Tried, tested and true

You cannot not fall in love with the interiors as soon as you walk into Al Maeda at Hilton Ras Al Khaimah Resort & Spa - one of eight Hilton properties in the northern emirate... Eight in RAK alone! But we digress. Most descriptions of this Lebanese restaurant include the word 'outstanding'. If their lovely decor was any indication, it was safe to say our expectations were pretty high.
The menu is full of the classics, aka the usual suspects, that you'd expect to find at a Lebanese joint. Tabboulehs and fattoushes follow tawouks and hummus. Manakishes sit right at home next to shawarmas and hot and cold mezzes. If I was just a tad disappointed, my dining partner set me straight. It's not always about reinventing the game, he noted; often, it's just about getting the classics down to perfection. And Al Maeda had that down all right.
As it turned out, we spoke too soon: there was some imagination on the menu in the form of two surprising dishes: chilli hummus and chicken falafel. We promptly ordered both - and neither disappointed! The sad ending to this tale is that our tummies were too full to accommodate even a mention of dessert. But it gives us a reason to go back - and we have to say: that's not a bad idea at all.  

Taste - You can't go wrong with the starters we chose (see above) - they were so good! As for mains, my partner declared his Jumbo Prawns perfect, while my Chicken Arayes (with its meat perfectly minced so as not to trigger my vegetarian inclinations) was surprisingly satiating.

Ambience - The restaurant scores for the sheer array of delightful colours that greet you upon entry. A real pick-me-up! The place is expansive and well-lit, with Arabic music playing overhead. We liked how we were surrounded by diners, yet at no time was it too noisy.

Service - Our servers were quite friendly and not above trying to entice us - almost successfully! - with the dessert menu, even though we were way too full for another morsel, no matter how sweet. We appreciated the main recommendations; they were all on point.  

Presentation - Take a look at the pictures above and judge for yourself. Aren't they a treat? The wooden trays, dishes with Middle Eastern motifs, everything plated to look so yummy. Yup, these are dishes that have just one thing written all over it: tuck right in.

Value for money - Our appetisers fell in the range of Dh30-40 and mains were between Dh50-150. Considering how pleased we were with ambience and food alike, and that it was the Hilton we were dining at, the rates seemed very much par for the course.

AT A GLANCE
Al Maeda, Hilton Ras Al Khaimah Resort & Spa
Tel: 07-2288844
Cost for two: Dh300 (approx.)
karen@khaleejtimes.com

• Food and Dining