A review of a new steakhouse, Three Cuts. With a self-explanatory "concept". Thankfully.
A new format for my impartial restaurant reviews, as voted by you. And a promo code for Dubai's first dedicated bricks and mortar fishmonger.
We now have our first dedicated fishmonger on our Dubai doorstep 😋 The meaty folks behind Prime Gourmet and Country Hill International have launched their first branch of The Fishmonger. At Town Centre, Jumeirah 1 (opposite Prime Gourmet). A boutique, artisanal fishmonger offering premium seafood produce sustainably fished from oceans around the world. Freshly rolled sushi, and deli-style seafood salads also available. You’ll be hooked on quality 😜🎣 Show this post in-store for a 10% discount with FOODIVA10 promo code. Valid until 30th November.
A peek here into the invitation-only launch event at The Lana for chefs, restaurateurs and annual paid subscribers. Foodie event invitations is one of the perks for those of you on annual subscriptions.
In event news, we’ve increased the capacity for my next dining experience and have a few spots available, should you like to join. A one-night-only #FourChefsDinner with a Portuguese-Spanish culinary theme on the 29th October.
Onto this month’s review. A staggering 95% of you voted for my new header-style format that I had proposed for my restaurant reviews, which brings immense joy to the organisational freak in me. Voilà ⬇️
Concept
Why kick off with concept? It’s now become de rigueur for every restaurant to boast about its so-called “concept.” A word I am also guilty of using time and time again. The FT’s restaurant critic Tim Hayward makes a sarcastic dig in this restaurant review that warrants a giggle:
”Lita has a “concept”. A waiter popped over and asked me if it was the first time I’d been. When I said yes, he said he’d pop back in just a minute to explain The Concept. The Concept turned out to be “Broadly Italian/British ingredients/small plates/sharing courses”, which was perhaps not the paradigm shift I was hoping for. Ninety-eight times out of 100, it’s the same concept.”
Three Cuts is a new licensed steakhouse perched atop Rooftop West, Nakheel Mall. In a world where Google mapping is the norm, who cares whether it’s the west or east side of the rooftop? How does that help us with directions? Does anyone use their smart phone compass app, or even know they have one? Anyhow, digressing. We’ll come on to the challenges of this location a little later on.
I should have known by simply looking at the restaurant’s Instagram that a strapline of “FOOD. COMMUNITY. MUSIC” would guarantee a booming playlist, albeit a nostalgic one - especially given the upper case font. But they did reduce the volume upon my request. Another content-worthy discussion point to follow.
The restaurant’s name is a nod to the three steak cuts on the menu - striploin, tenderloin and ribeye. Cuts that are also incorporated into the t-bone and tomahawk. The waiter does not explain “the concept.” A good thing, in my book. It’s self-explanatory. The only time I don’t mind storytelling is for a tasting menu concept, and even then, the less said, the better, so I can enjoy my food whilst still warm. Unless it’s Gaggan’s 14-seater. Only then will I happily soak up both the storytelling…and the music.