ROKA Dubai — Restaurant in Dubai

I have visited Roka at least 20 times in the last couple of years, most often for the business lunch, which I used to absolutely love. The concept of enjoying multiple appetizers followed by a main course was creative, generous, and truly set Roka apart.

Unfortunately, over time the business lunch has shrunk noticeably in both portion size and overall value. Today, I decided to give it another try and even ordered the premium version of the business lunch — yet I walked out still hungry and ended up needing additional snacks elsewhere. That says a lot about how far the offering has declined.

For example, the sashimi selection has been reduced to just one single piece of salmon sashimi, one single piece of tuna sashimi, and one single piece of another fish per person. One piece each!

The miso black cod, which should be the main dish highlight, is served in a portion so small it feels more like a tasting than a main course. To make matters worse, it comes with a bland, tiny portion of plain white rice that adds nothing to the meal.

Service has also deteriorated. During today’s visit, I had to repeat one of my orders three times before it was finally served. This is disappointing, especially since Roka used to be known for its attentive and professional staff.

It’s such a pity. Roka used to be one of my favorite places in Dubai — I used to go every week and recommended it often. But after giving feedback to management multiple times in the past and seeing the situation only worsen, I’ve decided I won’t...

And Just Like That… I Realized Roka Wasn’t Ready for Ramadan.”

We made a reservation. We arrived on time. I sat down. And then… I swayed.

Not emotionally, but physically. My chair was wobbly , the kind of wobble that says, “I’ve been broken for a while, and management just gave up.” I asked to change it. The new chair? Same problem. Apparently, the solution was a little rubber piece shoved under one leg , so chic, right? If I wanted to balance furniture with makeshift hacks, I’d eat at IKEA.

Now let’s talk Iftar. It’s Ramadan. You know, the holy month where everyone breaks their fast at the exact same time. You’d think a fine dining spot with a set menu would be ready. Spoiler alert: they weren’t.

No dates on the table at Athan. Not even water. We had to flag someone down five minutes after Athan as if they were surprised fasting was a thing. We literally had to ask for dates and beg them to take our orders for the mains. And before you ask no, the restaurant wasn’t full. So the excuse of “we’re busy”? Absolutely not.

The food finally arrived and let me tell you the portions were giving fashion week, not fasting. Tiny little bites like they were trying to win an award for “least satisfying Iftar in the UAE.”

Bottom line? Don’t do Iftar if you’re not ready. Don't fake cultural awareness with a fancy set menu if you can’t even offer a stable chair and a date at sunset.

Xoxo, A guy who just wanted to sit still and...

Amazing Japanese fusion experience at Roka!

My family of 3 were traveling and staying in downtown Dubai. Our concierge at the hotel recommended Roka so we gave it a try. It completely exceeded our expectations!

Firstly, the atmosphere is very nice. They have a live DJ who created a chill vibe and one side of the restaurant faces the Burj Khalifa. So we had that in our direct line of sight as we were enjoying exquisite Japanese fusion cuisine!

The food itself was spectacular. They have an a la carte and a tasting menu of 2 options. We chose the premium tasting menu and wow, it blew me away! I lost count but there were probably 10+ courses including premium sashimis, special sushi’s, vegetables, seafood, various kinds of meats, a beautifully done (and delicious) truffle risotto type rice, and a beautiful dessert. The manager also gave us a free sampler of their special take on “mash potatoes” - it was probably the best mash I’ve ever had. There was so much food - were stuffed at the end of the night!

Now, the service. Herbert (the manager), Kama and their team ensured that we had the best experience that night. They attended to our every need and explained every course to us. They are the ones that truly made the night special.

Needless to say, we would come back again for sure and would recommend this restaurant experience to other people! Come check it out if...