IF it’s good enough for Sean Connery, Elvis and Marilyn...
THERE are a few famous faces at the sassy new restaurant, bar and generally rather cool hang-out Phoenix Social Club.
Okay, so the iconic celebs that include the original James Bond and the King of Rock ’n’ Roll are actually large portraits looking down alongside Elisabeth Taylor, Marilyn Monroe and Breakfast at Tiffany’s legend Audrey Hepburn from the walls of this new venue, but you can’t help thinking they would frequent such a place…
Okay, so the iconic celebs that include the original James Bond and the King of Rock ’n’ Roll are actually large portraits looking down alongside Elisabeth Taylor, Marilyn Monroe and Breakfast at Tiffany’s legend Audrey Hepburn from the walls of this new venue, but you can’t help thinking they would frequent such a place…
Inspired by the supper clubs of 1930s and 1940s Los Angeles, Miami and New York - sassy addresses that brought together dining, drinking and dancing and people who wanted to be seen participating - there’s no doubt PSC is set up to offer a full evening of socials.
Inside and above the calm cool that is The H Hotel lie a handful of eclectic F&B opportunities that keep this tower at the end of the main stretch of Sheikh Zayed Road on the map.
Inside and above the calm cool that is The H Hotel lie a handful of eclectic F&B opportunities that keep this tower at the end of the main stretch of Sheikh Zayed Road on the map.
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And the Phoenix Social Club is another venue defined by quality and imaginative style that discerning diners and night owls are putting on their radar - although plenty of people in the know will already be familiar with this confident and casually elegant sanctuary from the busy city beyond.
Greeted at a slinky reception desk backdropped by video flames, you’re led to a dedicated bar and a cleverly curated cocktail selection, as well as other selected drinks.
Of the former, our new favourite has to be Shizzle My Swizzle, a plushly decorated copper cup with contents (bourbon-infused green tea, citrus, Earl Grey, honey, soda) to match its playful presentation.
The bar program at PSC is said to be “continuously evolving”, so expect the nine signature cocktails - currently also including the equally cheeky Pop Ma Cherie and Phoenix Elixir - to be joined by monthly innovations created in conjunction with the culinary team.
Greeted at a slinky reception desk backdropped by video flames, you’re led to a dedicated bar and a cleverly curated cocktail selection, as well as other selected drinks.
Of the former, our new favourite has to be Shizzle My Swizzle, a plushly decorated copper cup with contents (bourbon-infused green tea, citrus, Earl Grey, honey, soda) to match its playful presentation.
The bar program at PSC is said to be “continuously evolving”, so expect the nine signature cocktails - currently also including the equally cheeky Pop Ma Cherie and Phoenix Elixir - to be joined by monthly innovations created in conjunction with the culinary team.
COLOURFUL COCKTAIL: Shizzle My Swizzle is one of the lively and fun drinks curated by the Social's bar
You can either enjoy an evening at the bar or pre-empt an equally indulgent dining experience that we cannot recommended highly enough. The venue has a culinary star in a young chef who took us on a tasty tour of selected menu options that, judging by the results, are presumably his kitchen’s finest work.
Imagination fuels an eclectic selection with an Asian twist - and it starts with PSC’s signature tandoor flatbreads.
Seeming like something of a surprise inclusion in such a venue, perhaps, they are taken up a level by a sassy selection of accompaniments, including roasted capsicum cream, Wagyu pancia or burratina with paprika truffle honey.
The breads are delicious and designed to encourage a sharing scenario that continues into a smaller plates selection that packs lots of flavour and will have you re-ordering.
Imagination fuels an eclectic selection with an Asian twist - and it starts with PSC’s signature tandoor flatbreads.
Seeming like something of a surprise inclusion in such a venue, perhaps, they are taken up a level by a sassy selection of accompaniments, including roasted capsicum cream, Wagyu pancia or burratina with paprika truffle honey.
The breads are delicious and designed to encourage a sharing scenario that continues into a smaller plates selection that packs lots of flavour and will have you re-ordering.
BREAKING BREAD: This restaurant's tandoor flatbreads are a tasty start to a friendly food sharing experience
Topping the running order for our sitting was an outstanding chargrilled octopus, dispatched with style courtesy of miso foam and yuzu kosha.
Matching this for commanding flavour as good as the looks was a zesty hamanchi ceviche and slow roasted miso pumpkin with sweet potato, with sweet potato crips, pickled pumpkin and pumpkin seed cream.
Weighing in with colour and palate cleansing effectiveness, a strawberry and cucumber salad with goats cheese sorbet again seeks Insta lens time.
Even the humble carrot gets a bit of TLC; cue heirloom carrots in a coconut, kafir and carrot curry, bolstered by quinoa and puffed wild rise and a shot of coriander.
While there’s temptation to simply graze on the above, equal imagination powers the larger dishes.
Still suitable for sharing, the likes of Wagyu striploin with eggplant and a stand-out beef cheek tortellini, sent into legend territory with porcini beurre monte, is likely to provoke some crockery territorial issues.
