One of the glittering jewels in J1’s elegant and aspirational crown is the ever-chic Bâoli. The half-indoor, half-outdoor restaurant was filled to the brim with beautiful and glamorous diners, sipping blush, and enjoying sparkling conversation, creating an infectious buzz throughout the space. The views of the Arabian Gulf beyond the pristine infinity pool perfectly framed the restaurant’s open-plan concept, immediately putting us at ease and creating an air of vacation.
We were seated and instantly welcomed by our warm, French waiters, flown in from the Cannes establishment to mark the new opening. The seamless service added to the ‘holiday’ feel of the place, with the French waiters catering to our every whim before we even anticipated it ourselves.
We had a refreshing aperitif and then, the meal began with a series of raw crudos, including salmon ceviche, tuna belly in ponzu, and hamachi topped with shaved truffle and crispy ginger. The hamachi was to die for. Following the raw selection, we enjoyed crispy kimchi gyoza and togarashi-topped squid — both utterly delectable. The standout, however, had to be the chicken karaage, coated in a sweet and spicy glaze, each bite delivering the perfect balance of crunch, tang, and juicy freshness.
For mains, we opted for sharing plates, both of which sounded absolutely epic. The glazed half rack of lamb had hints of curry and a delightful char in all the right places. The hero dish of the lunch, without a shadow of a doubt, was the creamy, umami-packed lobster udon. Served tableside in a beautiful claypot, the udon was coated in an indulgent sauce, cut by fresh chunks of lobster tail, delicately shaved spring onions, and hints of sesame throughout. As one of the more extravagant lunches of my life, the indulgence didn’t stop there. The meal concluded with a sesame chocolate fondant, cooked to perfection and topped with a delightfully sweet and savory sesame brittle. Alongside, it was the banana millefeuille — a perfectly rich and satisfying bite.
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