There's nothing quite like the international culinary options for foodies in Dubai.
That's why it comes as no surprise that Mariam Shevardnadze, co-founder of Qartuli, found a home for authentic Georgian cuisine in the heart of Downtown Dubai.
Its name – meaning leisure – perfectly encapsulates the experience of savouring each flavourful dish in a setting akin to a cosy Georgian home. And while there is no dearth of Georgian venues in the UAE, Qartuli stands out for its approach to preserving heritage, flavours and traditions, as I discover on a visit to the restaurant on Burj Khalifa Boulevard behind Dubai Mall.
Where to sit and what to expect
Diners are presented with two seating options – an open-plan yet cosy interior dining area with vintage decor reminiscent of the 19th and 20th centuries, and an outdoor terrace decorated with an abundance of greenery and ambient lighting.
Each table features vintage cutlery, glasses and mismatched plates curated to create a nostalgic feel, as though you've been transported to a traditional Georgian home. On trips to the bathroom, black-and-white photographs of a bygone era make you feel like you've walked into a time machine.
Since the humidity is still bearable, my dining partner and I opt for the outdoor option. Despite directly facing the bright lights of the Address Residences opposite the restaurant, the space feels cosy and enclosed, and we soon forget we're in the heart of the city.
The menu
With the scene set, we're greeted with a welcome bread basket accompanied by a delicious adjika dip that I sheepishly ask the waiter to top up.
For drinks, I opt for a juicy pear mocktail (Dh35) and my dining partner orders the traditional Natakhtari pear lemonade (Dh35), which is so tasty that we take photos of the label, planning to buy a lifetime supply from the distributor in Al Quoz.
Our starters comprise the Georgian-style Olivier salad (Dh45) and freshly made, warm sulguni cheese (Dh130), both of which come as surprisingly generous portions – a sign we needed to slow down if we want space for the mains.
Next we choose the lamb and beef khinkali (Dh39) and mushroom khinkali (Dh39), delicious twisted dumplings made of knots of dough and stuffed with meat, vegetables and spices. Again, they are much larger than they appear on the menu, and the generous filling bursts with comforting flavours.
As we pick up our cutlery, the server instructs us how to eat khinkali “the Georgian way” – holding the crown and tipping the dumpling upside down, slowly and gentling biting a hole in it before drinking the juices inside. We also learn that the crown is not designed to be eaten; rather, it is intended to be left on the plate.
We move on to a palate cleanser, cheese chebureki (Dh47), a decadent crispy deep-fried turnover, before diving right into mains, which include lamb chops (Dh110) served with Georgian tomato satsebeli sauce and seasoned onions.
The real star of our meal is the veal chakhapuli with tarragon (Dh85), a traditional meat stew that is hearty, filling and feels like one of those meals your grandmother fills your plate with to fatten you up.
We leave dessert up to our waiter's recommendation. Pelamushi (Dh48), a traditional pudding served with walnuts, is an acquired texture – one that my partner does not enjoy but I devour. It has the perfect balance of sweet and savoury, with a velvety, gooey texture that melts on the tongue.
Our meal concludes with one of Qartuli's warming signature teas – we opt for the currants and lavender tea (Dh50), a delicious blend of Assam black tea, currants puree, lavender syrup and mint.
During our visit, we enjoy a folk music performance by Ana Bujiashvili, Lia Khuntsaria, and UCHA on the outdoor terrace. We are particularly impressed by the warm Georgian hospitality, delightful entertainment and the homely dining experience.
Standout dish
The first whiff of the aromatic veal chakhapuli causes my dining partner and I to gasp in unison, followed by a happy food dance. Similar to ghormeh sabzi, a traditional Iranian dish that my partner grew up on, the veal chakhapuli is packed full of fresh herbs and tender pieces of meat.
The dish celebrates the comforts of homestyle cooking, reminiscent of the hearty meals you'd crave after a day of hiking in the cool Georgian mountains – a far cry from the warmer climate we're sitting in. But it still works.
A chat with the founder
Shevardnadze, co-founder of Qartuli, is no stranger to food and hospitality. When she was nine, she asked for her father's permission to assist in the family's food production business in Tbilsi.
“My early involvement in food preparation sparked a lifelong passion for culinary arts,” she says. “By the age of 19, I ventured abroad to study and subsequently work in various countries, collaborating with chefs from diverse backgrounds in places such as the Alps in Switzerland, southern France, Brazil's Rio de Janeiro, Istanbul, and my beloved home country of Georgia.”
After launching a delivery concept to test the demand for authentic Georgian cuisine last year, Shevardnadze opened Qartuli in Downtown Dubai four months later.
She says her favourite ingredient to cook with is Kakhetian oil, which is exclusively produced in the eastern Georgian region of Kakheti by local residents. “Unlike other oils, it is unfiltered and thick with a strong sunflower aroma, offering an authentic taste of Georgia,” she says. “This oil adds a distinct flavour and depth to my dishes, infusing them with the essence of the region.”
Prioritising high-quality and locally sourced ingredients from Georgia is also one of Qartuli's unique selling points. “My approach is innovative yet respectful of tradition, ensuring each dish offers a memorable and authentic dining experience,” she adds.
Price point and contact information
Starters are priced between Dh45 and Dh145; salads cost from Dh45 to Dh75; mains from Dh65 to Dh275; and desserts from Dh35 to Dh50.
