Ship setting
Dining aboard the historic ocean liner gives ordinary breakfast or dinner a distinctly maritime atmosphere.
Lido Restaurant
Dubai Maritime City
Lido Restaurant is an all-day dining venue aboard the historic QE2 in Dubai Maritime City. Visitors come for buffet breakfasts and dinners, with window-side water views and the unusual chance to explore the ship’s decks after eating.
Reputation Score
4.1
★★★★☆
219 ratings
Source: Google Maps
The Good Stuff
Water views
Large windows, the outdoor deck and views of the water and Dubai coastline are major parts of the experience.
Breakfast spread
Breakfast reviews mention hot dishes, cheese, pastries and a useful range of food at the buffet.
Live cooking
Some dinner buffets include a live pasta station alongside salads, mains and desserts.
Iftar variety
The Ramadan buffet received praise for dishes such as lamb ouzi, mezze, grills and kunafa.
Family occasions
One family celebration included staff resolving a request smoothly and helping make the wedding gathering run well.
What to Eat at Lido Restaurant 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 Lido Restaurant, 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 Lido Restaurant got the most positive mentions in user reviews. Check them out!
Food 10
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Alfredo pasta Net +1
“For the main dishes, the beef steak was cooked perfectly, the alfredo pasta was creamy and delightful, and the mixed grills and kebabs were juicy and flavorful.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“For the main dishes, the beef steak was cooked perfectly, the alfredo pasta was creamy and delightful, and the mixed grills and kebabs were juicy and flavorful.”March 2025
-
Beef steak Net +1
“For the main dishes, the beef steak was cooked perfectly, the alfredo pasta was creamy and delightful, and the mixed grills and kebabs were juicy and flavorful.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“For the main dishes, the beef steak was cooked perfectly, the alfredo pasta was creamy and delightful, and the mixed grills and kebabs were juicy and flavorful.”March 2025
-
Breakfast buffet Net +1
“We had dinner with set menu and breakfast buffet both were too good, we really enjoyed and relished it.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“We had dinner with set menu and breakfast buffet both were too good, we really enjoyed and relished it.”August 2024
-
Cake Net +1
“It was a great experience for our dinner and breakfast buffet. The restaurant ambience is relaxing and very clean. Managers and staffs are friendly and helpful. The food is amazing we enjoyed our delicious meal and my kids enjoyed a lot the beautiful yummy desserts. And the most memorable moment is that the manager and staff surprised me by singing happy birthday song with the beautiful cake.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“It was a great experience for our dinner and breakfast buffet. The restaurant ambience is relaxing and very clean. Managers and staffs are friendly and helpful. The food is amazing we enjoyed our delicious meal and my kids enjoyed a lot the beautiful yummy desserts. And the most memorable moment is that the manager and staff surprised me by singing happy birthday song with the beautiful cake.”July 2024
-
Chicken biryani Net +1
“I also tried their chicken biryani, which was wonderfully spiced.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“I also tried their chicken biryani, which was wonderfully spiced.”March 2025
-
Fattoush salad Net +1
“I particularly loved the fattoush salad and halloumi—both were fresh and yummy.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“I particularly loved the fattoush salad and halloumi—both were fresh and yummy.”March 2025
-
Fresh baked pizza Net +1
“The Mac and Cheese for the kids was superb, and the fresh baked pizza was really tasty.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“The Mac and Cheese for the kids was superb, and the fresh baked pizza was really tasty.”September 2024
-
Halloumi Net +1
“I particularly loved the fattoush salad and halloumi—both were fresh and yummy.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“I particularly loved the fattoush salad and halloumi—both were fresh and yummy.”March 2025
-
Kunafa Net +1
“The desserts were a highlight, especially the kunafa and um ali!”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“The desserts were a highlight, especially the kunafa and um ali!”March 2025
-
Lamb biriyani Net +1
“Yummy lamb biriyani and butter chicken, a must try. Cozy, trendy crowd. Service could be a Lil better. The buffet is good.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Yummy lamb biriyani and butter chicken, a must try. Cozy, trendy crowd. Service could be a Lil better. The buffet is good.”May 2024
