. If a tied group would go past the limit, that group and the lower non-negative scores go into Honorable mentions. If an overflowing positive top tie would leave the list empty, we show up to 10 items from that tie and keep the rest in Honorable mentions. Foods and drinks with a negative score are under What to Avoid. Use this as a guide to what reviewers liked, not a guarantee that you will like it too.
Foods and drinks mentioned in reviews of 261 Restaurant & Bar, ranked by positive reviews minus negative reviews. Zero-score items have no net positive feedback; their labels distinguish neutral-only from mixed feedback.
Food 1
-
Butter chicken Net +2
“Food was great, butter chicken was very rich and delicious, the seabass was also amazon”
Positive 2Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Food was great, butter chicken was very rich and delicious, the seabass was also amazon”June 2023
“Varied menu with many reasonable offerings, opted in for 2 curries this evening, Butter Chicken and Rogan Josh, served with rice, Papadam and fresh Naan bread. Food was tasty and good portioned, serving time was speedy.”August 2024
Honorable mentions (18)
-
Beer braised pie Net +1
“The right amount of spices and chilli, the Lamb Dum Biryani was surprisingly good and favourable and finally the Beer Braised Pie was tasty with small cuts of the most amazingly tender meat but a bit salty for my taste but If you read my other reviews you'll notice that I find a lot if dishes salty so I think it could be just me.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“The right amount of spices and chilli, the Lamb Dum Biryani was surprisingly good and favourable and finally the Beer Braised Pie was tasty with small cuts of the most amazingly tender meat but a bit salty for my taste but If you read my other reviews you'll notice that I find a lot if dishes salty so I think it could be just me.”January 2018
-
Black cod Net +1
“The Black Cod was also really good.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“The Black Cod was also really good.”October 2025
-
Cauliflower wings Net +1
“The menu is full of choices, we tried the truffle cheese toast, cauliflower wings and the most delicious cheese cake. I loved them all but what beats the food as well is the view!”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“The menu is full of choices, we tried the truffle cheese toast, cauliflower wings and the most delicious cheese cake. I loved them all but what beats the food as well is the view!”February 2024
-
Cheese cake Net +1
“The menu is full of choices, we tried the truffle cheese toast, cauliflower wings and the most delicious cheese cake. I loved them all but what beats the food as well is the view!”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“The menu is full of choices, we tried the truffle cheese toast, cauliflower wings and the most delicious cheese cake. I loved them all but what beats the food as well is the view!”February 2024
-
Chicken permiganaa Net +1
“We have visited here yesterday and it wss just awesome and we enjoyed our time and visit service was just like wow thanks for els club restaurant for such a beautiful experience we enjoy chicken permiganaa and els club sandwich thank you to asim and shakeeel and tahaaa fo ur supprt”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“We have visited here yesterday and it wss just awesome and we enjoyed our time and visit service was just like wow thanks for els club restaurant for such a beautiful experience we enjoy chicken permiganaa and els club sandwich thank you to asim and shakeeel and tahaaa fo ur supprt”January 2026
-
Els club sandwich Net +1
“We have visited here yesterday and it wss just awesome and we enjoyed our time and visit service was just like wow thanks for els club restaurant for such a beautiful experience we enjoy chicken permiganaa and els club sandwich thank you to asim and shakeeel and tahaaa fo ur supprt”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“We have visited here yesterday and it wss just awesome and we enjoyed our time and visit service was just like wow thanks for els club restaurant for such a beautiful experience we enjoy chicken permiganaa and els club sandwich thank you to asim and shakeeel and tahaaa fo ur supprt”January 2026
-
Ernie’s burger Net +1
“Excellent outdoor seating, the food is excellent; I had the Ernie’s burger, one of the best burgers I’ve had recently, will definitely come back!”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Excellent outdoor seating, the food is excellent; I had the Ernie’s burger, one of the best burgers I’ve had recently, will definitely come back!”December 2022
-
Fresh naan bread Net +1
“Varied menu with many reasonable offerings, opted in for 2 curries this evening, Butter Chicken and Rogan Josh, served with rice, Papadam and fresh Naan bread. Food was tasty and good portioned, serving time was speedy.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Varied menu with many reasonable offerings, opted in for 2 curries this evening, Butter Chicken and Rogan Josh, served with rice, Papadam and fresh Naan bread. Food was tasty and good portioned, serving time was speedy.”August 2024
