Restaurant review: AOC Sofitel, Jumeirah Beach Residence
Posted on 08 January 2012 with no comments from readers
Finding a top-quality French brasserie with a terrace on to the Dubai beachfront is far more difficult than you might imagine. French restaurants are under-represented in Dubai and seaview al fresco dining is even rarer.
Step forward the AOC restaurant at the base of the soaring Sofitel hotel tower, part of the clutch of almost fifty towers that comprise the Jumeirah Beach Residence fronting the epynominous beach.
A la carte
Here you can choose between an almost limitless buffet selection of French favorites or dine a la carte and put yourselves in the capable hands of Toronto-born executive chef Thomas Pendarovski.
ArabianMoney decided the latter sounded like a good idea. Out came two perfect starters, fois gras with brioche and a fabulous creamy truffle soup. Chef Pendarovski has a locked box in which he keeps his precious truffles from France, and in this season white truffles from nothern Italy.
It’s a special flavour, actually both dishes offered uniquely French tastes and could only be described as delicieux. Next came this imaginative chef’s take on steak and chips.
Juicy rib-eye with an areola sauce and the crowning glory, truffled chips. Magnifique. My wife’s halibut cooked in a paper wrapping with vegetables was also a great success though she looked a little short-changed.
A glance back at the dessert buffet gave an indication of the joys to come. Tart tatin was spot on and the carpaccio of finely-sliced pineapple gorgeously light with sorbet.
Sadly there was no room left for the more than two dozen cheeses available at AOC. Perhaps the Wednesday night cheese and wine special would be well worth a seperate visit.
L’addition
It is always a pleasure to report on a restaurant where the chef has a passion for his food and the results are this good. Naturally a restaurant called AOC after the French wine label grading system also has an excellent cellar to partner its fine food.
Sancerre, Chablis, Bordeaux the wine kept pace with the meal. This is a very credible French restaurant with a location that makes it suitable for a special occasion, either corporate or personal.
You could impress a visiting CEO from France here, let alone a mere mortal.
