There’s no doubt about it, Five Luxe is one of the most discussed hotel brands in the UAE right now – particularly in Dubai.
With hotels in JVC and Palm Jumeirah, Five is known for its parties and upbeat atmosphere, and the chain’s third offering does not disappoint in that regard.
But its food and beverage offerings could be what really make this JBR venue stand apart, and Japanese restaurant Ronin could prove to be a real crowd pleaser.
Where to sit, what to expect
On arrival at Five Luxe, to get to Ronin we are directed into what can only be described as a lift for the stars. Sparkling and lined with mirrors, it makes my dining partner and I feel like a million dollars as we make our way to the higher floors and the restaurant that awaits.
Once there, we are greeted by spectacular views looking out over JBR, Dubai Marina and Palm Jumeirah. It is a scene so picturesque, we can’t help but feel we have arrived somewhere special.
Ronin does not disappoint. It is a huge restaurant with an open-plan kitchen so we can see the chefs hard at work. The largely black, almost gothic, decor gives it more than a hint of personality.
There’s house music playing which gives the venue a nice ambience, and it is at a perfect volume too. Loud enough to add a sense of atmosphere, but not too loud to stifle conversation.
What’s more, there are indoor and outdoor seating options. Given the views, we opt for outdoor so that we can take in the best of the Dubai's skyline as we enjoy dinner.
The menu
For our starters, my dining partner and I opt for a tapas-style selection so we can dabble in as many of the restaurant’s specialities as possible. We choose a sushi platter, spiced edamame, shrimp popcorn and tuna crispy.
The highlight is without doubt the tuna crispy, which is essentially sliced tuna tartare served on a pizza slice with a truffle oil garnish. The tuna is incredibly fresh and it makes for the perfect opening to the meal that awaits us. It feels like seafood is one of Ronin’s specialities, as the shrimp and sushi dishes combine excellently with the ever-reliable edamame.
For our main courses, I decide to stick to the seafood theme and go for the black cod served with miso sauce, while my dining partner opts for the kimchi fried rice served with beef and egg.
The black cod is melt-in-the-mouth magnificent and, having had it recommended to me by our ultra-attentive waiter, I am not disappointed.
My dining partner, meanwhile, witnesses something of a show as the waiting staff mix in the egg and beef with the kimchi rice at our table. The result is an explosion of flavour in a one-pot dish, and both of us are left with the satisfaction one only gets after a truly brilliant main course.
Suitably full at this point, it feels like dessert might be a step too far, but we have our arms twisted at the prospect of mochi ice cream.
This comes presented in an elegant jewellery-style box which the waiter duly lifts to show the icy contents within. Inside are a selection of mochi flavours, allowing us to end our evening meal with the delights of ice cream surrounded by the jelly-like dumpling exterior.
A chat with the chef
Originally from Busan, South Korea, chef SK Choi has over 15 years of culinary experience spanning Asia, the US, UK and now the Middle East.
But chef Choi found his calling in Japanese food, something he has a “deep-rooted passion” for due to the emphasis on cleanliness and respect for ingredients.
He has worked alongside renowned chefs such as Michelin-lauded chefs Jacob Jan Boerma, Laurent Peugeot and Akira Back, and Australian celebrity chef Mark Best.
Choi joined Ronin seven months ago, describing it as an “unmissable opportunity” after working at Dubai’s Armani Hotel. As a proud Korean, chef Choi’s favourite ingredient to cook with is kimchi. “It’s not just a beloved staple in Korean cuisine, but an incredible ingredient to cook with,” he explains.
“A unique fermentation process lends an intense flavour, making it incredibly versatile and a perfect accompaniment to many dishes.
“One standout dish on Ronin’s menu is the kimchi and Wagyu beef tacos, wherein tangy and spicy kimchi perfectly complements the rich Wagyu beef, making it a crowd favourite and popular choice with guests.”
Describing his cooking style, chef Choi says his approach has evolved over time and he craves to strike a balance between creativity, flavour harmony and cultural innovation.
“I eventually realised the true essence of food lies in its taste and texture,” he says. “This realisation led me to focus on creating dishes that are not only visually appealing, but also intuitively delicious and rooted in the basics of cooking, catering to everyone's palate.
“I enjoy experimenting with various sauces and incorporating aged flavours to add depth and complexity to my dishes.”
For vegetarians dining at Ronin, he recommends the kimchi rice. Chef Choi highlights the niku platter featuring A5 Wagyu and A5 bulgogi for meat-lovers, and he picks out the chilli butter lobster for seafood enthusiasts. As for dessert, his pick is the bento box as it offers a variety of treats such as molten chocolate, Hokkaido cheesecake, mochi ice cream and Japanese doughnuts.
He describes his philosophy as one that focuses on creating “food that is clean, flavourful and that I’m proud to serve”.
He says: “At Ronin, we break away from traditional Japanese fine dining to offer an experience that is both fun and high quality.”
Price point and contact information
Starters range from Dh35 to Dh120, mains are Dh75 to Dh750, while desserts are D55 to Dh220.
Ronin is open daily from 6pm to 2am. Reservations can be made by contacting 04 275 9999 or visiting www.ronindubai.com.