-
Grilled chicken breast Net +1
“Food wise? My wife had her grilled chicken breast with the cauliflower puree which was quite nice.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Food wise? My wife had her grilled chicken breast with the cauliflower puree which was quite nice.”February 2026
-
Grilled chicken supreme Net +1
“It was the first in the Els club and it was great experience thanks to sithu and Shakeel and thanks to bartender for best cocktails and the chef for food . Grilled chicken supreme was the perfect . Thanks once again we had great time”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“It was the first in the Els club and it was great experience thanks to sithu and Shakeel and thanks to bartender for best cocktails and the chef for food . Grilled chicken supreme was the perfect . Thanks once again we had great time”March 2026
-
Lamb dum biryani Net +1
“The right amount of spices and chilli, the Lamb Dum Biryani was surprisingly good and favourable and finally the Beer Braised Pie was tasty with small cuts of the most amazingly tender meat but a bit salty for my taste but If you read my other reviews you'll notice that I find a lot if dishes salty so I think it could be just me.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“The right amount of spices and chilli, the Lamb Dum Biryani was surprisingly good and favourable and finally the Beer Braised Pie was tasty with small cuts of the most amazingly tender meat but a bit salty for my taste but If you read my other reviews you'll notice that I find a lot if dishes salty so I think it could be just me.”January 2018
-
Melon salad Net +1
“food was good. the lamb was perfect and the melon salad was super fresh. quantity is also generous.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“food was good. the lamb was perfect and the melon salad was super fresh. quantity is also generous.”July 2025
-
Rogan josh Net +1
“Varied menu with many reasonable offerings, opted in for 2 curries this evening, Butter Chicken and Rogan Josh, served with rice, Papadam and fresh Naan bread. Food was tasty and good portioned, serving time was speedy.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Varied menu with many reasonable offerings, opted in for 2 curries this evening, Butter Chicken and Rogan Josh, served with rice, Papadam and fresh Naan bread. Food was tasty and good portioned, serving time was speedy.”August 2024
-
Seabass Net +1
“Food was great, butter chicken was very rich and delicious, the seabass was also amazon”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Food was great, butter chicken was very rich and delicious, the seabass was also amazon”June 2023
-
Steak and guinness pies Net +1
“We went for the steak and Guinness pies, which were absolutely spot on — rich, hearty, and full of flavour, perfect after a morning on the course.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“We went for the steak and Guinness pies, which were absolutely spot on — rich, hearty, and full of flavour, perfect after a morning on the course.”October 2025
-
Tom yum soup Net +1
“the Tom Yum soup was delicious! The right amount of spices and chilli”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“the Tom Yum soup was delicious! The right amount of spices and chilli”January 2018
-
Truffle cheese toast Net +1
“The menu is full of choices, we tried the truffle cheese toast, cauliflower wings and the most delicious cheese cake. I loved them all but what beats the food as well is the view!”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“The menu is full of choices, we tried the truffle cheese toast, cauliflower wings and the most delicious cheese cake. I loved them all but what beats the food as well is the view!”February 2024
-
Moretti’s Net 0
Only neutral feedback
“For example, I bought two Moretti’s on ‘happy hour’ which should normally be 92aed.”
Positive 0Negative 0Neutral 1
Drinks 2
-
Cappuccino Net +1
“Cappuccino was good and the staff were helpful.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Cappuccino was good and the staff were helpful.”December 2019
-
Coffee Net +1
“The food is great coffee also good they need to make it a little hotter.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“The food is great coffee also good they need to make it a little hotter.”February 2025
What to Avoid (4)
Food 4
-
Burger Net −1
“We ate burger and fries , even couldnt finish it . Although we said fries are all dry and asked new they brought same dry friest.”
Positive 0Negative 1
Critical review excerpts
“We ate burger and fries , even couldnt finish it . Although we said fries are all dry and asked new they brought same dry friest.”December 2025
-
Mushroom soup Net −1
“Soup of the day was mushroom soup which tasted better with little black peper and was less creamy than I would like, the Tom Yum soup was delicious!”
