Pintxos (III).

Short reviews, updated regularly.

Find Pintxos I and II here. (For the sake of space, I’ve decided to start posting these as quarterly or bi-annual round-ups).

The Artisan

I’ve been fortunate to have been acquainted with The Artisan over the years (and in both of their locations). When Firas invited me over recently, it was easy to say yes. As always, one of the things that stands out at The Artisan is the size of the venue, which is immediately intimate. In a city where everything has too many covers, The Artisan stands out. The menu has changed slightly since my first visit, but I was happy with some of the new selections, including the Hokkaido scallop carpaccio, AED275, and Spaghetti ‘Alla Chitara,’ AED390 as two of my standout favorites. Did I somehow choose two of the most expensive of the Chef’s Specials? I did. Are there more reasonably priced options? There are. Did I order a Burrata pizza for takeaway while still at lunch? You bet. Would I go back to The Artisan? Yes, I’m already making plans to.

Here’s a quick…