A.E.R. | DIFC

I’ve been to this restaurant 3 times over the past 40 days, and it always, always impresses me more and more. This gorgeous place is A.E.R. Located at the plush Emirates Financial Towers in DIFC, the A.E.R. Lounge boasts of glam interiors, breezy outdoor seating and a swanky bar which is also the longest in Dubai.

Their menu spells fusion through and through, and it’s pretty evident from the taste and presentation how every food and drink item has so much thought and effort put into it. Scroll down for some gorgeous pictures and to know more about everything we tried at A.E.R.

We start with the gorgeous Mocking Bird and the classy Royal Sour. A sweet blend of strong flavors, the Mocking Bird brings together rose syrup with peach puree and lemon juice. There’s also a hint of turmeric root in the mix. And that presentation is simply wow! Quite a royal affair, the exquisite Royal Sour combines lime juice with saffron syrup and is topped with egg white foam. Don’t miss the dates on the side.

For our starters, we pick four dishes, that each stand out for their distinct flavors. First one is the AER Wellness which is a refreshingly healthy salad, thanks to the mix of romaine lettuce, endive, beetroot spirals, cucumber, orange pieces and quinoa. Moreover it is sprinkled with chickpeas and sunflower seeds, and drizzled with s salted maple butter dressing. Next is the Sicilian Arancini which is essentially tomato ragu based rice balls stuffed with cheese and mushrooms. These are incredibly creamy and melt-in-your-mouth. We also opt for the Bruschetta trio which features a selection of unique combinations, and is quite good for sharing, especially when everyone’s fond of one of these three toppings. While I am not particularly fond of tuna and green apple, the tomato caponata is fair, and I love the mushroom and cheese laden bruschetta. Our last starter, before we indulge in mains are the Meatballs. Made with beef mince and topped with salsa bravas, these meatballs are served with cheesy garlic bread, making them the ideal meat+carb bites with drinks.

For mains, I choose my favorite, while my plus one opts for his. Mine is a Wild Mushroom and Truffle Risotto. Oh my, oh my. If happy dreams could be classified as food items, this one would definitely be mine. Dotted with so many different mushroom varieties, this beauty is silky smooth, rich and very generous in terms of portion. My plus one’s Lamb Shank isn’t any less either. Juicy and fall-off-the-bone tender, the lamb in this dish is cooked to perfection. The addition of roast gravy makes it even more juicy and the polenta mash is a nice starchy alternative to the usual potato.

Despite being absolutely full, we feel it won’t be fair to ditch dessert, so we call for the Turtle Cheesecake. Cheesecakes are not my usual choice, but this one comes highly recommended by the staff. Built up on a chocolate walnut base, the cheesecake is topped with brown sugar caramel. As soon as the spoon touches the silky texture of the cake, it almost sinks in, while every single bite takes you to a sweet sweet land filled with cheese and caramel dreams.

A.E.R. Restaurant & Bar

Location: C Level, Emirates Financial Tower, DIFC, Dubai
Contact: 04 5260432

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