Waterfront Views
Outdoor tables look towards Atlantis and the fountain show, making the setting a major part of the evening.
A cappella
Trade Centre
A Cappella is a casual bar-and-kitchen restaurant in Trade Centre, with a mixed-cuisine menu and indoor or outdoor seating. Customers come for fountain and Atlantis views, shisha, cocktails and shareable dishes such as lamb chops; live DJs and bands add a livelier evening atmosphere.
Reputation Score
4.4
★★★★☆
798 ratings
Source: Google Maps
The Good Stuff
Strong Shisha
Shisha is repeatedly praised; one guest reported three hours of smoking without burns.
Outdoor Seating
The outdoor area combines dining with the Atlantis and fountain views when the weather is comfortable.
Lamb Chops
Lamb chops are one of the clearest food standouts, with one reviewer rating them 10/10.
Live Entertainment
DJs, live bands and brunch performances create an energetic evening rather than a quiet dining room.
Family Friendly
Reviews describe it as suitable for family meals, with both indoor and outdoor seating areas.
What to Eat at A cappella 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 A cappella, this list is based on 50 reviews, not every review of the restaurant. We still have more reviews to analyze, so the scores may change. 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.
These items at A cappella got the most positive mentions in user reviews. Check them out!
Food 7
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Lamb chops Net +6
“Good place for desi Indians. But the food is average except the lamb chops. The location is beautiful (the point).”
Positive 6Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Good place for desi Indians. But the food is average except the lamb chops. The location is beautiful (the point).”June 2021
“The global outlook is reflected in their leather-bound Passport Menu calling out specific dishes from areas of the world like their spicy, sauced smothered lamb chops (a must order) and moreish sliders (which came highly recommended via a friend).”June 2019
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Beef sliders Net +2
“Here is what I would strongly recommend to try Chaats Pani puri Starters Lamb chops Tandoori chicken Veg sliders Beef sliders Mains Crab curry with Kerala paratha and rice Mac n cheese Desserts Chocosphere Sticky toffee pudding .”
Positive 2Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Here is what I would strongly recommend to try Chaats Pani puri Starters Lamb chops Tandoori chicken Veg sliders Beef sliders Mains Crab curry with Kerala paratha and rice Mac n cheese Desserts Chocosphere Sticky toffee pudding .”July 2019
“The beef slider was really amazing with thin potato crisps.”July 2019
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De shelled mud crab curry Net +2
“Also tried the De shelled mud crab curry with parota and rice. It had a very homely flavor and taste and the combination was just too good.”
Positive 2Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Also tried the De shelled mud crab curry with parota and rice. It had a very homely flavor and taste and the combination was just too good.”July 2019
“For mains we went for Crab Kari, which is De shelled mud crab, malay curry, parota and Steamed rice and Mac n Cheese, served with lobster n truffle. Both dishes were beautifully plated and tasted incredibly delicious. Crab kari especially impressed me immensely, no doubt about it that i highly recommend Crab Kari.”June 2019
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Mac and cheese served with lobster and truffle Net +2
“For the mains, we had Mac and cheese served with lobster and truffle. The lobster and truffle took this simple dish to a whole new level .”
Positive 2Negative 0
Review excerpts
“For the mains, we had Mac and cheese served with lobster and truffle. The lobster and truffle took this simple dish to a whole new level .”July 2019
“I love their lobster mac n cheese, Wonton, and their cheese burgers. Their food were special and crafted beautifully. Good Job to their talented chefs and servers!🤩😍”August 2019
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Spaghetti Net +2
“You can’t miss out on their spaghetti and Indian dishes. The portions are pretty small though.”
Positive 2Negative 0
Review excerpts
“You can’t miss out on their spaghetti and Indian dishes. The portions are pretty small though.”August 2022
“Food was excellent: Spaghetti, Kulcha with kali daal, croquettes, ottoman chicken and dragon chicken were delicious. Great views of the fountains.”November 2020
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Tandoori chicken Net +2
“Tandoori Chicken, its a Tandoor cooked baby chicken served with pickled veggies . All the starters must strictly be there on your plate if you are visiting this beautiful restaurant.”
