Bistronomie is a thing. Try it out at Molecule

There’s magic in the air at Dubai Design District. Commonly referred to as d3, this place is full of life. From colors that pop, to art designs that stand out, d3 is growing to be one of the most creative hubs in the city. Last night we experienced something that in a subtle way captures the very essence of this district. Molecule a concept dining founded on the roots of Bistronomie – striking chords between fine dining and casual dining. Very aptly put, it is ‘Dubai’s newest dining destination where creators meet and makers eat’.

The next big thing in Dubai’s dining scene, this fully licensed resto-lounge brings together cultures that unite on their love for food, design and community; creating a one of a kind experience for locals in and around d3. They pride on their use of fresh seasonal products and combine bold and rich regional flavors from around the globe, led by the amazing Chef Udo Moreau. What’s even more intriguing is their design collaboration which pays significant attention to design and aesthetics, and brings together pioneers from different fields to create a concept and design that has never been done before. From Nadine Kanso to Fadi Sarieddine and concept boutiques like Light Func to art galleries like The Third Line, it all syncs together to bring Molecule’s artistic vision to life.

Their carefully curated menu perfectly complements and completes this one-of-a-kind experience. Read on for more on Molecule.

 

Molecule Martini & Passionate Jack

We started off with two of their signature concoctions. Sultan, our delightful server, made sure he carefully evaluates what we are looking for and recommended the perfect drinks to suit our palate.

Creating a social chemistry like none other, the Molecule Martini on the left came with homemade vanilla syrup, passion fruit and blood orange puree, lime juice and basil. This was perfectly in sync with my taste, thanks to its sweet and tangy flavors. My guest opted for the stronger Passionate Jack. This one was infused with a very unexpected green coffee, along with the classic flavors of lemongrass syrup, lime, passion fruit puree and ginger ale. The scooped ice with passion fruit seeds was spot on with the restaurant’s artistic environment.

The Famous Burrata

That is my favorite cheese. Yes, it is Burrata. How could we refuse this signature dish when it so lovingly called out to us fron Molecule’s bistronomical menu!
Aptly named The Famous Burrata, the said cheese was exceptionally creamy and fresh, highlighting the high quality of their dairy products. Moreover, the grilled aubergine, courgette, cherry tomato and sweet basil on the side added a colorful contrast.

And let’s not miss that beautiful swatch of pesto that not only comes freshly homemade, but adds a contemporary artistic element on the plate.
There’s no way you can not order this. Please do.

At Molecule, they believe you should pay for what you eat. At just AED 47, this is one of the most reasonably priced Burratas in town, and falls perfectly in line with their concept of affordable dining without compromising on the quality of ingredients.

Tiger Prawns

Sometimes the least of ingredients make the maximum impact. That’s what these delicious Tiger Prawns did.
Yes, you all know I love prawns. So without batting an eyelid, I asked Sultan, our friendly host at Molecule, to get us one portion of these.

Flavored with chilli and ginger, these fresh prawns were cooked to a juicy pink and an extremely crunchy texture. I loved the spicy marinade so much, I kept scraping it off the prawn shells (risking my sanity) even after I was done with the meat. I would definitely order these tiger prawns again. Probably go back to Molecule just for these.

Avogadros Spritzer & Tom Yum Goong

Keeping up with their signatures, we chose to go with another round of creative drinks at Molecule.

To the left is Avogadros Spritzer which was a perfect combination of fruity and floral. It started with lychee and cherry infused ice and finished with edible rose petals. So sweet! The drink on the right is what I would call a chilled version of the famous Tom Yum soup. Spicy and sweet, the Tom Yum Goong is crafted with tangy infusions of lime juice, homemade lemongrass ginger syrup and kaffir lime. Then it is spiced up with half a seedless red chili. Sultan told us they earlier used to add an entire chili but it turned out to be too hot for some. You can have it spicier if you like, just bite into that little clipped garnish!

Grilled Chicken

If the starters were spot on with their artistic appeal, the mains held their stand too. We started off our second course with this grilled chicken that was beautifully marinated with flavors of labneh, parsley and coriander. Flaunting a burnt look on the outside, while extremely juicy inside, the labneh gave this chicken breast a very creamy finish and seeped through the layers of the meat to tenderize it from within. Such that every bite oozed out a wonderful melange of yogurt and herb flavors.

We paired this protein with wok stir-fried vegetables which came with a mix of thinly sliced asparagus, carrots, baby corn and more.
If you are a chicken person, then this dish comes highly recommended. Don’t miss out on this beauty.

Lamb Rack

Doing justice to the other meats, we opted for the famous and highly recommended Lamb Rack at Molecule. Now there’s a reason why the General Manager of the restaurant, Kaska, convinced us to try this dish. The lamb racks were beautifully roasted in a skillet hot plate and flavored with the most classic of ingredients. Right from sage and garlic to golden baked croutons and raisins, it had all the elements that made it the perfect countryside styled home cooked dish.

The meat was cooked a to medium well, as per our request and came with a lovely dark pink center while being extremely tender and juicy around. The whole garlic cloves worked like magic to add a rustic charm while enhancing the flavor. Being a garlic lover, I quickly fished out all the roasted cloves and savoured them to my fullest, while my guest, who’s a diehard lamb lover, devoured all that meat.

We paired the lamb up with carb side – Gratin Dauphinois. Golden baked potato slices, slightly burnt around the edges (the way I love them), were mixed with cream for a part crisp, part mash consistency. No more mashed spuds for me. I am in love with this gratin and would definitely order this again, and again, and again.

Mysterious Arabica

Art and mystery go hand in hand at Molecule. Which is why the lovely Kaska got us this Mysterious Arabica dessert.

Melting chocolate desserts, in my opinion, are really a piece of art. The chocolate has to be perfectly thin to melt, but strong enough to stay put. The sauce has to be warm enough to melt the chocolate, but not of a very liquid texture that would compromise its creaminess. All these have to come together perfectly to create this magnificence.

 

And they did.

This dessert comes with chocolate ganache that melts onto a pear confit coupled with aromatic Arabica coffee ice cream. It’s not just the presentation that impresses, but the taste follows suit.

Crème Brulee

The other dessert we tried was the crème brulee that was presented at its classic best in a rustic bowl. Bruleed to a crisp perfection, it was flavored with an exotic Tahiti vanilla.

Both are must haves, but I’m a sucker for presentation. So it will have to be Mysterious Arabica for me.

Molecule

Location: Building 6, Dubai Design District, Business Bay, Dubai
Contact: 04 2454700