It is one of the latest dining-out options to open this year in the evolving cultural enclave of Alserkal Avenue in Dubai, yet Lila Molina + Cafe has much more to offer than a Mexican menu.
Co-owners Shaw Lash and husband Tarek Islam promise visitors a broader, more immersive experience. Their all-day dining concept is a place, they say, where casual cuisine meets casual culture. Tacos and terracotta, salsa and ceramics.
As my dining partner and I discover, it is a celebration of all things corn without being corny with zero sombreros in sight.
Where to sit and what to expect
All of that becomes clear the moment we enter the eatery, only to be greeted with a retail space offering artworks, crafts, textiles and pottery as well as farm shop favourites such as tortillas, chips, salsas and cheeses made in-house. We take enough time to browse before making our way upstairs to the first-floor dining area.
The two-storey building is a vast concrete-and-steel open-plan space with high pergola-style wooden ceilings. It's different, and the layout has been used almost as a canvas to create an experience that transcends food.
The upper floor dining area is adorned with wall murals designed by female Mexican artists and myriad watercolour paintings in different sizes and styles which are available to buy.
Shades of terracotta and sky blue complement the lush greenery in the centre of the space. The seating capacity is 75, but it feels like there is room for more. Comfy sofas overlook the retail area, probably intended for guests who are in for coffee or light bites, but we select a table in the corner perfectly located for admiring the art, soaking in the overall surroundings and enjoying the laid-back vibe.
The menu
Lila Molina + Cafe is the successor to Lila Taqueria, the traditional Mexican restaurant that opened on Jumeirah Beach Road in 2022.
Our helpful waitress tells us that there are some similarities. Both venues offer dishes crafted from ingredients sourced from UAE producers and small farm communities in Mexico, and both deploy traditional Mexican culinary techniques. However, the settings and menus are distinct.
Breakfast, lunch and dinner are on offer at Lila Molina + Cafe, where the menu changes depending on the time of day. A casual dining destination, the menu isn't extensive, but that doesn't mean bold flavours and contrasting textures go amiss.
It is early evening on the day of our visit, and our waitress is happy to offer recommendations for mains. I opt for the bestseller – smoked brisket enchiladas (Dh90) – and am not disappointed.
Lila Molina’s homemade corn enchiladas (more of which later) look good on the outside and taste even better on the inside. The crispy onion topping gives way to melt-in-the-mouth smoked beef. Tender and rich in flavour, it is combined simply but effectively with melted cheddar cheese for a mix of textures and a fiesta of flavours to electrify the taste buds.
My dining partner’s crispy chicken verde gringa (Dh65) is Lila Molino's version of a chunky quesadilla dish. Homemade crisp tortillas layered with melted cheese, grilled chicken, caramelised onion and poblano chillies, it is presented alongside creamy guacamole, which provides a subtle counterpoint to the spiciness, and half a lime for a zesty kick.
We are both suckers for dessert, so it takes little more than a fleeting glance at the options to persuade us to order. My mango lemon grass flan (Dh35) gives me creme caramel vibes in terms of consistency, with the light-but-tangy lemongrass perfectly offsetting the tender sweetness of the mango.
The churros (Dh40) chosen by my dining partner were always going to be a winner. They arrive warm and crispy, with two sauce options: salted caramel and a chocolate one that has a hint of chile.
A chat with the chef
As well as co-owner, Lash is the executive chef. From Texas, she spent her early twenties in Mexico, where her nickname, Lila, was inspired by the great Mexican singer Lila Downs. That explains the first part of her cafe’s name. The second part is the Spanish word for mill, a connection she regards as essential to the authentic cuisine her venture strives to deliver.
A molino is traditionally used to grind corn, an ingredient Lash regards as the “foundation” of traditional Mexican cuisine. No stone is left unturned in her efforts to ensure that the best corn is a central ingredient in pretty much every dish.
The best enchiladas, she explains, are made with corn, producing more flavour and a better shape than flour-based alternatives. Naturally, Lila Molino makes its own corn enchiladas, tortillas and tacos using the finest heirloom corn it can source from small farms in Mexico and grinding it in-house to retain the nutrients and flavour.
But her Lila Molino concept encompasses more than “the vibrant flavours of Mexico". As she points out: “This place is also about culture.”
It was partly the curiosity of regulars at Lila Taqueria about all things Mexico that convinced Lash and her business partner to make retail space and art part of Lila Molino’s offering. It seems to be working.
As for Alserkal Avenue, it's an ideal fit. It “perfectly mirrors Dubai's ever-evolving art and culture scene", she says.
