Raia Rooftop Bar & Lounge — Restaurant in Dubai

Recently visited Raia as my friends were in Dubai on holiday and staying at the Taj Exotica. I had read excellent reviews about the restaurant and was excited to try it. The food was without a doubt excellent but I was extremely disappointed by the service. I’m not one to complain or leave negative reviews but I was very disappointed by the service, especially given that Raia is within a 5* hotel.

We dined on a Thursday evening and the restaurant was firstly near empty (no problem with that) and the service was very slow and took ages for our food to come out which was confusing (we waited more than 30mins for halloumi and falafel) but we didn’t mind as it was delicious and worth the wait.

We then asked for the bill and I said I wanted to pay with HSBC entertainer. The app clearly states how the offer works and the waiter was confused and was asking for a pin (which most restaurants on the app do ask but it was very clear that HSBC entertainer don’t put the pin requirements for ANY of the restaurants in Taj Exotica). My phone was passed around between 3 other waiters who had no idea how the offer worked (2% off the bill). It got to the point where it looked embarrassing in front of our friends who were visiting Dubai and it wasn’t a nice experience - especially given how popular HSBC Entertainer is here and it’s used often. My husband asked for the manager to come who also didn’t understand how the app worked and said to me ‘you’re aware you need to pay with a HSBC card for this work’ to which I replied ‘well obviously otherwise I wouldn’t have this app and wouldn’t be using it’. We had a 30min debacle about the app when it all boiled down to was confirmation on what bank I bank with?! I then said well none of your waiters have asked me this and so they’re clearly unaware of how this works and they need to learn. After we FINALLY cleared the bill, my husband then decided to share that the evening had been nice food wise but the service was slow. We weren’t going to share this feedback initially but after the whole bill scenario, we decided to. The manager looked blank and confused at how the service could have been slow - we then pointed at the restaurant and that was it was empty so how could it take more than 30mins for each dish to come out. I said the staff were friendly for sure but everyone had been slow and very unusual for typical dining in Dubai.

I was originally not going to leave this review until I found out what happened next which has upset me the most. The manager gave us complimentary drink vouchers to use for our next visit which I gave to my friends as they were staying at the Taj anyway and would be able to use during their holiday. Here goes what happens next..!

My friends went to Raia the following day to use their voucher, the restaurant was closed for a private event so they went to another bar to claim their voucher. My friend had asked for a mocktail and the bar tender had said this voucher can only used for alcoholic drinks. I have lived in Dubai for a few years now and have never heard of this type of service. My friends husband said how is this is an issue, his wife simply wanted a mocktail/cocktail recipe with the vodka removed and she was being told this was not allowed and she HAD to have vodka in her drink in order to use the voucher. I’m not going to list out the multiple reasons why someone might not drink alcohol (health, just had a baby and still breast feeding, personal, religious and many more) but I do not understand why the bar tender was being difficult and couldn’t understand out of sheer courtesy. The service was extremely rude and topped off the previous nights awful service. My friend asked for the same manager to come down to resolve the issue and again he seemed very confused and asked again if the previous nights service was that bad?! After a lot of awkward discussions, the bar tender begrudgingly gave my friends two mocktails?!

I will never visit this restaurant again - there are other restaurants with just as excellent food but much better...

#invited A Culinary Journey with Chef Mechilien Starrd, Chef Greg Malouf, and Chef Sonu Koithara

My wife and I had the pleasure of attending a special dinner created by Chef Mechilien Starrd, Chef Greg Malouf, and Chef Sonu Koithara, featuring modern Middle Eastern and Mediterranean delights. From the moment we arrived, the welcoming atmosphere set the stage for an extraordinary culinary experience.

Both chefs took the time to personally introduce each dish, sharing their passion and insights into the flavors and inspirations behind the menu. The welcoming drink infused with saffron offered a delightful start to the evening.

The sharing-style servings allowed us to explore a variety of flavors, with each dish presenting a unique twist and innovative ideas. A standout for me was the warm eggplant with crispy puff—a delightful combination of textures and flavors that left a lasting impression.

While most dishes were exceptional, there were a couple of minor hiccups. The toffee pudding, although delicious, was served cold when it would have been better enjoyed warm. Additionally, the pita bread arrived cold, which detracted slightly from an otherwise fantastic meal.

Service throughout the evening was impeccable, with attentive staff ensuring that our needs were met promptly. However, it would be beneficial for the restaurant to consider offering amenities such as phone chargers to enhance the overall guest experience.

As a thoughtful conclusion to the evening, the chefs generously offered a giveaway—a book by Chef Greg Malouf—that added a special touch to an already memorable dining experience.

In summary, our evening with Chef Mechilien Starrd, Chef Greg Malouf, and Chef Sonu Koithara was nothing short of exceptional. Despite a few minor issues, the culinary journey they provided was truly unforgettable. We look forward to returning and exploring more of their culinary creations in...

Our recently held BILD (British Indian Lads & Ladies Dubai) Pre-Summer Brunch event at Raia, was an absolutely fantastic experience from start to finish!

From the moment we arrived, the staff were incredibly welcoming and attentive. They went above and beyond to accommodate our group, ensuring everything ran smoothly. The atmosphere was perfect for our event, with a vibrant and lively ambiance with live singer for a fun and memorable event. The food was delicious and the highlight was undoubtedly the impeccable service. The staff made sure our glasses were never empty! A big thank you to Eugen and Mary for making our BILD pre-summer brunch such a success! We couldn't have asked for a better venue to host our event. We highly recommend Raia for any group gatherings or special occasions and look forward to returning for future events! Truna,...