I thought I was in an underwater restaurant
After checking Picasso’s Exhibit in Gallery One of Emirates Palace, we craved for seafoods for lunch. We landed to Sayad Restaurant which is inside the palace. The area next to the huge aquarium (reminds me of Exotik Restaurant) near the entrance is filled with fresh flowers as shown above.
As we walked to the tables, I actually felt I was under the water. The whole place will give you mixed feelings of serenity and freshness. The restaurant is themed abyss-blue and in one area you will see the stocks of live sea creatures waiting to be cooked.
We began with the spinach bread and spicy flakes. The flakes have a distinct nice taste that made me want to finish it. The sauteed mussels in lemon juice and coconut is served with beef chorizo sausage and coriander. I thoroughly enjoyed it. The roasted hammour with king prawn on top is one of their bestsellers. I honestly didn’t find it outstanding. I was just impressed with the huge prawn, after all he’s a king prawn.
The deep fried hammour nuggets and orange-colored potato wedges were interesting. It oddly yet palatably tasted like fish and chicken combined. The waiter suggested to try their bestseller tiramisu for dessert. But no, I think I am so acquainted with sugarless or not, whatever kind of tiramisu. We ordered banana and chocolate samosa instead.
As you can see, I didn’t really like much the roasted hammour. The french wine sustained my appetite. But it was expensive. It costs (worth it) USD 16 per glass. I just wanted to try the nicest one, but there are so many options as you can check from one of the photos.
I had high expectations about the chocolate samosa. With the banana, it was served in a coconut sticky rice (so thin), ice cream and pandan emulsion. The chocolate basically tasted like champorado.
Dining here is quite expensive, all of that costed at least PhP7,000 or USD160 (including the almost 20% service charge). That’s understandable because you’re eating inside the palace. You surely can enjoy better seafood dishes which are priced reasonably in other places. But let’s pretend that they’re charging fairly – for the ambience and underwater feeling.
I was filled with awe…wow. I love the flowers, and it does look like you’re underwater. Really fine dining =).
kaynis last blog post..Nonconformist Heroine
Hi Wits,
Hopping over from your comment on my blog. I keep seeing your name in all these blog circles and finally get the chance to say hi in your neck of the woods. I’ll be back often—especially with food pics like that!
J.s last blog post..Stitching Myself Together
Wow, cool! Very expensive the place sure looks like. I’ll find so much many to visit that place. Hehe
shengs last blog post..A Coffee Story
Hi Wits, I totally thought I already left a comment, but I guess it’s been sucked into a wormhole. Just wanted to say hi, and dropping by from your comment on my blog. I’ll be back for more of your posts, especially with pictures like your!
Your name also starts with J?
Your comments were held for moderation. I had it set to be moderated for all the first time commenters. Thanks for dropping by and enjoy the other posts. Happy friday!
wow! ganda ng place. but it was very much expensive.
thank you for sharing your pictures. hanggang tingin lang ang kaya ko! hehehehe
blue roses last blog post..birthday wishes
Kind of expensive. Not gonna try again, unless it’s free. Heeehee. Btw, I learned from your recent post malapit na ang birthday mo. Hope you’ll get any from your wish list.
The place looks very cozy and the food looks so good too!
Undeniably cozy and the service is excellent. Food is not that really outstanding except for the mussels. Seafood dishes in the Philippines are cooked better. Enjoy the weekend!
wow ang ganda naman diyan! cool ng blue seats!
ang kaka relax ng view! 
dyanies last blog post..I’m in the worst shift ever!
That’s a very pretty, classy and yet relaxing place. The colors of the walls enhance the soothing atmosphere.
Panadeross last blog post..A Little Housekeeping
Prawns, any prawns when eaten plain is really bland. The trick is in the sauce. Hindi siguro masarap ang pagkagawa ng sauce that’s why you didn’t enjoy it. Sa amin, sauteed in ketchup at 7-up lang ayos na.
BlogusVoxs last blog post..Educating Bea (Part II)
oh beautiful! the food is indeed ridiculously high, but the place is amazing so it’s a break-even.
i would have just ordered wine perhaps and sip it ever so slowly while drinking in the whole grandeur of the restaurant.
odettes last blog post..the online clinic
Hearing the break even comforted me.
We were so hungry that a wine wouldn’t suffice. Heehee. That’s a good idea. Next time. 
oh wow, the place looks fantastic. almost magical, if i may say. hope i can visit the place someday.
dyosas last blog post..GOTTA BE BACK AT ICING’S
You said it right, I found it magical also for a while.
hi there! love the blue water hues — reminds me of burj al arab’s undersea restaurant (once upon time in dubai!). do let me know if lebanese bistro still has that raw lamb kidney and if you’ve ever tried it!
hpfs last blog post..Food Showdown 2008 on September 17-19
Hi, thanks for visiting. I am planning to visit Burj Al Arab next month. After Ramadan.
I’ll let you know if I finally checked Lebanese Bistro.
[...] these photos yet. As I wrote here, I took some photos before the Picasso Exhibit and after the felt-like underwater dining experience. No much stories this time. Enjoy looking in. [...]
Hey great site keep it up, some very interesting reads
Thank you Wits! my son will enjoy the aquarium.
gotta start saving now
.-= Kero´s last blog ..(New) Batanes Photos – View From Chemtrad =-.
The flowers were like beaming and saying, “welcome, I’m sure you’ll enjoy your stay here!”
Hello J! Thanks for visiting.
Sheng, the seafoods in Gensan and Davao are much, much better. But the place is really beautiful!
Loved the abyss-blue theme. Made me changed my site theme from red to blue. Heehee.
Well said, classy. The bay view complements the resto’s theme.
You’re right, it’s in the sauce. The king prawn was okay because of the sesame seeds-breading. But the roasted hammour was not.