Restaurant Review: Adaline serves nostalgia paired with a spectacular show
From the moment I walked into Adaline, the sounds, sights, and smells transported me back to 1920s New York. After walking through the cold, office-style entrance of Gate Village, we stepped into the dark and inviting entrance of Adaline. The host threw open the double doors, and we entered the dimly lit main dining room, past the opulent mirrored Art Deco bar and the jade-coloured walls adorned with oriental 1920s-style scenes. We took a seat on the plush leopard-print chairs, right next to the band, who had already begun their musical performance.
The music was absolutely outstanding, unlike any show I had ever experienced in Dubai. The LA-based band, with a rotating lead singer, was reminiscent of the house band at Ronnie Scott's in London. Each band member had their own distinct and awe-inspiring talent, captivating the audience with their jazzy renditions of popular songs, including tracks by Rihanna, Whitney Houston, Chaka Khan, Nelly, and many more. It's truly hard to express in words the level of talent being consumed by diners, and how far this stood apart from your typical 'dinner with a show,' which tends to be a recurring theme in many restaurants popping up across Dubai.
The food too was consistent with the decadence on display throughout the restaurant. We kicked off with a welcome bite of homemade olive and semi-dried tomato focaccia, accompanied by a small plate of antipasti. We then enjoyed yellowtail in basil oil, their signature veal 'tunado' (thinly sliced veal topped with a tuna emulsion), and their ultra-thin Margherita pizza. While none of this particularly stood out to me, it was all delicious and the perfect kind of food to enjoy while watching a show. The mains were also enjoyable, with the star dish being the spicy 'vodka' pasta (with 0 per cent alcohol), which is a commonly recycled dish across many restaurants of this ilk, but was truly delicious, with a sweet and spicy kick that made it stand out from other interpretations. Alongside this, we had sea bass in a puttanesca-style sauce, which was cooked beautifully and made a pleasant addition to the meal. We ended the evening with some spectacular tiramisu-inspired dark chocolate truffles, the perfect bite to close out a memorable night.
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