Honorable mentions (9)
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Lentil soup Net +1
“Their lentil soup was also very flavorful and comforting.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Their lentil soup was also very flavorful and comforting.”March 2025
-
Lido buffet Net +1
“LIDO buffet is rich, food is good and service great.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“LIDO buffet is rich, food is good and service great.”July 2025
-
Mac and cheese Net +1
“The Mac and Cheese for the kids was superb, and the fresh baked pizza was really tasty.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“The Mac and Cheese for the kids was superb, and the fresh baked pizza was really tasty.”September 2024
-
Mango panna cotta Net +1
“The Roast Beef and Mango Panna Cotta require a special mention and were absolutely divine.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“The Roast Beef and Mango Panna Cotta require a special mention and were absolutely divine.”September 2025
-
Mixed grills Net +1
“For the main dishes, the beef steak was cooked perfectly, the alfredo pasta was creamy and delightful, and the mixed grills and kebabs were juicy and flavorful.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“For the main dishes, the beef steak was cooked perfectly, the alfredo pasta was creamy and delightful, and the mixed grills and kebabs were juicy and flavorful.”March 2025
-
Roast beef Net +1
“The Roast Beef and Mango Panna Cotta require a special mention and were absolutely divine.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“The Roast Beef and Mango Panna Cotta require a special mention and were absolutely divine.”September 2025
-
Set menu Net +1
“We had dinner with set menu and breakfast buffet both were too good, we really enjoyed and relished it.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“We had dinner with set menu and breakfast buffet both were too good, we really enjoyed and relished it.”August 2024
-
Tiramisu Net +1
“Of course, we couldn't leave without tasting the tiramisu for dessert, and it was absolutely delicious!”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Of course, we couldn't leave without tasting the tiramisu for dessert, and it was absolutely delicious!”March 2025
-
Um ali Net +1
“The desserts were a highlight, especially the kunafa and um ali!”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“The desserts were a highlight, especially the kunafa and um ali!”March 2025
What to Avoid (4)
Food 4
-
Famous grouse Net −1
“They brought me famous grouse and charged 250 dirham for 150 ml. When I asked why Are you charging me for like three bottles of whiskey in a cup they said they only have 30 ML 50 dirham per shot I told him is there any way to do something with it and not to charge me 5×30 ML? Manager started arguing which I did not appreciate. I ask him to leave me alone and not to talk to me. He told me they are very fancy restaurant and I’m not in liquor store in Deira, which I’m totally aware of. As I come to this restaurant almost every week I was simply surprised To pay $70 for a cup of shitty whiskey. If it was properly communicated from the beginning, if the waitress informed me, she’s gonna charge that much. I would probably not order it. We would order two bottles of wine for that money.”
Positive 0Negative 1
Critical review excerpts
“They brought me famous grouse and charged 250 dirham for 150 ml. When I asked why Are you charging me for like three bottles of whiskey in a cup they said they only have 30 ML 50 dirham per shot I told him is there any way to do something with it and not to charge me 5×30 ML? Manager started arguing which I did not appreciate. I ask him to leave me alone and not to talk to me. He told me they are very fancy restaurant and I’m not in liquor store in Deira, which I’m totally aware of. As I come to this restaurant almost every week I was simply surprised To pay $70 for a cup of shitty whiskey. If it was properly communicated from the beginning, if the waitress informed me, she’s gonna charge that much. I would probably not order it. We would order two bottles of wine for that money.”October 2025
-
Fricasse Net −1
“Fricasse is supposed to be full with ingredients . It has one potato little tuna and small piece of egg. See pictures it doesn’t look like the Tunisian fricasse .”
Positive 0Negative 1
Critical review excerpts
“Fricasse is supposed to be full with ingredients . It has one potato little tuna and small piece of egg. See pictures it doesn’t look like the Tunisian fricasse .”April 2026
-
Half row chicken Net −1
“Food is poor quality . Half row chicken not possible to cut .”
