What’s it like?

The recently refurbished branch of The Meat Co at Souk Al Bahar oozes class and elegance from the moment we walk in. The refurb has brought with it 8,300 square-feet of open kitchens, high-quality furniture and an upscale bar area, with the capacity to seat 320 diners throughout the restaurant.

We are seated on the outdoor terrace for our mid-week dinner, with fantastic views of the Burj Khalifa and Dubai Fountains. If you want to be even closer to the action, be sure to book ahead and grab a table at the new ‘floating deck’ which has recently opened – the views are not to be missed!

What are the food highlights?

We opt for fish to start, and try the pan-seared Hokkaido scallops with green pea puree and beef chorizo, and the chargrilled octopus tentacles, which are served with quinoa and a florina pepper coulis. The chorizo and paprika creates a smoky taste to accompany the scallops, while the quinoa with the octopus is crunchy and adds a welcome contrast in texture between the two dishes.

Then, the main event. The concept behind The Meat Company has remained unaltered since Costa Tomazos opened the first branch in Johannesburg in 1976: take a large measure of South African roots and a nation’s taste for prime cuts of meat, apply Costa’s homemade basting and grill to individual perfection.

We choose to share a main course from the ‘connoisseurs choice’ section on the menu, and pick the Chateaubriand – which the menu states can feed 2 or 1 very hungry diner. It’s served medium-rare on a platter alongside glazed baby potatoes, steamed asparagus and sautéed mushrooms, and comes with a generous helping of Bernaise sauce on the side. As a meat lover, this was undoubtedly the highlight of the meal for me; and consequently, the topic of discussion amongst myself and my partner for a number of days after the meal – so I guess you could say we enjoyed it!

If sharing’s not your thing, don’t worry – there are plenty of tasty options for the solo diner. The Canadian rib-eye came recommended, and the Wagyu burger sounded delicious, so be sure to check either of these out. There’s also a number of chicken, fish and vegetarian options available if you’re not a beef fan.

If you’ve room for dessert, the sharing platter is a great option to enable you to taste a mixture of The Meat Co’s signature sweet dishes, which include a passionfruit sorbet, a chocolate fondant with honeycomb and coffee ganache, and a apple and white chocolate marquise.

How was the service?

The staff – who are predominantly native South Africans, are a dream to deal with. We were made to feel completely at ease from the moment we sat down, and the recommendations from our waiter ensured we really made the best out of our dining experience. There was a birthday celebration on the table adjacent to us during the meal, and the staff all gathered around with African drums to perform their rendition of ‘happy birthday.’ They’re a lot of fun, and really know their stuff when it comes to the various meat types and the appropriate drinks to accompany each dish.

The bottom line:

I am genuinely struggling to find fault in any aspect of our evening at The Meat Co. We were seated in a beautiful location, surrounded by up-beat and passionate staff members, while enjoying some of the best steak that Dubai has to offer. It’s not cheap, but a special occasion calls for a special meal, so be sure to keep this one on your radar.

Alternatively, if you’re after a new evening hangout, the refurbished bar area is the ideal spot for after-work drinks. Don’t miss the live music three nights a week and its ladies’ night offer on Tuesdays.

Details: To book, contact The Meat Co Souk Al Bahar, Dubai on +971 4 420 0737 or reservationsburj@meatco.ae. If you enjoyed this article, you may be interested in reading more of our reviews here.