Asma — Restaurant in Dubai

A Disastrous Ramadan Iftar Experience – Unprofessional, Disorganized, and Disrespectful Service

I booked the Ramadan Set Menu at Asma, expecting a smooth and hospitable iftar experience. Instead, it turned out to be an absolute disaster.

To begin with, the manager, Mustafa, completely mishandled our reservation. Despite booking for six people, he inexplicably reduced it to two and showed no remorse or accountability for the mistake. Not a single apology was offered, nor did he attempt to rectify the situation professionally.

After much back and forth, we were finally seated—but that was just the beginning of the ordeal. As Maghreb prayers began, we were left waiting with nothing. No water, no dates—nothing to break our fast. We had to actively request water and dates, something that should have been a given.

What followed was unacceptable neglect. Nearly an hour after prayer, we were completely ignored—no appetizers, no main course, no acknowledgment. We repeatedly approached four different waiters, each promising that our food was "on its way," yet nothing arrived.

Frustrated, we sought help from the same manager, Mustafa, who was not only indifferent but arrogant. Instead of apologizing or taking responsibility, he acted as if he was doing us a favor by allowing us to sit—a shockingly disrespectful attitude, especially during a Ramadan meal.

This level of incompetence and disregard for paying customers is inexcusable. The experience was not just disappointing—it was outright disgraceful. Asma has lost our business permanently, and I will be ensuring that my friends, family, and extended community are well aware of this shameful service.

If you value basic hospitality, respect, and timely service—especially during Ramadan—avoid this place...

The dining experience at Asma Restaurant, specializing in Arabic cuisine, presents a mixed bag of culinary encounters. While certain dishes achieve a level of mediocrity, others fall short of expectations, predominantly due to their heavy reliance on frying, leading to an overly greasy and, by extension, less appealing fare. This approach to cooking detracts from the uniqueness one might anticipate from Middle Eastern gastronomy, rendering the offerings somewhat mundane and not reflective of the highest standards of culinary artistry. The menu, steeped in traditional Arabic flavors, would benefit significantly from a thoughtful revision aimed at incorporating cooking techniques that reduce the use of oil, alongside the introduction of healthier, lighter alternatives to complement the classic selections.

Moreover, the pricing strategy seems misaligned with the value proposition, especially considering the ubiquity and general affordability of similar cuisine elsewhere. This aspect might prompt diners to question the overall worth of their dining experience, given the prevalent availability of comparable dishes at more reasonable prices.

On a positive note, the restaurant’s ambiance and the hospitality of the staff contribute to a welcoming dining environment. These elements, while commendable, suggest that a comprehensive reevaluation of the culinary approach — focusing on health-conscious options and a reconsideration of pricing — could significantly enhance the overall dining experience. Such improvements are not only necessary for elevating the quality and appeal of the menu but also for aligning the restaurant's offerings with contemporary dining expectations while preserving the essence of traditional...

The ambiance is nice and there is outdoor seating. The food was’t bad. The kale corn salad especially was very tasty. However my experience was interrupted and ruined by the unprofessional service. The first waitress, who was new “maybe” because she did not know the specifics of the dishes and had to go fetch the other waitress to assist. However she was very polite so we remained Tolerant. The Menu should be more specific incase someone has allergies!! We ordered the labneh with beetroot and the beetroot was FULL of cumin to the point that it was inedible at all, the cumin was so intensive .. i mean i understand if they need to put spices but the cumin overtook the whole taste of the dish. they could have put a little for garnish. We asked a waiter if they could bring us a new one with no cumin he went for 15 minutes only to ask about that “because he did not know if it’s possible” or replace it with something else . The manager came to tell us that they cant replace it with something else nor give us beetroot without cumin because its mixed already! Then he was contradicting himself by saying “ah ok you want with less cumin?” when i told him how are u going to reduce cumin if its mixed already ? He got embarrassed he said ok we will change it with...