Positive 2Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Tandoori Chicken, its a Tandoor cooked baby chicken served with pickled veggies . All the starters must strictly be there on your plate if you are visiting this beautiful restaurant.”June 2019
“The chicken tandoori was the next dish that we tried. It was well marinated and cooked perfectly.”July 2019
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Udon noodles Net +2
“We tried quessadilla, calamari and Udon noodles all of which were great.”
Positive 2Negative 0
Review excerpts
“We tried quessadilla, calamari and Udon noodles all of which were great.”October 2022
“Food was super Yum, Gambas (the shrimps) and the Udon Noodles were awesome. Didn’t try the cocktails but tried the mocktails - the berries lemonade and the Kale Apple juices were wonderful too. The fountain view from here is nice too”October 2022
Honorable mentions (29)
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Beef burgers Net +1
“Since it was the burger month, we had to try out their very hyped burger in the form of sliders – with options from three flavors, we opted for the very succulent, perfectly sized, melt in your mouth and crispy beef burgers. These were one of the best sliders we have had till date. It had little twist of flavors and were made to perfection.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Since it was the burger month, we had to try out their very hyped burger in the form of sliders – with options from three flavors, we opted for the very succulent, perfectly sized, melt in your mouth and crispy beef burgers. These were one of the best sliders we have had till date. It had little twist of flavors and were made to perfection.”June 2019
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Calamari Net +1
“We tried quessadilla, calamari and Udon noodles all of which were great.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“We tried quessadilla, calamari and Udon noodles all of which were great.”October 2022
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Chicken tacos Net +1
“Absolutely loved this place! The service was great & the food was to die for! Make sure to try the lamb chops & chicken tacos. We went on a weeknight so the DJ was playing all night.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Absolutely loved this place! The service was great & the food was to die for! Make sure to try the lamb chops & chicken tacos. We went on a weeknight so the DJ was playing all night.”July 2020
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Chicken tandoori Net +1
“Chicken Tandoori literally bought in mini tandoors on your table our aromatic and flavorful. You can easily cut it with your forks, this succulent tandoori boti’s were well spiced and made with all the right ingredients.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Chicken Tandoori literally bought in mini tandoors on your table our aromatic and flavorful. You can easily cut it with your forks, this succulent tandoori boti’s were well spiced and made with all the right ingredients.”June 2019
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Chicken tikka Net +1
“The main course, we were stunned to have known that chicken tikka is originally a dish from United Kingdom. Were you aware about this ? Well anyways, as always this dish goes right to you heart with its packed in flavors and aromas.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“The main course, we were stunned to have known that chicken tikka is originally a dish from United Kingdom. Were you aware about this ? Well anyways, as always this dish goes right to you heart with its packed in flavors and aromas.”June 2019
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Chicken wings Net +1
“Chicken wings were another appetizer that we tried and being an all time fan of chicken wings, i was amazed how this one could taste so different yet so delicious. crispy on the outside with sprinkled spice on top and succulent chicken on the inside. It was the perfect snack one could enjoy in an evening at Acappella.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Chicken wings were another appetizer that we tried and being an all time fan of chicken wings, i was amazed how this one could taste so different yet so delicious. crispy on the outside with sprinkled spice on top and succulent chicken on the inside. It was the perfect snack one could enjoy in an evening at Acappella.”June 2019
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Chocolate sphere Net +1
“Chocolate Sphere with stuffing of Pecan nut brownies, spiced rum chocolate sauce and the Sticky Toffee Pudding, which was the Dates pudding with banana icecream n salted caramel fox nuts. Both were beautifully presented too and it was not sugary sweet.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Chocolate Sphere with stuffing of Pecan nut brownies, spiced rum chocolate sauce and the Sticky Toffee Pudding, which was the Dates pudding with banana icecream n salted caramel fox nuts. Both were beautifully presented too and it was not sugary sweet.”June 2019