Price point and contact information
Breakfast options start at Dh40, plates to share (after 1pm) at Dh40, mains (after 1pm) at Dh60. Open Tuesday to Sunday, 9am to 10pm; Warehouse 18, Alserkal Avenue, Dubai; 04 388 5600
The review was conducted at the invitation of the restaurant
MATCH INFO
Jersey 147 (20 overs)
UAE 112 (19.2 overs)
Jersey win by 35 runs
The years Ramadan fell in May
The specs
Engine: Four electric motors, one at each wheel
Power: 579hp
Torque: 859Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh825,900
On sale: Now
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Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Match info
Wolves 0
Arsenal 2 (Saka 43', Lacazette 85')
Man of the match: Shkodran Mustafi (Arsenal)
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MATCH INFO
Liverpool 2 (Van Dijk 18', 24')
Brighton 1 (Dunk 79')
Red card: Alisson (Liverpool)
The specs: 2019 Lincoln MKC
Price, base / as tested: Dh169,995 / Dh192,045
Engine: Turbocharged, 2.0-litre, in-line four-cylinder
Transmission: Six-speed automatic
Power: 253hp @ 5,500rpm
Torque: 389Nm @ 2,500rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 10.7L / 100km
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How to book
Call DHA on 800342
Once you are registered, you will receive a confirmation text message
Present the SMS and your Emirates ID at the centre
DHA medical personnel will take a nasal swab
Check results within 48 hours on the DHA app under ‘Lab Results’ and then ‘Patient Services’
SPECS
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Robo-advisers use an online sign-up process to gauge an investor’s risk tolerance by feeding information such as their age, income, saving goals and investment history into an algorithm, which then assigns them an investment portfolio, ranging from more conservative to higher risk ones.
These portfolios are made up of exchange traded funds (ETFs) with exposure to indices such as US and global equities, fixed-income products like bonds, though exposure to real estate, commodity ETFs or gold is also possible.
Investing in ETFs allows robo-advisers to offer fees far lower than traditional investments, such as actively managed mutual funds bought through a bank or broker. Investors can buy ETFs directly via a brokerage, but with robo-advisers they benefit from investment portfolios matched to their risk tolerance as well as being user friendly.
Many robo-advisers charge what are called wrap fees, meaning there are no additional fees such as subscription or withdrawal fees, success fees or fees for rebalancing.
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COMPANY%20PROFILE
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%20name%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Alaan%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%202021%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Dubai%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Parthi%20Duraisamy%20and%20Karun%20Kurien%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ESector%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20FinTech%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestment%20stage%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20%247%20million%20raised%20in%20total%20%E2%80%94%20%242.5%20million%20in%20a%20seed%20round%20and%20%244.5%20million%20in%20a%20pre-series%20A%20round%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The five pillars of Islam
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Secret Nation: The Hidden Armenians of Turkey
Avedis Hadjian, (IB Tauris)
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
The five pillars of Islam
The five pillars of Islam
WOMAN AND CHILD
Director: Saeed Roustaee
Starring: Parinaz Izadyar, Payman Maadi
Rating: 4/5
10 tips for entry-level job seekers
- Have an up-to-date, professional LinkedIn profile. If you don’t have a LinkedIn account, set one up today. Avoid poor-quality profile pictures with distracting backgrounds. Include a professional summary and begin to grow your network.
- Keep track of the job trends in your sector through the news. Apply for job alerts at your dream organisations and the types of jobs you want – LinkedIn uses AI to share similar relevant jobs based on your selections.
- Double check that you’ve highlighted relevant skills on your resume and LinkedIn profile.
- For most entry-level jobs, your resume will first be filtered by an applicant tracking system for keywords. Look closely at the description of the job you are applying for and mirror the language as much as possible (while being honest and accurate about your skills and experience).
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- Go online and look for details on job specifications for your target position. Make a list of skills required and set yourself some learning goals to tick off all the necessary skills one by one.
- Don’t be afraid to reach outside your immediate friends and family to other acquaintances and let them know you are looking for new opportunities.
- Make sure you’ve set your LinkedIn profile to signal that you are “open to opportunities”. Also be sure to use LinkedIn to search for people who are still actively hiring by searching for those that have the headline “I’m hiring” or “We’re hiring” in their profile.
- Prepare for online interviews using mock interview tools. Even before landing interviews, it can be useful to start practising.
- Be professional and patient. Always be professional with whoever you are interacting with throughout your search process, this will be remembered. You need to be patient, dedicated and not give up on your search. Candidates need to make sure they are following up appropriately for roles they have applied.
Arda Atalay, head of Mena private sector at LinkedIn Talent Solutions, Rudy Bier, managing partner of Kinetic Business Solutions and Ben Kinerman Daltrey, co-founder of KinFitz
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