Jaleo, from renowned chef José Andrés, has officially opened at Atlantis The Royal on Dubai’s Palm Jumeirah.
The restaurant promises to bring diners the ‘flavours of modern-day Spain’ through tapas, paella, cheeses and Spanish drinks. Jaleo, which has several outlets in American, translates as lively in Spanish and will showcase the ‘rich regional diversity of Spanish cuisine’ and will have a stylish but casual atmosphere.
Paella will be prepared in front of diners in the open kitchen, cooked over a wood-burning fire, while the live cooking area will also showcase grilled fish and meat.
Signature dishes include the Paella Valenciana, with chicken, rabbit, green beans and seasonal artichoke, which can be prepared for four or eight diners, as well as a recipe from the chef’s mother, croquetas de pollo, filled with shredded chicken and a creamy béchamel. One of Andrés most famous tapas plates, gambas como en zahara, shrimp with garlic and lemon, is also on the Dubai menu.
To try a selection of Spanish flavours, there’s a chef’s tasting experience called José’s Way, which stars a collection of the chef’s favourite dishes alongside a Spanish wine pairing.
The space itself is also designed to reflect the tapas, or small bites, idea, with lots of different sections including a dining area with small private bays, tapas bar and even a foosball table. There’s also an expansive outdoor terrace, which has 100-year-old olive trees.
Jaleo first opened in Washington D.C in 1993 and has since expanded to cities across the US including Chicago and Las Vegas, and it’s a first Middle Eastern branch for the chef.
“I am excited to launch my first Jaleo restaurant outside of America at Atlantis The Royal in Dubai – making it our first restaurant in the United Arab Emirates, an incredible and majestic destination,” says Andrés. “Guests will be able to experience Jaleo like they never have before.”
The restaurant joins a line-up of top names in Atlantis The Royal including Dinner by Heston Estiatorio Milos by Costas Spiliadis and La Mar by Gaston Acurio.
For a full list of restaurants at Dubai’s new Atlantis The Royal click here.
Atlantis The Royal, Palm Jumeirah, (04 426 2800).