Tribes, one of the only African themed restaurant, is located inside one of Dubai’s busiest malls yet once inside, you are transported into the heart of Africa, far away from the chaos of shopping. The stylish décor has a distinctly ethnic theme, with dark wood and traditional pieces, including handmade traditional drums and masks spread across the vast space.
The extensive menu is a mix of typically African dishes with a modern twist and offers a diverse range of dishes suitable for every palette. We started our meal with Hakina Matata-the grand sharing platter for two. When it arrived on the table we were more than impressed, immaculately presented it was a medley of dishes and bold flavors, a moreish African pie filled with meat, mouthwatering Ugandan fish cakes, prawns dipped in a sweet chilli sauce and beautifully grilled calamari.
For our mains, although we were very tempted by the seafood and burgers we spotted on the table beside us, we just couldn’t resist the tribal specialties. On the suggestion of the server we picked the Ox-Tail, a hearty and rich dish that was beautifully braised and perfectly tender. Accompanied by a side of simple mash and glazed carrots-it was in fact a winner.
The Beef Short Ribs, were braised in the South African manner. Delectable and flavorful, we were able to effortlessly pull the off meat the bone. The aromatic sauce had just the right balance of sweet and savory-so not to overshadow the beef. We swamped the usual vegetables it came with for a side of thick-cut fries that we used to sweep up the remaining sauce once we were done with the meat.
The meal was heavy, but the Chocolate Malava Pudding sounded too appealing to skip. The indulgent but absolutely delicious and moist sponge cake was served warm and topped with a Madagascar vanilla sauce and apricot compote-it was worth every calorie and the perfect way to end the meal on a high note.
Tribes is a celebration of fine food and unmatched African hospitality where they take you through a journey of an unforgettable African food safari right in the heart of Dubai.
Tribes is located on the Ground Level and Mall of the Emirates; Telephone: +971 4 395 0660.
– Saira Malik