Positive 0Negative 1
Critical review excerpts
“Soup of the day was mushroom soup which tasted better with little black peper and was less creamy than I would like, the Tom Yum soup was delicious!”January 2018
-
Fish and chips Net −2
“My fish and chips however, was disaster. The batter used was so thick and didn’t taste crispy at all.”
Positive 0Negative 2
Critical review excerpts
“My fish and chips however, was disaster. The batter used was so thick and didn’t taste crispy at all.”February 2026
“Very disappointing. Fish & Chips was terrible. Clearly a frozen attempt at a classic. Batter was rubbery and almost pancake like.”September 2023
-
Fries Net −2
“The burgers were too dry, same with the fries.”
Positive 0Negative 2
Critical review excerpts
“The burgers were too dry, same with the fries.”February 2026
“We ate burger and fries , even couldnt finish it . Although we said fries are all dry and asked new they brought same dry friest.”December 2025
Tips for a Better Visit
Allow time. Visit when you are not rushing: one review reports waiting 15 minutes just to be acknowledged, while another describes a one-hour bill wait.
Check discounts. Before paying, ask how happy-hour or Entertainer discounts interact with municipality and service taxes.
Choose outdoors. For dogs, breezes and the golf view, request the outdoor area; dogs are not permitted inside.
Try alternatives. If ordering fish and chips or burgers, consider another dish if available because reviews report inconsistent batter, fries and burger texture.
Visit winter. The terrace is most appealing in Dubai’s cooler months, when reviewers mention comfortable outdoor drinks and lunches.
Ask directly. Keep an eye on your order and follow up promptly for drinks, condiments and cutlery rather than assuming they will arrive automatically.
Plan the visit
Practical details
Els Club, Sports City
Al Hebiah Fourth - Dubai Sports City, Dubai
| Mon | 6:00 AM – 11:00 PM |
| Tue | 6:00 AM – 11:00 PM |
| Wed | 6:00 AM – 11:00 PM |
| Thu | 6:00 AM – 11:00 PM |
| Fri | 6:00 AM – 11:00 PM |
| Sat | 6:00 AM – 11:00 PM |
| Sun | 6:00 AM – 11:00 PM |
Common Concerns
Slow service
Several reviews describe long waits for acknowledgement, drinks, orders and bills, even when the venue did not appear busy.
Inconsistent food
Fish and chips and burgers were criticised in some visits, while other reviews praised the food, so execution appears uneven.
Discount confusion
A reviewer said the happy-hour discount on two Moretti beers was offset by taxes, bringing the bill above the expected discounted total.
Poor attention
Guests reported chasing staff for cutlery, drinks, condiments and the bill, with one bill taking an hour.
Member priority
One birthday group said tables by the grass were reserved for club members and felt non-members were treated less favourably.
Customer-reported prices
These are customer-reported mentions, not a current price list. Prices may have changed.
92aed
two Moretti’s
“For example, I bought two Moretti’s on ‘happy hour’ which should normally be 92aed”Google review · March 2026
DXB
LOCAL
LOCAL
The Bottom Line
261 Restaurant & Bar is a casual restaurant and bar at The Els Club in Dubai Sports City, built around its outdoor terrace and views over the golf course. You can come for lunch after a round, drinks while watching sport, a family meal or a winter afternoon outside. Reviews specifically mention steak and Guinness pies, Ernie’s burger, Black Cod and butter chicken, although the food is not equally reliable on every visit.
The setting is the clearest reason to consider it. There is plenty of indoor and outdoor seating, a family-friendly feel, live music on some evenings and space for dogs in the outdoor area. Reviewers also mention a good choice of beers on tap, a comfortable interior and breezy views across the fairway.
It can work well for groups, including one visit with three families and seven children. Service is the main caution. Some guests describe warm, attentive hospitality, but others waited 15 minutes to be acknowledged, chased drinks repeatedly or waited an hour for the bill.
Fish and chips, burgers and fries have also drawn specific complaints. If you visit, allow extra time, confirm any Entertainer or happy-hour terms before settling the bill, and choose the terrace in cooler weather.