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Chocolaty sphere dessert Net +1
“The chocolaty sphere dessert was our favorite with all the surprises inside and the warm chocolate poured on top of the sphere.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“The chocolaty sphere dessert was our favorite with all the surprises inside and the warm chocolate poured on top of the sphere.”June 2019
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Croquettes Net +1
“Food was excellent: Spaghetti, Kulcha with kali daal, croquettes, ottoman chicken and dragon chicken were delicious. Great views of the fountains.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Food was excellent: Spaghetti, Kulcha with kali daal, croquettes, ottoman chicken and dragon chicken were delicious. Great views of the fountains.”November 2020
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Dimsum Net +1
“In particular,the staff was very kind and we ordered dimsum and beer,it was very excellent and tasty.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“In particular,the staff was very kind and we ordered dimsum and beer,it was very excellent and tasty.”August 2022
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Dragon chicken Net +1
“Food was excellent: Spaghetti, Kulcha with kali daal, croquettes, ottoman chicken and dragon chicken were delicious. Great views of the fountains.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Food was excellent: Spaghetti, Kulcha with kali daal, croquettes, ottoman chicken and dragon chicken were delicious. Great views of the fountains.”November 2020
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Fusilli Net +1
“Food: I had a fusilli 😋 with red sous And masala fries Both was fresh tasty till last bite”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Food: I had a fusilli 😋 with red sous And masala fries Both was fresh tasty till last bite”April 2023
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Gambas (the shrimps) Net +1
“Food was super Yum, Gambas (the shrimps) and the Udon Noodles were awesome. Didn’t try the cocktails but tried the mocktails - the berries lemonade and the Kale Apple juices were wonderful too. The fountain view from here is nice too”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Food was super Yum, Gambas (the shrimps) and the Udon Noodles were awesome. Didn’t try the cocktails but tried the mocktails - the berries lemonade and the Kale Apple juices were wonderful too. The fountain view from here is nice too”October 2022
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Kale apple juices Net +1
“Food was super Yum, Gambas (the shrimps) and the Udon Noodles were awesome. Didn’t try the cocktails but tried the mocktails - the berries lemonade and the Kale Apple juices were wonderful too. The fountain view from here is nice too”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Food was super Yum, Gambas (the shrimps) and the Udon Noodles were awesome. Didn’t try the cocktails but tried the mocktails - the berries lemonade and the Kale Apple juices were wonderful too. The fountain view from here is nice too”October 2022
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Kulcha with kali daal Net +1
“Food was excellent: Spaghetti, Kulcha with kali daal, croquettes, ottoman chicken and dragon chicken were delicious. Great views of the fountains.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Food was excellent: Spaghetti, Kulcha with kali daal, croquettes, ottoman chicken and dragon chicken were delicious. Great views of the fountains.”November 2020
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Mac n cheese Net +1
“For mains we went for Crab Kari, which is De shelled mud crab, malay curry, parota and Steamed rice and Mac n Cheese, served with lobster n truffle. Both dishes were beautifully plated and tasted incredibly delicious.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“For mains we went for Crab Kari, which is De shelled mud crab, malay curry, parota and Steamed rice and Mac n Cheese, served with lobster n truffle. Both dishes were beautifully plated and tasted incredibly delicious.”June 2019
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Masala fries Net +1
“Food: I had a fusilli 😋 with red sous And masala fries Both was fresh tasty till last bite”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Food: I had a fusilli 😋 with red sous And masala fries Both was fresh tasty till last bite”April 2023
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Mushroom soup Net +1
