Obviously, when we say that we’re only going to eat at restaurants once a week that are “on our list” we don’t fully expect that to happen. As a result, when we might go out for a business lunch with a third party, we’ll lean towards places we haven’t been because we love discovering new spots. That led me to D’s Dubai Sauce.
I’m not completely sold on D’s Dubai Sauce, but intrigued enough by my first experience to be willing to try it again. We live a few blocks away, so it’s convenient, but growing up in the NYC area created higher standards based on the stand at 53rd and 6th. Still, they don’t claim to be just “chicken and rice” so let’s talk about what they do well.
They really do excel when it comes to flavor development, especially in their sauces. Their white sauce has this very unexpected tang to it which breaks through the overwhelming richness. The green sauce is even brighter with significant heat from the jalapeno and lots of acidity. I didn’t brave the extremely hot red sauce this time around.
Their hummus is as fresh and smooth as their fries are crispy and well-seasoned. Those two together are an amazing bite. Their rice is light and somewhat floral, extremely well cooked. The falafel are also well-prepared and executed, although they really need to be dipped in one of their many sauces (or tahini) not because they are dry, but simply because they lack seasoning.
The Dubai Mix Plate had a mixture of their two signature meats, which were both cooked relatively well, but I did have some issues with that preparation. I hope for the crispy bits of the gyro (shaved from the outside) and this was absent, which lost them an opportunity to provide an amazing textural contrast.
Also, the chops on the meat were insanely uneven, with some pieces that were far too large and some far too small. It just didn’t eat as well as it could’ve, since those inconsistent cuts made it hard to get a perfect fork-full of meat, rice and hummus. Overall, the food was extremely well-prepared and very flavorful, and while the inside of the restaurant was both and clean and stylish in its own right, there was definitely something missing.
I ordered a fountain drink after seeing they had lemonade, but water just ended up coming out instead. I ordered the specialty dessert after he so enthusiastically described what it was, only to be told (after I paid) that they were out of any desserts. Plus, there was some miscommunication where my friend didn’t receive the hummus she ordered.
Fortunately, their customer service is great and they are extremely friendly. They gave me two mango juices to make up for the dessert after offering a refund and they gave her the hummus without any hassle or extra charge. They could definitely use some polishing in terms of operations, but everything they need to succeed is there and most importantly, the food tastes good. Prices might seem a little high at first, but the food is extremely filling, so the economic value is there. If you’re a tourist walking down Hollywood Blvd, it is worth considering this for a meal since there are so many not-so-great options and this won’t be too busy. Trying all these new places is going to help us stay hungry and fit!