This review was conducted at the invitation of the restaurant
Paltan
Producer: JP Films, Zee Studios
Director: JP Dutta
Cast: Jackie Shroff, Sonu Sood, Arjun Rampal, Siddhanth Kapoor, Luv Sinha and Harshvardhan Rane
Rating: 2/5
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
Ramy%3A%20Season%203%2C%20Episode%201
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Ferrari 12Cilindri specs
Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12
Power: 819hp
Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm
Price: From Dh1,700,000
Available: Now
If you go:
The flights: Etihad, Emirates, British Airways and Virgin all fly from the UAE to London from Dh2,700 return, including taxes
The tours: The Tour for Muggles usually runs several times a day, lasts about two-and-a-half hours and costs £14 (Dh67)
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is on now at the Palace Theatre. Tickets need booking significantly in advance
Entrance to the Harry Potter exhibition at the House of MinaLima is free
The hotel: The grand, 1909-built Strand Palace Hotel is in a handy location near the Theatre District and several of the key Harry Potter filming and inspiration sites. The family rooms are spacious, with sofa beds that can accommodate children, and wooden shutters that keep out the light at night. Rooms cost from £170 (Dh808).
Sole survivors
- Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
- George Lamson Jr, from Minnesota, was on a Galaxy Airlines flight that crashed in Reno in 1985, killing 68 people. His entire seat was launched out of the plane
- Bahia Bakari, then 12, survived when a Yemenia Airways flight crashed near the Comoros in 2009, killing 152. She was found clinging to wreckage after floating in the ocean for 13 hours.
- Jim Polehinke was the co-pilot and sole survivor of a 2006 Comair flight that crashed in Lexington, Kentucky, killing 49.
F1 The Movie
Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Rating: 4/5
Match info
Manchester City 3 (Jesus 22', 50', Sterling 69')
Everton 1 (Calvert-Lewin 65')
MATCH INFO
Chelsea 1
Alonso (62')
Huddersfield Town 1
Depoitre (50')
MATCH INFO
Quarter-finals
Saturday (all times UAE)
England v Australia, 11.15am
New Zealand v Ireland, 2.15pm
Sunday
Wales v France, 11.15am
Japan v South Africa, 2.15pm
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Top Hundred overseas picks
London Spirit: Kieron Pollard, Riley Meredith
Welsh Fire: Adam Zampa, David Miller, Naseem Shah
Manchester Originals: Andre Russell, Wanindu Hasaranga, Sean Abbott
Northern Superchargers: Dwayne Bravo, Wahab Riaz
Oval Invincibles: Sunil Narine, Rilee Rossouw
Trent Rockets: Colin Munro
Birmingham Phoenix: Matthew Wade, Kane Richardson
Southern Brave: Quinton de Kock
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Water waste
In the UAE’s arid climate, small shrubs, bushes and flower beds usually require about six litres of water per square metre, daily. That increases to 12 litres per square metre a day for small trees, and 300 litres for palm trees.
Horticulturists suggest the best time for watering is before 8am or after 6pm, when water won't be dried up by the sun.
A global report published by the Water Resources Institute in August, ranked the UAE 10th out of 164 nations where water supplies are most stretched.
The Emirates is the world’s third largest per capita water consumer after the US and Canada.
Safety 'top priority' for rival hyperloop company
The chief operating officer of Hyperloop Transportation Technologies, Andres de Leon, said his company's hyperloop technology is “ready” and safe.
He said the company prioritised safety throughout its development and, last year, Munich Re, one of the world's largest reinsurance companies, announced it was ready to insure their technology.
“Our levitation, propulsion, and vacuum technology have all been developed [...] over several decades and have been deployed and tested at full scale,” he said in a statement to The National.
“Only once the system has been certified and approved will it move people,” he said.
HyperloopTT has begun designing and engineering processes for its Abu Dhabi projects and hopes to break ground soon.
With no delivery date yet announced, Mr de Leon said timelines had to be considered carefully, as government approval, permits, and regulations could create necessary delays.
'Midnights'
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Tearful appearance
Chancellor Rachel Reeves set markets on edge as she appeared visibly distraught in parliament on Wednesday.
Legislative setbacks for the government have blown a new hole in the budgetary calculations at a time when the deficit is stubbornly large and the economy is struggling to grow.
She appeared with Keir Starmer on Thursday and the pair embraced, but he had failed to give her his backing as she cried a day earlier.
A spokesman said her upset demeanour was due to a personal matter.
THE SIXTH SENSE
Starring: Bruce Willis, Toni Collette, Hayley Joel Osment
Director: M. Night Shyamalan
Rating: 5/5
UAE Premiership
Results
Dubai Exiles 24-28 Jebel Ali Dragons
Abu Dhabi Harlequins 43-27 Dubai Hurricanes
Fixture
Friday, March 29, Abu Dhabi Harlequins v Jebel Ali Dragons, The Sevens, Dubai
The biog
Place of birth: Kalba
Family: Mother of eight children and has 10 grandchildren
Favourite traditional dish: Al Harees, a slow cooked porridge-like dish made from boiled cracked or coarsely ground wheat mixed with meat or chicken
Favourite book: My early life by Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, the Ruler of Sharjah
Favourite quote: By Sheikh Zayed, the UAE's Founding Father, “Those who have no past will have no present or future.”
TOURNAMENT INFO
Fixtures
Sunday January 5 - Oman v UAE
Monday January 6 - UAE v Namibia
Wednesday January 8 - Oman v Namibia
Thursday January 9 - Oman v UAE
Saturday January 11 - UAE v Namibia
Sunday January 12 – Oman v Namibia
UAE squad
Ahmed Raza (captain), Rohan Mustafa, Mohammed Usman, CP Rizwan, Waheed Ahmed, Zawar Farid, Darius D’Silva, Karthik Meiyappan, Jonathan Figy, Vriitya Aravind, Zahoor Khan, Junaid Siddique, Basil Hameed, Chirag Suri
The%20specs
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Farasan Boat: 128km Away from Anchorage
Director: Mowaffaq Alobaid
Stars: Abdulaziz Almadhi, Mohammed Al Akkasi, Ali Al Suhaibani
Rating: 4/5
