After years of anticipation, Jumeirah Marsa Al Arab finally opened its doors last month, revealing not only exceptional accommodation but twelve restaurants nestled under one roof. One of the buzziest openings is The Cullinan, a contemporary fine-dining steakhouse. Though the word ‘steakhouse’ typically conjures images of dark, worn-in spaces, The Cullinan is inviting, airy and infused with just the right amount of glamour.
The space serves as an homage to traditional steakhouses through sultry, mahogany interiors and enveloping armchairs. It’s elevated, however, with floor-to-ceiling windows that not only make it a perfect spot for catching the sunset, but allows light to pour in, illuminating the dining room and open-plan kitchen (which, as it happens, is the UAE’s largest).
This sprawling kitchen is where diners are afforded a behind-the-scenes look at the painstaking preparation that goes into The Cullinan’s menu. The menu is built around premium meats, seafood and seasonal ingredients; there’s even a meat sommelier to curate your experience, who works alongside the grape sommelier for an even more elevated affair. The scallop crudo with a butterfly pea infusion, dashi pearls and caviar makes for an exciting start, as do the indulgent steak tartare mille-feuille with truffle mayo and gold leaf; wood-fired prawns with tomato emulsion; and crispy oxtail and bone marrow croquettes. Opting for a steak would be the obvious choice - The Cullinan’s offerings span premium cuts from Japan, Australia and New Zealand, all sourced for their marbling, flavour and quality and topped with the restaurant’s signature steak butters. Should you wish to deviate from steak, however, the josper-grilled lamb loin, lobster-stuffed ravioli, and roasted black cod atop pearl couscous and quinoa are some other stand-outs from the mains.
End the evening with The Cullinan’s signature gold bar - a marriage of coffee mousse, pecan praline, caramel and a pecan biscuit - before making your way to the gilded lounge for an after-dinner indulgence. Book now