“Yummy tapas although few were too spicy for me but enjoyed anyway the staff were friendly and attentive vibrant atmosphere with live entertaining band and Dj 🎶 we had so much fun for the brunch yesterday and love the mushroom soup , the desert as well it’s worth it to go back for another culinary experience”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Yummy tapas although few were too spicy for me but enjoyed anyway the staff were friendly and attentive vibrant atmosphere with live entertaining band and Dj 🎶 we had so much fun for the brunch yesterday and love the mushroom soup , the desert as well it’s worth it to go back for another culinary experience”January 2022
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Ottoman chicken Net +1
“Food was excellent: Spaghetti, Kulcha with kali daal, croquettes, ottoman chicken and dragon chicken were delicious. Great views of the fountains.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Food was excellent: Spaghetti, Kulcha with kali daal, croquettes, ottoman chicken and dragon chicken were delicious. Great views of the fountains.”November 2020
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Pani puri champenoise Net +1
“For Starters Pani puri Champenoise, served with Tamrind water, Chickpea & Potatoe. Lamb Chops, basically Tandoori Lamb chops, Shichimi soy and miso dip. Both the dishes were beautifully presented and awesome taste especially the lamb chops were unbelievably succulent and superb.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“For Starters Pani puri Champenoise, served with Tamrind water, Chickpea & Potatoe. Lamb Chops, basically Tandoori Lamb chops, Shichimi soy and miso dip. Both the dishes were beautifully presented and awesome taste especially the lamb chops were unbelievably succulent and superb.”June 2019
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Panu puri Net +1
“Starting of with the very gastronomically presented panu puri stuffed with the regulars and a gel of tamarind sauce, this combination of sweet and sour flavor is going to please your tastebuds.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Starting of with the very gastronomically presented panu puri stuffed with the regulars and a gel of tamarind sauce, this combination of sweet and sour flavor is going to please your tastebuds.”June 2019
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Pisco sour Net +1
“The cocktail menu is fabulous with a shout out to the reasonably priced whiskey cocktails (old fashions) and notably their smooth, citrusy Pisco Sour as a signal to the all things Peruvian trend these days.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“The cocktail menu is fabulous with a shout out to the reasonably priced whiskey cocktails (old fashions) and notably their smooth, citrusy Pisco Sour as a signal to the all things Peruvian trend these days.”June 2019
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Prosseco Net +1
“Food is beautiful and well done. Also I loved prosseco”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Food is beautiful and well done. Also I loved prosseco”March 2023
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Quessadilla Net +1
“We tried quessadilla, calamari and Udon noodles all of which were great.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“We tried quessadilla, calamari and Udon noodles all of which were great.”October 2022
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Seafood burger Net +1
“We were lucky to try 2 of the scrumptious burger from the menu, the Seafood Burger, it had Thai Prawn Cake, Tom Yum Mayo, Asian Slaw and Veg Burger with the stuffing of Jalapeno & Cheese patty, tamarind ketchup, rocket lettuce. It was MINDBLOWING, full of flavour bursting out with every bite. Highly recommended.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“We were lucky to try 2 of the scrumptious burger from the menu, the Seafood Burger, it had Thai Prawn Cake, Tom Yum Mayo, Asian Slaw and Veg Burger with the stuffing of Jalapeno & Cheese patty, tamarind ketchup, rocket lettuce. It was MINDBLOWING, full of flavour bursting out with every bite. Highly recommended.”June 2019
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Steak Net +1
“Thursday night steak search ended up here.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Thursday night steak search ended up here.”September 2021
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Veg slider Net +1
“Another was the veg slider. Well we would have never thought that we would end up loving a Veg Burger, but this one surely was worth it as it wasn’t made the old fashioned way. The patty was made of Jalapeno and cheese, with tamarind sauce. It was like a harmonious marriage of decadent flavors.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Another was the veg slider. Well we would have never thought that we would end up loving a Veg Burger, but this one surely was worth it as it wasn’t made the old fashioned way. The patty was made of Jalapeno and cheese, with tamarind sauce. It was like a harmonious marriage of decadent flavors.”June 2019
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Veg sliders Net +1
