As part of our romantic weekend in Dubai, we had dinner at Pierre’s Bistro & Bar, a restaurant by Chef Pierre Gagnaire. Pierre Gagnaire is a French chef at the forefront of the fusion cuisine movement. In 2015, Gagnaire won a “Best Chef in the World” award. He has over a dozen restaurants and we wanted to dine in his Dubai restaurant, to really taste the food created by such an acclaimed chef. We already had lunch at Gagnaire’s restaurant called Choix, a patisserie located in the same InterContinental as Pierre’s Bistro & Bar in Dubai Festival City. So, did Pierre’s Bistro & Bar live up to the expectation?
Table of Contents
- The reservation process at Pierre’s Bistro & Bar
- The welcome at Pierre’s Bistro & Bar
- The menus at Pierre’s Bistro & Bar
- The food at Pierre’s Bistro & Bar
- The drinks at Pierre’s Bistro & Bar
- Pierre’s Bistro & Bar Opening Times
- Pierre’s Bistro & Bar Address
- Make a Reservation at Pierre’s Bistro & Bar
- Conclusion
- Recommended Hotels
The reservation process at Pierre’s Bistro & Bar
The reservation process is very easy and can be done via email, phone or via their website. We recommend telling the staff if you have any special requirements or if you have any dietary requirements during the reservation process. For example, we didn’t know they have these spectacular eggshell chairs in their dining area. We were initially seated at a standard table, but we asked to be moved to the special chairs which were really cool for photos. As such, we always recommend you check their website and look at the gallery to perhaps spot the best place in the dining area for your reservation.
[Picture by Pierre’s Bistro & Bar]
The welcome at Pierre’s Bistro & Bar
We were the first guests to arrive for our dinner at Pierre’s Bistro & Bar. The staff was already fully prepared for the evening, waiting to offer a warm welcome. Once seated, the staff came to introduce themselves and explain who will help us with that. We always try to remember people’s names so we can have a more personal conversation.
We had a dedicated sommelier who knew exactly how to pair the drinks with the food we ordered. We had a dedicated waiter who made sure to explain everything on the menu and present all the specials. So far, everything was great.
The menus at Pierre’s Bistro & Bar
Pierre’s Bistro & Bar caters for all sort of diets. There are some vegan/vegetarian items on the menu, which is always nice. The concept of the menu is definitely French-based. With items such as duck and foie gras, you’ll definitely taste amazing French food right in the heart of Dubai. But Chef Gagnaire is known for his fusion cuisine, so everything on the menu has an interesting twist, which makes the classic shine in the light of modern culinary art.
[Picture by Pierre’s Bistro & Bar]
The food at Pierre’s Bistro & Bar
We started with a braised endive, fresh herbs taboule which tasted simply divine. The chef then prepared this delicious set of sushi for us, which looked (and tasted) incredible. Everything about the food screamed perfection. But not in the posh sense. The food here was not just small nibbles which will leave you hungry for the night. By contrast, the portions were just the right size, made to perfection. The food looked great, artistic, but without having to compromise on the quality. Nothing was left to chance either. The dishes were the perfect fusion of tastes and cultures in one single bite.
The chef also prepared Roasted scallops, leeks fondue with gorgonzola, and Arancini Croquettes. Everything was made to share so my husband and I indulged in all these dishes together. It’s a nice way to mix and match without getting stuck with one single dish.
[Picture by Pierre’s Bistro & Bar]
The best? The three special desserts we had. An exquisite apple pie, which looked done to perfection, covered in thinly cut slices of apple. The pie was followed by a crispy meringue with perfect sorbet and fresh fruit. That was literally the queen dish for us, we very much loved it. Finally, we had a chocolate cake with sorbet and fruit as well. The chocolate was crispy and thin, layered with the right fruit to balance out the tastes.
In conclusion, Chef Gagnaire really managed to impress with his dishes. He most certainly deserves all his Michelin Stars and awards received throughout his career. We will dine in one of his restaurants again, no doubt!
[Picture by Pierre’s Bistro & Bar]
The drinks at Pierre’s Bistro & Bar
Time to talk about the pièce de résistance when it comes to Pierre’s Bistro & Bar: the drinks! Chef Gagnaire is fantastic with his food, but who knew the cocktails he’ll approve on his menu will make his restaurant truly stand out? For travel lovers like us, his menu hit a sweet spot: the cocktail menu was inspired by various places around the world. So during your night out, you’ll taste a bit of London, Paris and even Tokyo.
Our sommelier recommended us a few cocktails from the menu, then decided to craft a few to go with our dishes. We ended up trying several cocktails during our long dinner but here are a few which need to be mentioned:
- Winter Castle – a cocktail made with Banyuls AOC and green chartreuse
- Londre C – a gin-based cocktail with violet liqueur
- Kanpai – A Tokyo signature with sake and punt e mes
- 1789 – A Parisienne delight with calvados and Cointreau
- L’aventurier – A Hong Kong awesomeness with vodka and peach & lychee liqueur
Which one will you try first?
Pierre’s Bistro & Bar Opening Times
| Day | Opening times |
|---|---|
| Monday | 6:30pm – 2am |
| Tuesday | 6:30pm – 2am |
| Wednesday | 6:30pm – 2am |
| Thursday | 6:30pm – 2am |
| Friday | 6:30pm – 2am |
| Saturday | 6:30pm – 2am |
| Sunday | Closed |
Pierre’s Bistro & Bar Address
Promenade Level – Dubai – United Arab Emirates
The restaurant is located within the InterContinental Hotel Festival City.
Make a Reservation at Pierre’s Bistro & Bar
To make a reservation you can book online here.
Alternatively, you can give them a call +971 (0)4 701 1127.
Conclusion
The food, the drinks, the ambience and the staff made our experience memorable. Not only we recommended Pierre’s Bistro & Bar to all our family and friends, but we wanted to spread the world here too because we believe this restaurant deserves all the recognition. It’s well priced for the incredible dishes you’ll get and the cocktails really add to all the dishes. If you are a wine lover, the restaurant has an extensive wine list, which again, can be perfectly paired to match the dish you order. We actually really loved the people in the restaurant too. It’s rare you can spend over an hour having a conversation with the staff like they are your best friends. We made friends and learned a thing or two about fusion cuisine at its finest. Overall, we truly recommend Pierre’s Bistro & Bar. It will be an incredible experience.
Recommended Hotels
Adjacent to Festival City Mall, InterContinental Dubai Festival City boasts a 30 yards outdoor pool that extends onto a balcony with panoramic views of Dubai Creek. A full-service spa with aromatherapy is offered.All rooms at InterContinental Dubai Festival City are sunny and fitted with large windows overlooking the skyline.
Click here for prices and book InterContinental – Dubai Festival City
Residence Suite Dubai Festival City provides spacious suites with 42″ LED TVs and offers panoramic views of Dubai Creek. Intercontinental Residence Suites is just minutes away from the Festival City shopping centre and Dubai Festival City. The hotel is also near excellent public transport facilities.
Click here for prices and book InterContinental Residence Suites – Dubai Festival City
Directly connected to the Dubai Festival City Mall home to 500 retail stores, restaurants and kids/family entertainment, Holiday Inn – Dubai Festival City is a 4-star property perfect for families with with its Family Suites. Guests can enjoy free Wifi thoughout the hotel. All rooms in the hotel are fitted with a kettle. Rooms are complete with a private bathroom equipped with a bath, while selected rooms have a seating area. At Holiday Inn – Dubai Festival City, rooms come with air conditioning and a flat-screen TV.
Click here for prices and book Holiday Inn – Dubai Festival City Mall
Leave a Reply