When you need something a little exotic to liven up your mood, just head across to MaiTa’i. Predominantly Latin American with a bow to a Japanese influence, along with some international favorites as well. Salmon and shrimp feature strongly, along with meat and poultry. The intriguing, creative menu features a strong section of starters, as well as main dishes. Check out the amazing cocktails as well!
Signatures Dishes & Dishes Sampled
Sake Marinated Salmon, Poke Salmon Bowl, Ceviche Salmon, Ceviche Shrimp, Crispy Salmon Salad all count as signature dishes.
As soon as charming mixologist Mario had plied us with MaiTa’i and Mango Daquiri cocktails (highly recommended, by the way) to whet our appetites, we launched into a seafood-fest to remember. MAi TAi prides itself on its amazing selection of starters, and quite rightly so. There was no way we could miss out on the signature dishes; Sake Marinated Salmon served with pickled ginger and wasabi, Ceviche Salmon with pickled ginger, avocado, cucumber, black sesame, spring onion, tobiko and citrus-y ponzu dressing, Ceviche Shrimp with the same accompaniments as the Ceviche Salmon and an addition of cherry tomato. That was swiftly followed by Crispy Salmon Salad, a mouth-watering delight of fresh greens, cubes of marinated salmon, tobiko, crunchy panko breadcrumbs and ponzu dressing.
Next came the Poke Salmon Bowl, which also lived up to our expectations. The sushi rice provided the right base for the fresh salmon, avocado, cherry tomato, nori, tobiko, spring onion and ponzu dressing, and we cleaned it up rather quickly. Just in time to delve into the Taquitos Chicken, light wraps encasing tender morsels of chicken, mushroom and mixed peppers with an accompaniment of sour cream, salsa and guacamole. Then, before we had to time to catch our breath we found ourselves munching on Avocado Fries. This was true melt-in-your-mouth pleasure. The flavor and texture of the crumbed avocado contrasted superbly with the tobiko and hot, piquant sriracha dip.
How could we even contemplate a main course? The delightful aspect of the starters was the combination of fresh ingredients, so even though the plates had been filling, there was still room for more. Going for a classic favorite, we shared a perfectly cooked cut of chateaubriand. It came with oven-roasted baby potatoes, mixed vegetables, avocado salsa and chimichurri sauce. The fresh herby tang of the chimichurri set off the beef to perfection, a pleasant change from heavier creamy sauces found so often. We had switched from cocktails by this stage to the excellent house sangria, which proved to be exceptional. It comes in white, rose or red, and can be ordered by the hand-crafted ceramic glass or in a sharing sized pitcher.
By now, any thoughts of dessert were well gone, but that is something to look forward to on our next visit. Soon, very soon…
Other Menu Options that Appealed & Beverages Available
We would have to check out the decadent sounding desserts. Tiramisu or Orange Crème Brûlée for example.
Beverage options range from soft drinks up to a full bar. The innovative cocktails are a big draw.
Décor & Ambience
Stylish and contemporary, with plenty of greenery to add a tropical feel. The dramatic use of black and white is accentuated by rich blue velvet banquette seating, and the natural wood of the tables. MaiTa’i is arranged with outdoor seating, well-spaced indoor tables and generous bar seating.
Ambience is extremely welcoming, chic and relaxing. The service is impeccable, which, considering we came only five days into MaiTa’i’s operation, is impressive. We hear that there will be live vocalists at least a couple of times a month, in addition to the DJ who spins tracks from 8 pm each evening. We had an early meal, but still loved the playlist with covers of all our favorite all-time-great tracks.
Clientele mix: 30s upwards. A perfect hub for meeting up with friends.
Hot tip: From Saturday through Thursday there is an Affordable Luxury promotion with discount of 10% between 4 pm and 7 pm.
Price range: Moderate upwards, purely dependent on your selection.
Contact Information
Opening hours: 1.30 pm to 2.30 am, with a brunch menu available from 1.30 to 7 pm.
Address: Guezira Plaza, Sheikh Zayed
Tel: 0155 555 9991
Facebook / Instagram: @maitai.egy
