FACT Review: Transition from dinner to dancing at the newly opened XU

The upmarket Cantonese restaurant and bar arrives in Kempinski Hotel Mall of the Emirates.

If current dining trends are to be believed, Dubai diners have an insatiable appetite for upmarket Chinese cuisine. From Demon Duck and MOLI by SHI to Mott 32 and Tàn Chá, dim sum delights and Peking duck are well and truly in the culinary spotlight.

Rikas Group, the hospitality firm with an apparent Midas touch when it comes to culinary concepts, has built upon the success of the FACT Award-winning Chez Wam, Mimi Kakushi and Ninive with the opening of a new upmarket Cantonese concept: XU.

The restaurant is located on the second floor of Kempinski Hotel Mall of the Emirates and showcases Chef Min Wei Lai’s penchant for Asian flavours. The sultry space effortlessly fills the gap left behind by the closure of FACT favourite Indochine, providing a venue that successfully bridges dining and dancing. The sultry restaurant space includes a luxurious lounge, an open kitchen, a bar with a DJ booth, intimate tables and a terrace laden with foliage. The décor celebrates the cool subcultures of China’s big cities and features shades of red, crimson-tiled walls, lanterns and neon lights.

While the venue is impressive, we’re taken by the proficient and personal service from the servers leading the restaurant floor. Menu recommendations are offered as we sip on signature cocktails such as the Fortune Teller (AED 70), a beguiling blend of bourbon whisky, salted caramel syrup and orange and walnut bitters. For something out of the box, the Fruit Loops milk rum punch of the Baozhu (AED 70) should not be missed.

XU’s menu showcases Cantonese specialities including Asian-style buttermilk prawns and charcoal-grilled Wagyu beef ribeye with spicy peanut sauce. The menu’s elevated take on Chinese cuisine and is broken down into appetisers, dim sum, soups, salads, mains, and desserts.

With chopsticks in hand, we dexterously dive into the Crispy Lemongrass Chicken (AED 54). Served with cashew nuts and Szechuan pepper, the aromatic dish is anchored around a complicated balancing act of flavours and textures. The larger-than-expected Black Pepper Wagyu Beef Puffs (AED 98) pillow light mesh incases a rich yet tender mixture of beef and spring onions. If you’re feeling bougie, Caviar Prawn Toast and Canadian Live Lobster are available. 

When selecting a main course, you’d be foolish to miss XU’s signature Cherry Wood Peking Duck (from AED 245). The duck is cooked with the scent of cherry wood to imbue the meat with a uniquely sweet flavour profile. Served with pancakes, sliced cucumber, scallion and hoisin sauce, the duck is fit for royalty, as was historically intended. Bonus: pre-ordering of the duck is not required.

Not a fan of poultry? Fear not because XU’s Plum Baked Chilean Seabass (AED 205) is one of the most memorable plates we’ve eaten. The fragrant fish remains delicate in texture but is imbued with a sweetness from the unexpected combination of plum and Osmanthus flowers that lacquers the flesh with a moreish glaze.

XU offers only five options for dessert, but each is a winner, from the re-constructed Banana Brûlée (AED 48) to the lusciously light Lychee Milk Cake (AED 48). The Black Sesame (AED 52) smashes filo shards with black sesame cream, and the tart mandarin sorbet cuts through the sweetness.

The literal meaning of XU is to “exhale slowly”, which is apt considering the calibre of the new culinary concept. Open only for dinner, XU offers a late-night escape that transitions from dinner to dancing, backed by an innovative menu, sophisticated stylings and an undeniable vibe.

Slow and steady wins the culinary race.

GO: Visit https://xudubai.ae for more information.