A Normal Day Turned Extraordinary
When I say we discovered a hidden gem, I am not using the term loosely. We truly stumbled upon something special at Al Wasl Mall a cosy little bistro called A Normal Day. And let me tell you, this place really knows how to take a normal day and flip it into something unforgettable.
A Normal Day Interior
From the outside, the restaurant looks casual, you’d walk past without much thought. But inside, it has that warm, homestyle feel that instantly makes you want to sit down, stay a while, and eat way too much.
Butter That Looks Like Sweets
The waitress, who was absolutely lovely, gave us a quick rundown of the menu and handed over a QR code where we could see photos of every dish. A nice touch, I definitely eat with my eyes first.
For starters, we ordered their famous bon bons (of course) and the truffle arancini. Normally, I’m not a huge arancini fan as they can be a bit bland but this was anything but! I have to admit, the words truffle and salami had me sold, and I’m so glad they did. The salami (halal) was easily one of the best we’ve ever tasted, the truffle was rich without being overpowering, and the freshly grated parmesan was generous and absolutely delicious.
The bon bons were such a fun dish. You unwrap the little sweets to reveal blocks of creamy butter layered with dates, place them on a slice of warm brioche, and then pop it in your mouth, seriously yummy. The only issue was that the portions were huge, and we couldn’t finish them, but that’s hardly a complaint.
The Steak That Stole the Show
For mains, we ordered the striploin steak (medium) and the 17-layer lasagna. Both were impressive, but let’s get to the steak first.
It arrived with a potato crisp topper, again showered in parmesan. The pepper sauce it sat in was absolute perfection, creamy, peppery, and seasoned spot on. The steak itself had a subtle smoky flavour and was cooked exactly as requested.
Now here’s the best bit, my husband, who is notoriously stingy with steak compliments (seriously, if he says something is “ok” that usually means it was excellent), actually said this was one of the best steaks he’s had in Dubai. I nearly fell off my chair. And yep, I had to agree with him, though I admit I’m easier to impress.
The lasagna was no disappointment either, 17 layers of pure comfort with the unexpected twist of pesto sauce alongside the tomato base. That little addition gave it a fresh and interesting flavour I hadn’t tried in a lasagna before.
Dessert That Was Worth the Extra Stretch
By the time we finished, we were completely stuffed. But our waitress insisted we try the honey cake. “Homemade and a bestseller,” she said, and she wasn’t wrong.
The portion was massive, topped with actual honeycomb and beautifully presented. The real magic? A hint of lime in the cream that cut through the sweetness. Easily one of the best honey cakes I’ve ever tried, even if it’s not usually my go-to dessert.
Drinks & Price
This place is unlicensed, but they have an impressive coffee and drinks menu. We tried their curiosity colas, a lighter, less sugary take on the classic, not quite the real thing, but nice enough to sip without feeling guilty.
As for price, A Normal Day won’t burn a hole in your wallet. Expect to pay around AED 300 to 400 for two, drinks included. Fancy the steak? Add another AED 200 or so. Considering the quality, it’s well worth loosening the purse strings.
What to Order (If You Don’t Want Regrets)
- Date bon bons with toasted brioche
- Striploin steak (trust me)
- Honey cake (save space for this)
A Normal Day – Try it!
Tucked away in Al Wasl Mall, A Normal Day takes what could have been just a normal day and turns it into something special. From Instagram worthy dishes to genuinely delicious food that even won over the toughest critic (aka my husband), this bistro definitely deserves a spot on your must-try list. You can make reservations directly on their website here
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