Breakfast Review: Fume

What are weekends for if lazy mornings, late breakfasts and time spent with friends? Sometimes all you need is for someone else to cook for you in the morning while you sip on coffee and enjoy a stunning view.

With internal walls stripped to reveal smooth concrete, distressed and faded red and white paint warning your to “mind your brain”, floor to ceiling windows have created a space that capitalises on the abundance of natural light and the mix match of kitschy decor Fume finds the sweet spot between rustic and refined.

The open plan dining room is flanked by kitchens on either side while tucked in the middle is the bar cum smoking area, a mood room that oozes cool. Somehow the restaurant manages to seamlessly blend family dining with chic city bar with not much more than a batted eyelid.

When we arrived we were warmly greeted by the staff, it was a Saturday morning and the restaurant was quite with a few families enjoying the delicious breakfast menu. As one of the newer additions to Dubai’s morning dining landscape Fume doesn’t disappoint, while their lunch and dinner service has been well loved by a vast number of residents for years – myself and family included – their recent foray into the satiation of residents in the early hours has proved, in my opinion, successful.

Offering a fuss free menu equipped with everything from lotus pancakes to eggs and soldiers there a little something for every taste.

One thing about Fume that people will always comment on is their “we serve when ready” attitude, where the food arrives at the table as it is ready and not necessarily all together which causes patrons to either love it or leave it. Personally I have no issue, for the most part the food arrives almost all at the same time anyway and I’m not too fussed about everyone not starting or finishing their meal together in this setting, but if it irks you then take heed; you have been warned.

The breakfast menu – served from 9am to 2pm on Fridays and Saturdays – is well balanced with sweet and savoury delights and there is no excuse not to linger on into the afternoon – especially when the morning sun is streaming invitingly through the expansive windows.

Our spread of waffles, huevos rancheros, organic cheddar & eggs and the benedict with bacon could not have been more stunning. The food is divine and the dishes have been kept simple; they are served exactly as they’re described on the menu no random flairs of ill-fitting creativity as seems to be the trend in many restaurants.

The waffles are light and fluffy and topped with a generous helping of fresh berries and a perfectly quinelled serving of cream, while the rancheros, served in a tortilla bowl, is hearty and fresh with creamy avocado, perfectly cooked tender steak and topped with a mouthwatering runny egg.

The benedict is small and perfectly formed with eggs perfectly poached to my liking served on bread cut to size – there is nothing worse than a bad bread to egg ratio! The bacon is crispy and the hollandaise tops everything off (pun intended) – though I would have liked for it to be a little more zesty but that’s just me.

Accompanied by delicious smoothies (Sunset Boulevard is delicious if you feel the need to be transported to a tropical island for a few glorious minutes) and strong, flavourful coffees Fume offers diners a fuss free, hearty and healthy breakfast option.

Be it with family or friends you really can’t go wrong – plus from 12pm to 4pm on Fridays and Saturdays for just AED30 kids can enjoy a brunch of their own including a great little play area to keep the occupied.

---