Qartuli is open daily from noon to midnight. Reservations can be made by contacting 058 120 9347.
This review was conducted at the invitation of the restaurant
MATCH INFO
Qalandars 109-3 (10ovs)
Salt 30, Malan 24, Trego 23, Jayasuriya 2-14
Bangla Tigers (9.4ovs)
Fletcher 52, Rossouw 31
Bangla Tigers win by six wickets
A list of the animal rescue organisations in the UAE
The specs
Engine: 3.8-litre, twin-turbo V8
Transmission: eight-speed automatic
Power: 582bhp
Torque: 730Nm
Price: Dh649,000
On sale: now
The bio
Favourite vegetable: Broccoli
Favourite food: Seafood
Favourite thing to cook: Duck l'orange
Favourite book: Give and Take by Adam Grant, one of his professors at University of Pennsylvania
Favourite place to travel: Home in Kuwait.
Favourite place in the UAE: Al Qudra lakes
Our legal consultant
Name: Dr Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
What can victims do?
Always use only regulated platforms
Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion
Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)
Report to local authorities
Warn others to prevent further harm
Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence
Day 3 stumps
New Zealand 153 & 249
Pakistan 227 & 37-0 (target 176)
Pakistan require another 139 runs with 10 wickets remaining
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Joker: Folie a Deux
Starring: Joaquin Phoenix, Lady Gaga, Brendan Gleeson
Director: Todd Phillips
Rating: 2/5
ESSENTIALS
The flights
Emirates flies from Dubai to Phnom Penh via Yangon from Dh2,700 return including taxes. Cambodia Bayon Airlines and Cambodia Angkor Air offer return flights from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap from Dh250 return including taxes. The flight takes about 45 minutes.
The hotels
Rooms at the Raffles Le Royal in Phnom Penh cost from $225 (Dh826) per night including taxes. Rooms at the Grand Hotel d'Angkor cost from $261 (Dh960) per night including taxes.
The tours
A cyclo architecture tour of Phnom Penh costs from $20 (Dh75) per person for about three hours, with Khmer Architecture Tours. Tailor-made tours of all of Cambodia, or sites like Angkor alone, can be arranged by About Asia Travel. Emirates Holidays also offers packages.
Tips to avoid getting scammed
1) Beware of cheques presented late on Thursday
2) Visit an RTA centre to change registration only after receiving payment
3) Be aware of people asking to test drive the car alone
4) Try not to close the sale at night
5) Don't be rushed into a sale
6) Call 901 if you see any suspicious behaviour
From exhibitions to the battlefield
In 2016, the Shaded Dome was awarded with the 'De Vernufteling' people's choice award, an annual prize by the Dutch Association of Consulting Engineers and the Royal Netherlands Society of Engineers for the most innovative project by a Dutch engineering firm.
It was assigned by the Dutch Ministry of Defence to modify the Shaded Dome to make it suitable for ballistic protection. Royal HaskoningDHV, one of the companies which designed the dome, is an independent international engineering and project management consultancy, leading the way in sustainable development and innovation.
It is driving positive change through innovation and technology, helping use resources more efficiently.
It aims to minimise the impact on the environment by leading by example in its projects in sustainable development and innovation, to become part of the solution to a more sustainable society now and into the future.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW
Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman
Director: Jesse Armstrong
Rating: 3.5/5
Results
4pm: Maiden (Dirt) Dh165,000 1,600m
Winner: Moshaher, Pat Dobbs (jockey), Doug Watson (trainer).
4.35pm: Handicap (D) Dh165,000 2,200m
Winner: Heraldic, Richard Mullen, Satish Seemar.
5.10pm: Maiden (Turf) Dh165,000 1,600m
Winner: Rua Augusta, Harry Bentley, Ahmad bin Harmash.
5.45pm: Handicap (D) Dh190,000 1,200m
Winner: Private’s Cove, Mickael Barzalona, Sandeep Jadhav.
6.20pm: Handicap (T) Dh190,000 1,600m
Winner: Azmaam, Jim Crowley, Musabah Al Muhairi.
6.55pm: Handicap (D) Dh190,000 1,400m
Winner: Bochart, Richard Mullen, Satish Seemar.
7.30pm: Handicap (T) Dh190,000 2,000m
Winner: Rio Tigre, Mickael Barzalona, Sandeep Jadhav.
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Essentials
The flights
Emirates, Etihad and Malaysia Airlines all fly direct from the UAE to Kuala Lumpur and on to Penang from about Dh2,300 return, including taxes.
Where to stay
In Kuala Lumpur, Element is a recently opened, futuristic hotel high up in a Norman Foster-designed skyscraper. Rooms cost from Dh400 per night, including taxes. Hotel Stripes, also in KL, is a great value design hotel, with an infinity rooftop pool. Rooms cost from Dh310, including taxes.
In Penang, Ren i Tang is a boutique b&b in what was once an ancient Chinese Medicine Hall in the centre of Little India. Rooms cost from Dh220, including taxes.
23 Love Lane in Penang is a luxury boutique heritage hotel in a converted mansion, with private tropical gardens. Rooms cost from Dh400, including taxes.
In Langkawi, Temple Tree is a unique architectural villa hotel consisting of antique houses from all across Malaysia. Rooms cost from Dh350, including taxes.