My experience at the Claw BBQ.

Dubai has no shortage of great restaurants, and on my trips to the UAE I’ve certainly tried a fair few. I know that in Dubai it’s all about the glitz and the glamour but as a 16 year old I much prefer getting my hands dirty. Luckily for me my Dad knows how to find a good restaurant, so when he suggested a family trip to the Claw BBQ I knew it wouldn’t disappoint. The American barbeque and seafood restaurant has an extensive menu serving everything from seafood and steak to burgers and ribs, so choosing what to eat was certainly difficult. This one off restaurant is somewhat of a gem located in the Souk Al Bahar, just minutes from the Dubai Fountains.

Upon arrival we were lucky to be seated straight away, but be warned – at busy times a reservation may be necessary. What I like most about this restaurant is that it’s not perfectly polished, looking around you see diners wearing plastic bibs, wielding hammers and mallets to crack open the crab shells. Oh, and there’s also a mechanical bull for guests to use – if you think your stomach can handle it! The restaurant is decorated with fishing paraphernalia, from the fishing nets on the ceilings to the ship buoys on the walls. The casual, sharing style of the restaurant is shown in the gingham tablecloths, sharing cutlery holders and a menu based on dishes to share.

To cope with Dubai’s searing temperatures, I ordered a mint lemonade – a thirst quenching drink served in a jam jar. To start, we went all out with some sharing dishes: spicy Buffalo wings, loaded nachos and an enormous tower of onion rings. For my main, I went for the chicken fajitas and it’s safe to say there was no sharing involved! They came served on a sizzling platter with warm tortillas and plenty of sauces. The rest of my family’s food was just as delicious. My brother – a self-confessed burger connoisseur – rated the burger highly, mainly due to the vast amounts of cheese and BBQ sauce!

Overall, I’d highly recommend the Claw BBQ to anyone looking for great food in a relaxed environment. I certainly enjoyed my meal there and I will definitely be revisiting to try the rest of the menu!

Emma Chapman, Marketing intern.