Restaurants Umm Al Quwain: Umm Al Quwain Beach Resort

This is the restaurant where I met my beloved pet chili Fred.  When I first set eyes on Fred he was just another chili on a big plate of vegetables (you know plate that you get in all Lebanese restaurants as soon as you sit down).  The Lebanese Restaurant at the Umm Al Quain Beach Resort is the mother of all Lebanese restaurants in the UAE.  It is by Dream Land Aqua Park where all the kids want to go on the week-end and close to Barracuda where all of the adults want to go on the week-end.  I have friends that told me that the restaurant reminded them of restaurants in the mountains of Beirut. I don't know what the name of this restaurant is so I will call it the "restaurant".

My friend Fred

In addition to Fred I also met: Jaclyn - a beautiful belly dancer who does the most amazing side-stepping in heels I've ever seen (not that I've seen many side-steppings performed before) and The Singer - I liked the Singer, the young folk liked the Singer, the old folk liked the Singer, even the little baby folk liked the Singer. I defy anyone to not like the Singer.

The restaurant consists of a large banquet hall with a stage in the middle (where Jaclyn, the Singer and band perform).  The set up reminded me of a wedding hall.  In fact the whole experience reminded me of being at a wedding.  Sure it's like being at a wedding where you only know the people at your table.  But you'll never have to show up in a yellow satin strapless dress with ballon skirt ending above the knee, unless you really want to. Definitely,  Friday afternoon party central.  

Trust me, everybody is having a blast!

The restaurant has a set menu with all the mezze you can eat and all the Arak and beer you can drink.

 

I very generously let the others eat my portion of raw kebbe 

This is the second time we've been to the restaurant and the we noticed that we were served far more mezze and far less grills than the first time.  I also seem to remember that we got a big sponge cake with sparklers on it the first time.  As far as quality goes the restaurant is as good as Al Mallah, but until Al Mallah serves Arak and beer and lets you dance on the tables while Jaclyn performs her amazing belly dance routine (what a wonderful day that will be) the restaurant does the best Lebanese brunch in the UAE.