JUMEIRAH. A terrific local restaurant, Al Qasr offers patrons a chance to sample some of the local cuisine in a setting that takes its nod from local flavors in architecture and decor. Fine Lebanese dishes are the specialties here, as colorful as they are aromatic. Dine al fresco, beside the restaurant's lovely garden areas and allow the cool, mystifying Arabian night sweep you away. Traditional live music and belly dancing only serve to enhance the restaurant's exotic air, and dinners tend to last well into the evening.

BUR DUBAI. To enjoy a meal with a bit of a local lilt, this well-respect Middle Eastern eatery is a "must" for its flavorful cuisine and traditional Arabian and Lebanese entertainment. Designed to recollect a cellar or some secret, subterranean abode, this unique restaurant abounds with Old World charm, from the professional and accommodating service to the fabulous offerings of hot and cold meze (hors d' oeuvres), tabbouleh, hummus, baba ghanoush, falafel, and piquant mixed grills. Reservations are suggested.

DEIRA. Shabestan's chefs coyly attribute their ultra-tender meats to a culinary 'secret' that they won't disclose. This sophisticated Persian eatery, which has more than a touch of the windswept and interestings, has consistently won awards. Tasty delights include the slow-cooked lamb and rice and chello kebab, while yoghurt is a base ingredient for many dishes. The Creek views complement the pleasant ambiance and live entertainment is also provided, sometimes without warning.

JUMEIRAH. One of Dubai's most beautiful restaurants, and the Moroccan food doesn't disappoint either. Try the tasty vegetable mezze and the tagine soussi, comprising tender lamb and vegetables. The tobacco-colored walls have been hand polished and wax plastered in the Moroccan tradition of Tadlekt. Lanterns, rugs and artifacts specially procured from around the region adorn the restaurant's series of moody rooms, arches and alcoves, creating an ambiance akin to an old home in Marrakech.