Restaurant review: Dining by the sea

These days, a lot of what's new on the local food scene seems to be coming out of La Mer, the gorgeous new sprawling beachfront property in Jumeirah. And Levee Café and Lounge is one such space. Their mission is to juxtapose good food against great views, and it's one that they execute rather well.
The elegant, marble-and-copper interiors, awash in diffused lighting, offered a most inviting ambience. But the lounge also has a lovely alfresco seating area that's perfect for if you're visiting during the cooler evening hours, as we did. It was therapeutic, watching families stroll by, many carrying the prettiest helium balloons strung up with LED lights.
The French Mediterranean menu is chock-full of seafood choices, but also caters to those with other dietary preferences. We loved the option to be rebellious and order breakfast for dinner from their all-day breakfast menu. There were hits and misses (see below) - but it almost makes up for it with the pretty plating.
My main grouse was getting there. Situated on the North side of La Mer, accessing the parking was eyebrow-raisingly inconvenient. Perhaps it's a work in progress. Thankfully, Levee was able to drive those woes out of our heads in no time at all.
Taste
The Açai Bowl and Truffle Pizza were the main stars. The first was incredibly yum for something super healthy; the second perfectly comforting. The Shakshouka wasn't the best we'd had and we weren't too crazy about the Eton Mess, but enjoyed the Matcha Fondant down to the last morsel.
Ambience
Gorgeous. If there's one thing Levee has down to a T, it's ambience. There's no denying that they benefit greatly from being on La Mer turf; the property has gone all-out in its missive to be family-friendly. But on its own too, Levee's interiors are wonderfully warm and inviting.
Service
We sensed a degree of unfamiliarity with the menu when we asked for recommendations. It would've helped if the servers were more aware of what each dish entailed. That aside, they were dutifully polite and friendly, even popping up with extra cutlery preemptively, which we appreciated.
Presentation
Everything was presented really well - and in a variety of containers, platters and plates, as best suited to the dish. We loved the jar that the Açai 'Bowl' was served in, the wooden pizza platter, as well as the 'frying pan' for the Shakshouka. Points for variety!
Value for money
The ambience brings in top-notch value, but Levee would've probably scored a little more had the food made an equally memorable impact. Fairly good stuff, but not outstanding. Breakfast dishes start at Dh40 and mains can be had for between Dh100-250.
At a glance
Levee, Shop N 53, North, La Mer, Jumeirah 1, Dubai
For reservations: 04-3802000
Average cost for two: Dh400
Overall rating: 3.5/5
karen@khaleejtimes.com

• Food and Dining