Biriyani, Kabab and Dumpukht in Karama

The other day we had been to the Jumeirah Beach and after walking around in the sand and some foot wetting and the sunset, we were hungry. While the Iftar had already started for most, we had still not made it. Typically eating Indian food out of home is not by idea of spending time(since I get Indian food at home anyway!!!), we still agreed for a rendezvous to Dum Pukht at Karama. It’s on the main road leading to Burjaman Centre from Trade Centre beside President Hotel on your right. We outsmarted most of the guys in front of the exit gate of the beach by a simple trick of standing ahead of the crowd. The cab ride was comfy enough and the three of us were dropped off right in the front of the joint. Nothing special about the well lit glow sign outside, and the entrance was typical to most. The place was well lit (not to my liking) and not too big and perhaps accommodated about 20 odd tables. I have a theory that the quantum of sound in a restaurant is directly proportional to the amount of light reflecting in the enclosed environment.

After a wait for about 20 minutes (proves the popularity I guess) we were shown to our tables by a waiter from “The God’s country”. For the uninitiated, that’s Kerala a province of India. It did not take us long to decide our dishes and we settled for the obvious - Gosht (Mutton) Biriyani, a Kabab Platter and some salad. Some fresh lime to accompany the food was also mandatory.

It took them about 15 minutes to serve, while we sipped the fresh lime and we could realize that our digestive juices had already started secretion in full flow, thanks to our imaginative brains.

The Food arrived. The Biriyani in a Handi (Indian stew pot with lid) while the platter on a plate!! We had chicken tikkas, shammi kababs, tandoori chicken, malai kababs and some salad made of onions and carrots. The descriptions of the items are as follows:

Biriyani – A combination of Basmati Rice and Mutton Gravy cooked separately and then placed in layers along with flavoring agents and baked in an oven.
Chicken Tikkas – Succulent cubes of chicken breasts marinated in Indian spices and barbecued in a grill.
Shammi Kababs – Minced Mint, Lentil, spices, onions combo cooked, mashed made into balls and shallow or deep fried. The Shikampuri kabab is a variation where you would have a minced boiled egg, onion filling!!!
Seekh Kabab – Minced Meat, marinated and barbecued..
Malai Kababs – This is a Chicken Tikka variation where the meat is marinated with Cream and almost no chilly.

The Handi lid was taken off and we could catch that lovely aroma dancing around in front of our sensors. The rice was delicate and delicious. The meat was tasty and well done. The flavors all adequate and good we as Indians do, we used our hands. The silence around the table was ample measure that the food was tasty and boy were we hungry?

The Kababs were so so and I would prefer to give them a pass except the Shammi. The others were tough and perhaps not marinated well enough for the flavors to be entrenched in the meat. So next time while I would definitely order a Biriyani, the Kababs I would pass.

Overall a rating of 3.5 on 5 would be a reasonable one I thought considering the value/quality quotient. In terms of ambience I would give it a 2.5. This is not a place to go for a warm relaxing dinner with your beloved. Sphere: Related Content