Iftar at Skye & Walker

While Iftar dishes are undeniably delicious—from starters and Arabic mezze to sumptuous mains and decadent desserts—there's also no denying that most of the yummy ones tend be the unhealthy ones too. But imagine if you can indulge into an Iftar feast minus the guilt...seems impossible, eh?

These Iftar staples are just part of the Iftar spread that Mark and I had last Friday night. Tucked in the ground floor of Marriot Executive Apartments in Dubai Creek in Deira is this chic and cozy place at the heart of Old Dubai—Skye & Walker.

This cafe may be yet another addition to Dubai's evolving dining scene, but what makes it stand out from the rest is its sustainable concept which is incorporated not only in their food but also in the restaurant as a whole.

Getting into the fad of industrial chic interiors—with high open ceiling, funky hanging lights, and comfy seating area—Skye & Walker took it a notch higher as most of them were made from natural, recycled, and reclaimed materials, such as the shelves at the background which are made from scaffolding planks.

The chic and cozy place was also dressed up for the season with patterned Arabic cloths, lamps, and kettles adoring the tables.

The sustainable concept is also incorporated in their menu. Ingredients are sourced locally and are freshly made into guilt-free and nutritious treats, which they also offer during Ramadan along with traditional Iftar favorites.

The buffet spread was straight forward, there were starters, salads and mezze, mains, fresh fruits, and desserts, plus some Iftar staples like dates and nuts, Arabic sweets, and Ramadan Juices.

Breaded Shrimps

Chicken Machboos

Laban, Fresh Orange Juice, Rose Water, Tamarind/Date Juice (not really sure with this last one as I didn't try it :p)

When it was already time for Iftar, the Muslim diners broke their fast with some dates and juices while Mark and I went straight to the buffet. :p

While lamb ouzi is the star of almost every Iftar feasts, Skye & Walker deviated from the norm and had a healthier take with their Chicken Machboos. The well-seasoned roasted chicken was tender it melts in your mouth and the spiced rice was not oily at all.

Chicken Machboos

My plate consisted of the starters, tabbouleh, pasta, veggies, and shrimps. The spring roll and falafel (I think), plus the creamy pasta were all good. I like my veggies to still have that crunch, but Skye & Walker's steamed veggies were a little overcooked for me. The shrimps would have been a hit if not for the thick breading which was tough to the bite. I still enjoyed eating the shrimps with the tabbouleh though.

Rose water was what I had to wash the nosh down. I like it's mildly sweet and rosy aroma. For desserts, while Mark raved about the chocolate cake, I fell in love with the strawberry cheese cake. I also munched on those little Arabic sweets which are my favorites. The kunafa was a downer as it was cold and hard.

The spread was limited but the dishes, especially the mains, were of good quality. Price may be steep (AED 90 per person) considering the limited buffet spread, but if it's about eating delicious food that is healthy at the same time, I don't think I would mind splurging. Just as the saying goes, quality comes at a price.

If you're looking for a place for your nightly Iftar this Ramadan, do try it out at Skye & Walker and let me know what you think. :)

*Iftar*	*Suhoor*
AED 90 per person	9:00 PM to 3:00 AM (Sun-Sat)
AED 45 for children ages 6-11	A La Carte
FREE for children under 6
7:00 PM to 8:30 PM (Sun-Sat)

SKYE & WALKER

Marriott Executive Apartments
Near Dubai Creek, Al Buteen Street
Baniyas, Dubai
United Arab Emirates
Phone number
+971 (0)4 2759046
www.skyeandwalker.com
* Table reservation recommended.

We were guests at Skye & Walker and our meal was complimentary, but as always, this post is sincerely written and all views and opinions are my own.