Haute Eat: Marco Pierre White’s Titanic

Marco Pierre White’s latest UAE restaurant offers cutting-edge British fare in a sophisticated and sleek ambiance. While the address, located out in Port Rashid within the recently opened Melia Hotel, is a bit of a far spot for many, the alluring decor and top-notch cuisine makes this place a real culinary catch.

Known by many as the ‘godfather of British cuisine’, Marco Pierre White, who also had a hand in the training of Gordon Ramsay and Heston Blumenthal, is renowned for his unpretentious and hearty dishes. Set out in sumptuous Art Deco surroundings complete with quirky artworks such as a headless angelic sculpture, the restaurant boasts rich furnishings such as plush sofas and extravagant curtains in addition to crystal white lighting from dramatic square chandeliers. The scene is pleasing and enticing.

My guest and I had a glass of proseco in the lounge while we chatted with our friendly Tunisian waiter. We were soon led to the main dining area where an expert sommelier briefed us on the menu’s options which was decidedly Contemporary European. We chose a delicious prawn cocktail with marie rose sauce and tangy crab roles with fresh mango chutney for starters. A carpaccio of scallops with fresh ginger and coriander was also recommended and provided an elegant and tantalizing addition to our initial bites. For the main, we were served spaghettini alla vongole with clams – the pasta was deliciously al dente and the sauce was just right – simple yet bursting with flavor from the fresh clams. We also chose the Grilled Halibut Steak à la Grenobloise with tatare sauce which was, unfortunately, not such a hit. The taste was bland and the fish seemed a bit too chewy – quite a detour from the previous selections which were all so flavorful. Onto the dessert – we were served regal servings of tiramisu and a towering eton mess of meringue, raspberries and large globs of creams – one of the best I’ve ever had.

While my guest and I were a bit surprised at how quiet the restaurant was – we ascertained ourselves that this was due to its early days. All-around elegant and hearty cuisine within a sophisticated ambiance, there’s not much that can go wrong at Titanic.

Titanic, Meliá Hotel, Kuwait Street, Port Rashid +971 43868111