Crab Market Is One Of The Most Exciting Restaurants To Open In Dubai This Year

A chef getting the nod to be featured in the Netflix show Chef’s Table  is like the modern day Michelin Star…

The Netflix TV series delves into lives and kitchens of some of the world’s most renowned, international culinary talents. 

Enter Vladimir Mukhin, a young chef who appeared on season three of the show, his Moscow restaurant ‘White Rabbit’ is currently sitting pretty at No. 23 on the World’s 50 Best Restaurants list and he’s now opened a second restaurant in his name, Crab Market, right here in Dubai.

So before you visit Crab Market, watch the show! It’s a seafood restaurant, so the moose lips that Mukhin put on the map didn’t make the menu, but his grandmother’s honey cake does and you’ll love it.

Introducing Crab Market; what could be one of the most exciting restaurants to open in Dubai this year

It’s more casual than you’d expect

With a neighbour like Zuma, you might expect a fancier set up, but Crab Market has a laid back feel. 

After navigating through Emirate Towers, an unexpected fish market greets you up on the 15th floor, with chefs busy prepping in the open plant kitchen, (there are giant tanks with live crabs too), round tables fill the central space with windows on each side with a distant Burj Khalifa view.

We arrived to a quiet restaurant at 8pm, earlyish for dinner by Dubai standards. But as we tucked into our set menu the venue started to come alive, and by the time we left the tables were full and the restaurant was in full flow.

The food is the main reason you’ll go back

A cauliflower carpaccio laced with black truffle (delicious) came first along with a light tartare served four ways. 

Next came the Kamchatka crab for which Mukhin is famous. These were SENSATIONAL, priced at AED120 for two and served in a champagne sauce, don’t visit Crab Market without trying these.

A black ink pasta main was the substantial main course, followed by Mukhin’s famous honey cake (seriously, watch the show) served two ways, modern and traditional.

(The dessert divides opinion, I’d choose his grandma’s traditional version every time).

The best bits

Crab Market has a lot to offer.

The food is the star of the show, while the view, atmosphere and relatively affordable price makes it an attractive night out. 

Drinks are reasonably priced: AED25 for spirits, AED50 cocktails

Cold appetisers start at AED45, pasta from AED85 and mains from AED150.