“After that we had the cheese sliders and veg sliders. The beef slider was really amazing with thin potato crisps. The veg slider was equally good.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“After that we had the cheese sliders and veg sliders. The beef slider was really amazing with thin potato crisps. The veg slider was equally good.”July 2019
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Wonton Net +1
“I love their lobster mac n cheese, Wonton, and their cheese burgers. Their food were special and crafted beautifully. Good Job to their talented chefs and servers!🤩😍”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“I love their lobster mac n cheese, Wonton, and their cheese burgers. Their food were special and crafted beautifully. Good Job to their talented chefs and servers!🤩😍”August 2019
Drinks 4
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Beer Net +1
“In particular,the staff was very kind and we ordered dimsum and beer,it was very excellent and tasty.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“In particular,the staff was very kind and we ordered dimsum and beer,it was very excellent and tasty.”August 2022
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Berries lemonade Net +1
“Food was super Yum, Gambas (the shrimps) and the Udon Noodles were awesome. Didn’t try the cocktails but tried the mocktails - the berries lemonade and the Kale Apple juices were wonderful too. The fountain view from here is nice too”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Food was super Yum, Gambas (the shrimps) and the Udon Noodles were awesome. Didn’t try the cocktails but tried the mocktails - the berries lemonade and the Kale Apple juices were wonderful too. The fountain view from here is nice too”October 2022
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Lychee mojito Net +1
“The very talented bartenders at Acappella are experts in presenting some refreshing and flavor packed mocktails – our favorite is gotta be the lychee mojito and the berries one.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“The very talented bartenders at Acappella are experts in presenting some refreshing and flavor packed mocktails – our favorite is gotta be the lychee mojito and the berries one.”June 2019
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Mojito Net +1
“Beverage: mojito fresh (lime,mint and slash ice ) was wow 👌🏻 refreshing”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Beverage: mojito fresh (lime,mint and slash ice ) was wow 👌🏻 refreshing”April 2023
Tips for a Better Visit
Reserve Ahead. Come early or reserve ahead for a better table; one guest eventually booked through OpenTable an hour before arrival.
Share Plates. Treat the menu as tapas-style dining and consider ordering two or three dishes per person.
Try Paan Kiwi. For shisha, one reviewer specifically recommended the Paan + Kiwi flavour.
Bring A Jacket. If you are dining outdoors during Dubai winter, bring a jacket for the evening.
Check Vegetarian Options. If you are vegetarian, check the available dishes before settling in, as one diner found the selection limited.
Plan the visit
Practical details
Nassima Tower - Sheikh Zayed Rd
Trade Center First, Dubai
Common Concerns
Small Portions
Several reviews describe portions as small, especially for dishes intended as tapas or shared plates.
High Prices
Some diners found the pricing expensive for certain items, despite other reviews calling it reasonable.
Vegetarian Choice
One review specifically found the food menu short on vegetarian options.
Loud Music
The live Indian band was enjoyable for some but too loud for one dinner visit.
Booking Replies
A diner said phone calls and emails went unanswered, creating difficulty before the visit.
DXB
LOCAL
LOCAL
The Bottom Line
A Cappella is a casual bar-and-kitchen restaurant in Trade Centre where the main draw is a seat outside with views of Atlantis and the fountain show. It suits an evening built around drinks, shisha and shared plates rather than a formal meal; reviews also describe indoor seating, live DJs or bands, and brunch entertainment. The menu travels widely.
Named standouts include lamb chops, Udon noodles, tacos, spaghetti, Indian dishes and the chocolate sphere dessert. Several diners liked the food’s flavour and presentation, while one reviewer specifically found the lamb chops exceptional and another praised fusilli with red sauce and masala fries. Shisha gets unusually strong feedback, including a three-hour session without burns and a recommendation for Paan + Kiwi.
There are trade-offs. Portions can be small—one reviewer recommends ordering two or three tapas-sized dishes per person—and some diners found certain items expensive. Vegetarian choice has also been criticised, so check the menu if that matters.
Live music can become loud. For a better table, come early or reserve ahead; one guest struggled to get a response by phone and email but booked through OpenTable. Outdoor seating is weather-dependent: a winter dinner may call for a jacket.
Reviews mention free parking, and taxis are readily available if you plan to drink.