Elegant setting
A high-ceilinged hall with chandeliers, mirrors and ornate decor creates a formal backdrop for dinner and celebrations.
Imperium
Palm Jumeirah
Imperium is a grand buffet restaurant in Palm Jumeirah, set inside Jumeirah Zabeel Saray. Reviews highlight its live pasta station, generous dessert counter and palace-like interiors, while opinions on buffet variety and value are noticeably mixed.
Reputation Score
4.2
★★★★☆
293 ratings
Source: Google Maps
The Good Stuff
Pasta station
The live pasta counter is one of the most consistently praised parts of the buffet, with some guests calling it memorable and well cooked.
Dessert spread
Desserts receive repeated praise, including the broad selection and the chocolate fountain.
Celebrations
The team has marked birthdays, anniversaries and weddings with cakes, singing and carefully arranged tables.
Breakfast choice
Breakfast reviews mention western and Indian dishes, an eggs station, breads and a broad buffet.
Family friendly
A dedicated kids’ buffet section is available, which several family reviews found useful.
What to Eat at Imperium 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 Imperium, 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.
These items at Imperium got the most positive mentions in user reviews. Check them out!
Food 8
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3 Course evening meal Net +1
“For half board we had everything we could want for breakfast and a 3 course evening meal that rotated international cuisine. Both were outstanding.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“For half board we had everything we could want for breakfast and a 3 course evening meal that rotated international cuisine. Both were outstanding.”September 2024
-
3 Layer cake Net +1
“I celebrated my birthday here and staff are very accommodating they even sing for me and gave me a 3 layer cake🤣🤣❤️❤️My heart is full and my stomach too👌🏻👌🏻😊”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“I celebrated my birthday here and staff are very accommodating they even sing for me and gave me a 3 layer cake🤣🤣❤️❤️My heart is full and my stomach too👌🏻👌🏻😊”August 2025
-
Dates with different fillings Net +1
“I only liked the pasta station and dates with different fillings”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“I only liked the pasta station and dates with different fillings”March 2025
-
Delicious cake Net +1
“specially the stuff they are very lovely, i was lucky to be served by two named Edwardo and the lovely Lilik ( hope i spelled her name right) , they new that i am celebrating my anniversary and they surprised me with this delicious cake ♥️”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“specially the stuff they are very lovely, i was lucky to be served by two named Edwardo and the lovely Lilik ( hope i spelled her name right) , they new that i am celebrating my anniversary and they surprised me with this delicious cake ♥️”May 2024
-
Eggs benedict Net +1
“Eggs Benedict yummmm.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Eggs Benedict yummmm.”September 2020
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Rib of beef Net +1
“The carvery, with its rib of beef , huge fresh Yorkshire puddings and lashings of rich gravy was my go to, and managed to cram in a cheeseboard to finish!”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“The carvery, with its rib of beef , huge fresh Yorkshire puddings and lashings of rich gravy was my go to, and managed to cram in a cheeseboard to finish!”October 2023
-
Seafood soup Net +1
“-try the seafood soup -best soup I ever had”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“-try the seafood soup -best soup I ever had”April 2022
-
Spaghetti Net +1
“The Spaghetti was good”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“The Spaghetti was good”February 2026
What to Avoid (10)
Food 9
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Green thai chicken Net −1
“Main course: totally forgettable green Thai chicken, sea bass in cream, lamb in some sauce, etc.”
Positive 0Negative 1
Critical review excerpts
“Main course: totally forgettable green Thai chicken, sea bass in cream, lamb in some sauce, etc.”May 2024
-
Hash brown Net −1
“Pastries, sushi and salads were all okay but the main food items like eggs, sausages, hash brown were disappointing.”
Positive 0Negative 1
Critical review excerpts
“Pastries, sushi and salads were all okay but the main food items like eggs, sausages, hash brown were disappointing.”September 2021
-
Kofta Net −1
“Kofta was completely burnt”
Positive 0Negative 1
Critical review excerpts
“Kofta was completely burnt”November 2025
-
Lamb ouzi Net −1
“Lamb Ouzi was super dry it was just like a left over from the earlier buffet…have more to say about the bad food but this is enough.”
Positive 0Negative 1
Critical review excerpts
“Lamb Ouzi was super dry it was just like a left over from the earlier buffet…have more to say about the bad food but this is enough.”March 2025
-
Roast beef Net −1
“Next, the roast beef and the carver/staff: the beef is so tough you need very sharp teeth or a knife to eat it, and the carver tossed the sliced meat onto our plates like he was totally pissed off.”
