If artist Antoni Gaudi were to design a restaurant in Dubai, this is what it would look like.
Art and food go together like Vincent Van Gogh and the night’s sky. Whether restaurants have amazing artwork or pretty plates, it’s one pairing that never goes out of style. So, we were excited to visit Dubai’s new art-inspired restaurant, Gallery 7/40.
Gallery 7/40 draws its inspiration from the Catalan artist and architect Antoni Gaudi. He is famous for his Neo-Gothic style, which can be found in Barcelona, from La Pedrera Casa Mila to La Sagrada Familia. So, when we visit The Club’s latest restaurant, it reminds us of his garden, Park Güell.
On Palm West Beach, many of the venues feel like Mykonos-in-Dubai, so it’s exciting to see somewhere encapsulate a different theme. We’re not talking bachelor pad artwork, which you see in Dubai restaurants attempting to add “culture”, but plenty of personality.
Gallery 7/40 boasts mosaic tiles floors, a gold-rimmed staircase and a Murano glass chandelier – and that’s just the entrance. The interiors include curved ceilings, braided tree branches, stained-glass mosaics and colourful tabletops. The eye-catching furniture ranges from floral sofas to blue and yellow chairs. Plus, there are upcoming art exhibitions.
As we make our way to the beach, it feels like we’ve stumbled on a scene from Mamma Mia. Take your pick from sunbeds, sofas, tables or the bar – just make sure you come in time for the spectacular sunset. The staff are dancing as they gear up for the evening, and this joyful service puts a smile on our faces throughout the night.
We settle into a booth on the beach, which can be curtained off for privacy. The music gets louder as the night goes on, but we are still able to hear ourselves. On the table, there are gold knives, forks and napkin holders, and funky Kintsugi plates. The whole atmosphere could easily be kitsch, but we admire the sheer attention to detail – even the toilets are well-designed.
The concept combines Spanish tapas with Greek cuisine, and shines with its seafood dishes. Great for sharing, the menu includes tapas, soups, salads, starters, pintxo, mains and sides.
We begin with David Herve Royale No 2 oysters, which are served with shallot vinaigrette, lemon and tabasco. The oysters soak up the condiments, and start us off in style.
The starters range from a Grilled Octopus to Souvlaki Chicken. The Greek Salad is full of fresh flavours and prepared at the table. The unexpected highlight is the Garides Saganaki with feta cheese, ouzo, parsley, prawns and tomato. The rich sauce and herbs give this a terrific tangy flavour.
The mains include raw, pan-fried, grilled and baked fish from the seafood counter – look out for the fish tank, too. The Grilled Prawns with green olive salsa are presented beautifully, but it has a little too much asparagus for our taste. The Candy Ravioli comes shaped like Quality Street chocolates and offers brilliant bursts of roasted pumpkin and spinach.
We are pleased that the desserts do not stray from the theme, and include Baba, Galaktoboureko and Greek Yoghurt Ice Cream. We end with the Loukoumades, which are pockets of perfection. With each bite into the fluffy little doughnuts, pistachio and cream ooze out.
Gallery 7/40’s flexes its creative muscles across the drink’s menu. The drinks range from sangrias to spritzes, all with fittingly artistic puns as well as presentations. The Camille with bitters, berry beer cordial, gin and pineapple vermouth tastes like an Opal Fruit explosion, and the bubble gum colour matches the taste. The Refressca De Frida with grapefruit, jalapeno, mezcal, tropical soda and mezcal is a smoky sip, and is served with an actual orange peel filled with orange flavour jelly.
The Barco Encallado is an Insta-ready drink. A lid is lifted to reveal the creation, amidst an air of smoke. The cocktail combines coffee, chocolate and spiced rum, and transports us to Christmas Day. It wins on theatrics, but fails on functionality – sadly, it leaks but we’re sure that this will be fixed.
Dubai’s restaurant scene goes through phases, from certain cuisines to cookie cutter looks becoming the trend du jour. Pablo Picasso once said: “Every child is an artist, the problem is how to remain an artist once he grows up”. Gallery 7/40 should be praised for doing just that – it has created a playground for art and food. Go, embrace the eccentricity.
GO: Visit https://gallery740.com for more information.
