Last week I returned from my first trip to Dubai. What a wonderful experience. The city has so much to offer; and although I didn’t have the opportunity to see it all, I did my best! Based on discussions with city residents, I learned Dubai has quite a thriving food scene. After my dinner at Asado, I can understand why. The Argentinian restaurant is located in The Palace Downtown Dubai. Upon arriving, the first thing I noticed was the overall atmosphere of the restaurant. The decor has a rustic, country feel, making it very warm and inviting. As we were directed to our table, live Latin music was playing, adding to the authenticity of the restaurant. Before we sat down for dinner, we enjoyed a glass of wine in a lounge-style area positioned right along the water. We had an excellent view of the notable fountain in the center of downtown Dubai in front of the Burj Khalifa. We were directed to our table for dinner and immediately noticed the staff was attentive, friendly and knowledgeable about the wine and cuisine. I started off with the ensalada de pulpo (octopus salad). I am a big fan of octopus; and if offered on a menu, I always order it. I was definitely satisfied with the octopus dish at Asado. It was a perfectly grilled portion served with potatoes and a palm heart mayonnaise. For my entrée, I felt that it wouldn’t be right to not try the steak. I ordered the lomo de ternera (beef tenderloin steak). It was prepared exactly to my liking and tasted just as flavorful as I hoped. After most steak meals, I am typically too full to eat anything else. However, at Asado, the appetizer and entrée portions were just the right sizes, so dessert was still an option for me. To finish off the delicious evening, we were served Asado’s delicia de dulce de leche, a selection of desserts all made with dulce de leche. No complaints here! Everything about my experience at Asado was fantastic. I am more than happy to return on my next trip to Dubai. — Olivia Falcione, advertising manager