Positive 0Negative 1
Critical review excerpts
“Next, the roast beef and the carver/staff: the beef is so tough you need very sharp teeth or a knife to eat it, and the carver tossed the sliced meat onto our plates like he was totally pissed off.”May 2024
-
Roasted beef Net −1
“Roasted beef was chewy and we have to wait for several minutes before the chef was able to bring out and serve.”
Positive 0Negative 1
Critical review excerpts
“Roasted beef was chewy and we have to wait for several minutes before the chef was able to bring out and serve.”March 2025
-
Salmon maki Net −1
“To point out, as per the attached photo: Can you detect what is weird about the salmon maki? The salmon is paper-thin and not fresh; it's smoked salmon, the kind you can buy at the grocery store in 100-gram packets.”
Positive 0Negative 1
Critical review excerpts
“To point out, as per the attached photo: Can you detect what is weird about the salmon maki? The salmon is paper-thin and not fresh; it's smoked salmon, the kind you can buy at the grocery store in 100-gram packets.”May 2024
-
Sea bass in cream Net −1
“Main course: totally forgettable green Thai chicken, sea bass in cream, lamb in some sauce, etc.”
Positive 0Negative 1
Critical review excerpts
“Main course: totally forgettable green Thai chicken, sea bass in cream, lamb in some sauce, etc.”May 2024
-
Smoked salmon Net −1
“To point out, as per the attached photo: Can you detect what is weird about the salmon maki? The salmon is paper-thin and not fresh; it's smoked salmon, the kind you can buy at the grocery store in 100-gram packets.”
Positive 0Negative 1
Critical review excerpts
“To point out, as per the attached photo: Can you detect what is weird about the salmon maki? The salmon is paper-thin and not fresh; it's smoked salmon, the kind you can buy at the grocery store in 100-gram packets.”May 2024
Drinks 1
-
Coffee Net −1
“Coffee was below average as well.”
Positive 0Negative 1
Critical review excerpts
“Coffee was below average as well.”September 2021
Tips for a Better Visit
Check themes. Ask which buffet theme is running before booking; the international night disappointed some guests with its limited range.
Explore fully. Walk around every station before filling your plate, since grills were served outside and easy to miss.
Budget drinks. Allow extra for beverages: reviews say dinner excludes drinks, with one guest reporting Coke at 28 AED.
Ask refills. If you want a particular buffet item, ask early; one guest was told sushi would not be refilled near closing.
Consider offers. Check current package deals before paying; one breakfast offer included pool and beach access.
Use valet. For a special-occasion visit, valet parking was reported as a convenient extra.
Plan the visit
Practical details
Crescent Rd, Ground level, left wing, Jumeirah Zabeel Saray
The Palm Jumeirah, Dubai
Common Concerns
Limited variety
Several dinner reviews say the selection feels too narrow for a five-star buffet, especially for the price.
Inconsistent cooking
Guests have reported burnt kofta, chewy roast beef, dry lamb ouzi and cold or undercooked food.
Extra drinks
Dinner reviews say water and drinks are not included, adding noticeably to the final bill.
Uneven service
Some visits involved missing reception staff, slow assistance, unclear requests or long waits for buffet refills.
Vegetarian choice
One recent review specifically found the vegetarian offering too limited.
Customer-reported prices
These are customer-reported mentions, not a current price list. Prices may have changed.
170 AED
breakfast
“By paying 170 AED for breakfast pp you are getting an access to the pool and the beach for whole day”Google review · November 2021
28 aed
Coke
“Coke is 28 aed per drink”Google review · November 2024
DXB
LOCAL
LOCAL
The Bottom Line
Imperium is a large buffet restaurant in Palm Jumeirah, inside Jumeirah Zabeel Saray, and its main draw is the setting: a high-ceilinged, chandelier-filled room that several guests compare to a palace or ballroom. It suits celebratory dinners, weddings and birthdays, with reviews describing cakes, singing and thoughtful table arrangements. The food experience depends heavily on the visit and buffet theme.
The live pasta station is a reliable highlight, while desserts, sushi, breads, seafood and the kids’ section all receive praise in different reviews. Breakfast is often reviewed more warmly than dinner, with western and Indian dishes, breads and an eggs station. Some guests also enjoyed an extensive Iftar spread of Arabic, European and Persian dishes.
The main caution is value. Multiple diners found dinner variety too limited for a five-star hotel, with specific complaints about burnt kofta, tough roast beef, dry lamb ouzi, salty dishes and cold or undercooked food. Service ranges from attentive to frustratingly absent.
Check the theme and inclusion details before booking, and budget for drinks: one review reported Coke at 28 AED per drink. Guests have also mentioned valet parking and a breakfast package priced at 170 AED per person with pool and beach access.