CITY OF JOY RESTAURANT L.L.C. — Restaurant in Dubai

● On several follow up visits I have been unfailingly impressed by the improved interiors, widened indoor food hall and the lovely outdoors. They are regularly updating and adding classical Bengali items in their menu. Two recent additions are worth noting for. One is nice typical Bengali breakfast items like luchi tarkari and hinger kochuri etc. The other was lovely Lau-boRi- ghonto, and with chingri. Palong shak bhaja. Also a brilliant begun bhaja dish - I enjoyed voraciously. Attended the Ilish utsav yesterday- wonderful taste of the chocchori and Ilish in mustard gravy. The brand new Indian Bengali restaurant in town is probably the best value for money place you can find for this cuisine in Dubai. City of Joy opened on 8th of April, 2022 and since the first day it has been a stupendous success. The Bengali new year's special spread was also very popular by them. Today I visited City of Joy at around 2 pm and I had a brilliant lunch there. It's started by a group of family members and even the wall hanging pictures were also by painted by one of the owners. The menu is well compiled and has great Bengali items which are famous in our Culinary history. Like the iconic Chelo kabab from Iran which is legendary in Peter Cat from park Street in Calcutta, available here in City of joy at 37 dhs. They are also making the famous Mishti doi from Bengal by special order here. And they are not having the king of Bengali fishes- Ilish/Hilsa here because they didn't get good quality of it!! That's something you can admire- no compromise in quality. My order was of Parshe fish (with dim/egg) - jhal- spicy dry curry. 9.5 dhs. 9/10. Fish patuRi- Fish pieces rolled in leaves and steamed. 16 dhs. 9/10. Khuska pulao. With cashew, raisins. 9.5 dhs. 8/10. Rose malai- ghol, a milk drink. 8.5 dhs. 8.5/10. Mishti doi. Sweet yoghurt. 6 dhs. 7.5/10. Now one of the owners I was having a chat with honoured me with serving some of their best items which synced well with my order - Jhiri jhiri aloo bhaja- thinly cut fried potato sticks, with small fried peanuts. 9/10. Mung dal-lentils with grated coconut. 8.5/10. Muri ghonto- classic Bengali style fish head cooked with potatoes and rice. 9/10. Green mango chutney. 8.5/10 I was overwhelmed. Without going much deeper into the recipes, suffice it to say that all of them were cooked in the traditional homely way which we are used to from our family. They haven't modified the authentic cooking methods to suit the palates of non-bengalis which many restaurants do. To me, this was a paramount condition to have good Bengali food. Both the owners I met - brother in laws, were extremely courteous and polite in their hospitality and sincere to the food they want to serve. All the power to the establishment and the staffs. Most of the items are within 10-20 dhs range and only very few like the Biriyanis and Chelo kababs are costing more than that. Eventhough some of the items are not available now most are available in the evening. Overall I am extremely satisfied and highly recommend this restaurant in Karama to go...

Dear Kapil,

I am writing to express my profound disappointment regarding our family's dining experience at your restaurant today. It was, unfortunately, far from the enjoyable occasion we had anticipated. Our experience was not unique; several other families shared similar frustrations.

The issues we encountered were numerous and significantly impacted the quality of our visit:

Seating: We were initially seated at an unstable makeshift table, hardly conducive to a comfortable meal. The lack of available seating highlighted a serious capacity management problem.

Ventilation: The restaurant's inadequate ventilation created an uncomfortable and stuffy atmosphere. The simplest solutions – such as strategically placed fans or limiting walk-ins during peak hours – would have greatly improved the dining environment.

Service Delays: Our food arrived after an unacceptable delay of one and a half hours, and even then, it was delivered in multiple, staggered batches. This disrupted the flow of our meal and prolonged our already frustrating experience.

Food Quality: The quality of the food itself was also disappointing. The fish fry was undercooked, and the Masala thumbs up was excessively spicy, rendering it undrinkable. We had to return the latter.

Order Inaccuracy: After finally deciding to take our meal to go due to the lack of suitable seating and the overall chaos, we discovered that approximately half of our order was missing upon receiving the takeaway packet. Thankfully, a staff member, Hayat or Shakho (I believe), assisted in rectifying the issue by confirming the missing items (fish, dal, rice, and mutton) – items that were crucial components of our combo meal costing 79 AED. Had I not checked, we would have left considerably shortchanged.

The entire experience, which should have been a joyful family occasion, was instead marred by stress and inconvenience. We understand that restaurants can experience busy periods, but the level of disorganization and the substandard service we received are simply unacceptable, especially considering the price we paid. We value your restaurant’s reputation and expect a level of service that justifies its pricing. While I appreciate Hayat and Shakho's efforts in addressing the missing food, apologizing for the delay in the orders , the systemic issues that led to these problems remain deeply concerning.

Based on our experience today, I am hesitant to recommend your restaurant to friends and family, or return myself. I sincerely hope that you will take appropriate steps to address these...

I’ve often ordered from City of Joy, but never stepped in…despite it being literally right opposite my apartment (Pioneer Buildings). Finally, I convinced myself to ditch the couch and walk in, and I’m so glad I did.

The outdoor seating area immediately caught my eye. It's smartly bordered by steel-wired walls intertwined with artificial green leaves, giving it a fresh and soothing vibe.

As I entered, the staff welcomed me with genuine smiles, and the warm, artistic ambiance inside reflected Bengal’s rich culture beautifully.

This time, I chose the Shorshe Rui (mustard fish curry), pairing it with both naan and chapati. While waiting, I asked the staff if I could look around, and they happily obliged.

Outside, I noticed beautiful traditional Bengali hand fans hung up like art piece. Each table had a single rose in a vase, adding a romantic, elegant touch.

Inside, At the entrance, there were decorative wall cloths, and my eyes fell especially on the ‘Goddess Maa Durga’ wall hanging, created a gallery-like feel. A cloth hanging from the ceiling further elevated the vibe, while hand-painted kulos behind seating areas added a cultural depth. There were a scenes from different scenarios, and the wall photos showcased Bengali nostalgia, Rustic charm and Cultural symbolism.

The food arrived as I completed my mini tour. The Shorshe Rui was full of flavor…tender and rich, though bony. Spotting my struggle, one of the attentive waiters kindly stepped in to help separate the bones from the flesh. That alone speaks volumes about their hospitality! My chapati had gone cold by then, but the staff reheated it without me even asking, going that extra mile to ensure comfort.

And just when I thought the experience was over, the waiter pointed out the tabletop artwork —a gorgeous Bengali folk fish painting, I hadn't noticed earlier. What a surprise! The vibrant, symbolic piece added an artistic layer to the entire experience.

As I was walked out, I was shown a unique photograph that was positioned on top of the exit, Dubai on one side and West Bengal on the other, connected symbolically by the Howrah Bridge. Such a meaningful touch.

In short, I didn’t just enjoy a hearty Bengali meal—I soaked in the art, culture, and hospitality of a land I’ve never visited, but now feel closer to.

Grateful for this soulful experience. Will...