Positive 0Negative 1
Critical review excerpts
“Food is poor quality . Half row chicken not possible to cut .”February 2026
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Pizza Net −1
“The food was absolutely terrible , and not variety as a international buffet , mostly is indian stlye and appitzer was cold and hard to chew , pizza is bad quality bread like you eat toast bun , dessert test is not nice also , price is to over with quality of food , very disappointed and will not come back again”
Positive 0Negative 1
Critical review excerpts
“The food was absolutely terrible , and not variety as a international buffet , mostly is indian stlye and appitzer was cold and hard to chew , pizza is bad quality bread like you eat toast bun , dessert test is not nice also , price is to over with quality of food , very disappointed and will not come back again”February 2026
Tips for a Better Visit
Reserve windows. Book ahead if the view matters: one diner specifically recommended reserving a window table.
Confirm discounts. Before ordering a buffet, confirm any hotel or app discount in writing or with reservations to avoid bill surprises.
Arrive early. For special buffets, arrive near the start: sushi had already run out by around 7.30pm at one Iftar.
Explore afterward. Leave time to walk the QE2 decks and see the ship’s other spaces after dinner.
Compare formats. If a buffet feels poor value, check the à la carte menu, which one reviewer found more affordable than package pricing.
Clarify pours. For spirits, ask about serving size and the per-shot charge first; a 150 ml whiskey order was billed as five 30 ml shots.
Plan the visit
Practical details
Queen Elizabeth 2 Hotel
Madinat Dubai Al Melaheyah - Port Rashid, Dubai
| Mon | 7:00 AM – 10:30 AM, 12:30 PM – 3:00 PM, 6:30 PM – 11:00 PM |
| Tue | 7:00 AM – 10:30 AM, 12:30 PM – 3:00 PM, 6:30 PM – 11:00 PM |
| Wed | 7:00 AM – 10:30 AM, 12:30 PM – 3:00 PM, 6:30 PM – 11:00 PM |
| Thu | 7:00 AM – 10:30 AM, 12:30 PM – 3:00 PM, 6:30 PM – 11:00 PM |
| Fri | 7:00 AM – 10:30 AM, 12:30 PM – 3:00 PM, 6:30 PM – 11:00 PM |
| Sat | 7:00 AM – 10:30 AM, 12:30 PM – 3:00 PM, 6:30 PM – 11:00 PM |
| Sun | 7:00 AM – 10:30 AM, 12:30 PM – 3:00 PM, 6:30 PM – 11:00 PM |
Common Concerns
Inconsistent food
Several diners found buffet dishes cold, bland or below expectations; one reported chicken that could not be cut.
Limited choice
Some guests felt the buffet lacked international variety, with one reviewer noting only one fish option.
Slow service
A dinner review reported waiting over 90 minutes for food and having to request plates and tissues.
Crowded tables
The restaurant can feel cramped during busy Iftar periods, with tables described as too close together.
Delivery issues
A delivery order arrived too cold, and the fricasse was described as sparsely filled rather than traditional Tunisian style.
Customer-reported prices
These are customer-reported mentions, not a current price list. Prices may have changed.
AED 155/person
buffet
“Cost for buffet: AED 155/person”Google review · July 2025
250 dirham for 150 ml
Famous Grouse 150 ml
“They brought me famous grouse and charged 250 dirham for 150 ml”Google review · October 2025
DXB
LOCAL
LOCAL
The Bottom Line
Lido Restaurant sits aboard the historic QE2 in Dubai Maritime City, so the setting is the main draw: you can eat breakfast or dinner on a former ocean liner, then walk around the ship’s decks. Window tables look over the water and Dubai coastline, while some buffets include live cooking stations and broad dessert spreads. Breakfast gets particularly good mentions for hot items, cheese and pastries.
Ramadan Iftar reviews describe a more substantial spread, including lamb ouzi, mezze, grills, biryani, kunafa and um ali. Named dishes praised by diners include roast beef, mango panna cotta, butter chicken and tiramisu. The evidence is mixed, though: other guests found the buffet limited, cold, bland or poor value, especially at AED 150–155 per person.
Service can be attentive and welcoming, and the venue has worked well for family celebrations, romantic meals and group dinners. But there are also reports of a 90-minute wait, missing plates and tissues, inattentive staff, crowded tables during Iftar and inconsistent discount information. Reserve ahead for a window seat, confirm buffet discounts before ordering, and arrive early for limited items such as sushi.
If the buffet does not suit you, check whether the à la carte menu is available.