Matching this for commanding flavour as good as the looks was a zesty hamanchi ceviche and slow roasted miso pumpkin with sweet potato, with sweet potato crips, pickled pumpkin and pumpkin seed cream.
Weighing in with colour and palate cleansing effectiveness, a strawberry and cucumber salad with goats cheese sorbet again seeks Insta lens time.
Even the humble carrot gets a bit of TLC; cue heirloom carrots in a coconut, kafir and carrot curry, bolstered by quinoa and puffed wild rise and a shot of coriander.
While there’s temptation to simply graze on the above, equal imagination powers the larger dishes.
Still suitable for sharing, the likes of Wagyu striploin with eggplant and a stand-out beef cheek tortellini, sent into legend territory with porcini beurre monte, is likely to provoke some crockery territorial issues.
TENTACLE TENDANCY: Octopus is one of the luxury ingredients given a spin on this venue's imaginative menu
Same goes for a memorable black cod paired by this clever kitchen with braised daikon for a confident and moreish take on something of a menu regular these days.
Already feeling spoiled and hotly debating the best plates, the kitchen isn't slacking on dessert options.
Diners can indulge compressed watermelon accompanied by fresh mangosteen - a fruit doesn't make enough menu appearances - and textures of white chocolate, kefir lime and basil.
Winning our hearts and tastebuds was a cultured saffron and pear sorbet with spiced caramel, vanilla yoghurt, milk crumble, apples and brick pastry.
While we’ve yet to see how things pan out late on at PSC, the food certainly demands a visit.
Canny combinations and intuitive ingredients place the kitchen up there with our other city favourite for imaginative food, namely Madinat Jumeirah gem folly by Nick & Scott.
Already feeling spoiled and hotly debating the best plates, the kitchen isn't slacking on dessert options.
Diners can indulge compressed watermelon accompanied by fresh mangosteen - a fruit doesn't make enough menu appearances - and textures of white chocolate, kefir lime and basil.
Winning our hearts and tastebuds was a cultured saffron and pear sorbet with spiced caramel, vanilla yoghurt, milk crumble, apples and brick pastry.
While we’ve yet to see how things pan out late on at PSC, the food certainly demands a visit.
Canny combinations and intuitive ingredients place the kitchen up there with our other city favourite for imaginative food, namely Madinat Jumeirah gem folly by Nick & Scott.
ICE TO KNOW YOU: Sweet finish with flair - desserts also give guests something to remember
And if you want to see that young chef and his team really run through their skill set, they’ve launched Experimental Tuesdays to throw a spotlight on that dining experience. Every week between 7-10pm, foodies can embark on a culinary journey through a degustation menu of both food and drinks.
For possible future menu, following research and development, guests begin with a selection of amuse bouches paired with a creation from the bar before flowing into an array of four small plates accompanied by various wines and creative cocktails that work with each dish. The second act brings two large plates, one from the existing menu and one experimental, and again comes with sips to enhance the dish, before ending with dessert.
Vegan and vegetarian options are available on request and drinks throughout the dinner are free flowing - as is music from a jazz quartet until 10pm when the DJ gets to work.
For possible future menu, following research and development, guests begin with a selection of amuse bouches paired with a creation from the bar before flowing into an array of four small plates accompanied by various wines and creative cocktails that work with each dish. The second act brings two large plates, one from the existing menu and one experimental, and again comes with sips to enhance the dish, before ending with dessert.
Vegan and vegetarian options are available on request and drinks throughout the dinner are free flowing - as is music from a jazz quartet until 10pm when the DJ gets to work.
WARM WELCOME: A flaming vision greets guests to a night at new city hotspot the Phoenix Social Club
PSC is described as a post-prohibition lounge and bar exuding “modernised nostalgia” and a place where old and new collide.
This manifests itself via stylish decor with a timeless edge, mixing old values with up-to-date demands to give a classic yet on-trend feel. This influences the food agenda too, with multi-cultural inspiration dealt fine dining attention to detail, presented in a modern format.
The overall result is an experience that is fancy yet relaxed, upmarket but not stuffy, cool while exhibiting a sense of casual decadence.
In short...it's a must try.
DETAILS:
EXPERIMENTAL Tuesdays cost AED350 for the full degustation menu and drink pairings and AED290 for non-alcoholic pairing.
FOR reservations for that or regular dining, email [email protected] or call 04 3383434
This manifests itself via stylish decor with a timeless edge, mixing old values with up-to-date demands to give a classic yet on-trend feel. This influences the food agenda too, with multi-cultural inspiration dealt fine dining attention to detail, presented in a modern format.
The overall result is an experience that is fancy yet relaxed, upmarket but not stuffy, cool while exhibiting a sense of casual decadence.
In short...it's a must try.
DETAILS:
EXPERIMENTAL Tuesdays cost AED350 for the full degustation menu and drink pairings and AED290 for non-alcoholic pairing.
FOR reservations for that or regular dining, email [email protected] or call 04 3383434
