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Spice Island buffet restaurant in the Renaissance Hotel Dubai

From 01 March 2011, the Renaissance Hotel in Deira has been rebranded as the Crowne Plaza Deira-Dubai Hotel. Restaurant also called Spice Restaurant. Tel and fax number unchanged, new email address cpdeira.info@ihg.com. Any changes in buffet deal not supplied.

Spice Island in Dubaispeak is synonomous with eat, drink, and be merry for a bargain price. Spice Island is a buffet all-you-can-eat-and-drink restaurant at the Renaissance Hotel in Deira, and is a bit of an expat Dubai institution like the Dubai Rugby 7s, Waxy's Friday Brunch, The Lodge (back in its heyday), etc.

• The Spice Island started sometime in the 1990s with 100 dhs enough to get you as much beer or wine as you want, a great selection of food, and bucketloads of delicious prawn tempura.
• A few years later, prices have risen, the food is still plentiful, the times are still merry, and they still serve prawn tempura (on Thursdays). However it would be fair to say that where leaders go, others follow, and there is a plethora of Dubai hotels with restaurants offering buffet options for the hungry and thirsty masses.

Spice Island Reservations - necessary for weekends, good idea for weekdays

• Tel +971-4-2625555, fax +971-4-2697358, email rhi.dxbbr.restaurants.mgr@renaissancehotels.com - changed to cpdeira.info@ihg.com from 01 March 2011?

Spice Island Renaissance Hotel location

• The Dubai Renaissance Hotel is on Salahuddin Rd in Deira. Coming from Bur Dubai and the Maktoum Bridge, turn left after the Hamrain Center, it's on your right a couple of hundred meters down. Good luck with parking.
• Taxi drivers will be familiar with the Renaissance Hotel.
• Dubai Metro Red Line nearest station is Al Rigga on Al Riga Rd, negotiate your way through the small roads and lanes, across Al Muraqqabat Street to Salahuddin Rd, about 1km depending on how lost you get in the alleys inbetween.
• Dubai Metro Green Line nearest station is Abu Baker Al Siddiqi station at the Salahuddin Rd and AbuBaker Al Siddique Rd junction. About 300 m down Salahuddin Rd (coast direction). Station not open until June 2010 or later.

What time is Spice Island open?

• Spice Island timings from 1830-2330 (6:30pm-11:30pm) seven days, starts at 8pm during Ramadan.
• Friday Brunch at Spice Island from 1200-1500 (12pm-3pm)
• Ramadan Iftar buffet from Iftar until 2000 (8pm)

How much is the Spice Island buffet?

There are 3 options (and prices), with costs valid from June 2008 (subject to change of course). Unlimited drinks and food inclusive. All prices per person.

Deal	Non-alcoholic	Standard	Premium	Ramadan Iftar	Children (6-12)	Sparkling Wine
Evenings	169 dhs	219 dhs	289 dhs	109 dhs	69 dhs	add 99 dhs
Friday Brunch	149 dhs	199 dhs	269 dhs	n/a	69 dhs

• Tee-total (non-alcoholic option), AED 169 per person. Includes all the buffet food, soft drinks (Pepsi, Miranda, 7Up, diet versions), fruit juice, tea, coffee.
• "The Original Grand Buffet", AED 219 per person. Includes house red or white wine, standard beer range, standard spirit range and mixers, same non-alcoholic range as for the Tee-total option. And of course all the food.
• Premium Experience, AED 289 per person. Includes better house red or white wine, premium spirits for example Chivas Regal, Johnnie Walker Black Label.

Some surprises to watch for - if you like Corona, Barcadi Breezers (and similar alcopop drinks), JD or Southern Comfort, then you need to go for the Premium Experience option.

Renaissance Spice Island menu

Note that all food is available from a help-yourself buffet, or from live cooking stations

Entrees / Starters

• Bread - good range but remember the usual buffet rule - don't eat bread, pasta, potatoes, or rice.
• Cheese - decent enough range, also crackers and grapes
• Salads - the usual range of vegetables and chicken, including a make-your-own Caeser Salad with as much parmesan cheese as you want.
• Seafood - crabs, mackerel, prawns, salmon
• Soups - nothing spectacular

Live Cooking stations

• Chinese station - combined with Japanese cooking, hot lamb, fish, and chicken dishes.
• Indian station - as with most hotel Indian restaurants, it's good enough but save your Indian nights for one of the many excellent and cheap stand alone Indian restaurants scattered all over Dubai.
• Japanese station - hot food with the Chinese station, cold fish at a separate station
• Mexican station - Tacos, Tortillas, Tostadas, Tacos, Refried Beans, Chilli Con Carne, Guacamole, Jalapeno, Salsa, Chicken Fajitas, and so on. A good selection.
• Mongolian station - more Asian deliciousness (is that a word?)
• Pasta station - excellent idea, pasta doesn't stay good for long in a buffet display. Pasta and sauce range is not spectucular though, and pasta fills you up.
• Sushi station - if you like raw fish then you'll get your money's worth here. Makimono, Sashimi, and Sushi made to order.
• Tandoori station
• Thai station - where the masses queue up for the Prawn Tempura (only available Thursday nights).

Main course buffet

• Indonesian buffet - Nasi Goreng
• Thai buffet - Thai curry
• Other Asian fish, chicken, and meat dishes.

Dessert buffet

• Arabic desserts, including Om Ali
• Fruit salad
• Ice cream
• Decent selection of chocolate and sponge cake goodies, and after a skinful of booze it all tastes fabulous.

Friday Brunch

• Egg station - omlettes, scrambled eggs, etc
• Breakfast bread - Danish pastries, muffins, etc
• Cereal, fruit, pancakes, waffles, yoghurt
• Most of the evening selection including the same or similar cooking stations
• Children's entertainment including cake decorating, clowns, face painting, kids buffet, play area

Corporate Rating

• Good if you want to throw a shindig for the staff but potentially embarrassing for those who can't hold their booze or know their limits. They probably won't be dancing on the tables but might say what they really think the boss is like.
• Poor if you want to impress a client or potential trade lead. Atmosphere is not businesslike enough, and the constant interruptions to go and get food will distract from the flow of any negotiations.

Dating Rating

• Poor - do you really think it will impress a new romantic interest to sit at a small table surrounded by loud racous groups of party people trying to make the most of the all-the-alcohol-you-can-drink part of the deal?

Party Rating

• Good - alcohol flows freely, atmosphere encourages a good time, all the petty things are taken care off (no fighting over the bill or who had what), good range of food means there's something to please even the fussiest eater.

Last update Friday 27-Dec-2013

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