Discovering the newly opened Zaatar W Zeit – Springs Souk Dubai

Dubai as a city is constantly developing. As the initial road map of the mega infrastructure is now almost in place, the city now focuses more on building communities. As real estate projects, complete newer communities become tangible with strong cultural and linguistic diversity. With new communities come new places to support the residing faction within.

The newly opened Springs Souk, a development by Emaar is located at the heart of the Springs community. The new retail and leisure destination is made up of around 100 shops and restaurants split across two levels. Inside, you’ll also find hypermarket, gym, restaurants and more.

One of the most coveted Middle Eastern eatery Zaatar W Zeit recently opened its door at the lovely Springs Souk, making it more convenient for the nearby communities to dine in or order takeouts. Recently we visited the Springs Souk to discover the mall and try out the urban joint Zaatar W Zeit. 

Located right at the intersection of Al Asayel Street, the mall emanates the modern Emirati vibes. With wide façade and ample parking space, a lovely community mosque gives the space a warm and homey feel. Since we happened to be there at the time of the evening prayers, we headed immediately to the mosque before stepping into the mall and fell in love with the mosque instantly. With small water fountains inside the verandas of the mosque, it exuded serenity and absolute peace.

After the prayers, we headed straight to the restaurant located at the upper level, rightly positioned in the center of the mall. The restaurant also has a cozy terrace that offers al fresco dining option overlooking the nearby communities.  Inside the restaurant has a casual atmosphere with beautiful photographic prints on the wall depicting the urban feel with pop music being played in the background.

As soon as we settled in the first thing I felt was the sense of freshness and comfort. Being a Lebanese street food eatery the restaurant offers mostly Lebanese fare with the inclusion of localized flavors. Lebanese food is famous for using farm-fresh produce and ingredients which transitioned well into the menu. To start we ordered the famous Laban (a yogurt-based drink famous in the Middle East during summer), we were told by the staff that the Laban at Zaat W Zeit is no ordinary drink. And since it was sweltering hot outside, we immediately opted for it…

The drink came with three starters from the menu, Hummus & Crackers, Fries & Cheese and Chicken Kale Salad. Interestingly all three starters offered a different experience. Hummus with crackers with grilled vegetables was delicious and offered a unique taste combined with veggies and crackers instead of Arabic bread, the fresh taste was what defined the dish and made it stand out amidst any other starter. Fries and cheese was an absolute comfort grub. It had the softness of French fries that were baked in a skillet to give it a slight crust before serving. As I had my kids with me they simply loved the fries with cheese. The Kale salad was a different story altogether, it was crunchy, nutty and speckled with dried apricot bits which made it a gourmet meal. Soft strips of chicken added softness to the whole dish. It is a must try for the weight watchers and fitness freaks and for anyone who wants to keep it light yet tasty. To my surprise, even my picky eaters enjoyed the kale salad, which made it even more desirable for us even as a takeout order.

For the main course, we ordered a Veggie Pizza, Zaatar Manakeesh and two types of wraps, Spizy Chicken and Famous Chicken. I must say that the Veggie Pizza was one of the best vegetarian pizza I’ve ever had. It was simple and the fact that it was refreshing as well as delicious was just out of this world. With soft thin crust, pesto sauce, feta cheese, and fresh rocket leaves on top, the pizza was a treat for all the senses, the presentation alone was stimulating and inviting. The Zaatar Manakeesh has been a famous signature dish at Zaatar w Zeit, so we wanted to give it a go. We opted for multi cereal dough which consequently added a slight crunch to the taste, topped with dried thyme, sesame, and sumac, it is the perfect snack that can be enjoyed anytime anywhere. I highly recommend it for it exceeded my expectations. Simple, healthy and with great value for money it is the one quintessential street food that you can have any time of the day without any guilt. The wraps that we ordered were comfortably delicious. We especially liked the Spizy Chicken for the spicy sauce gave it a flavorful kick. 

Knefeh in the Pan – Zaatar W Zeit

Last but never the least we had to try the dessert menu so our clear preference was ‘Knefeh in the Pan’. The Knefeh was a rendition of the typical Lebanese Knefeh, it came with melting hot cheese and Knefeh crumbs in a sizzling skillet with sugar syrup and sesame bread of the side. The whole dish was a playful experience where you pour the syrup directly onto your Knefeh and place a chunky bit on top of your sesame bread. Totally delicious and made to share with friends it is a heavenly treat for all those with a sweet tooth. 

Overall our experience at Zaatar w Zeit Springs Souk was homey, comforting and laid back, exactly what we wanted as a family or would opt for when going out with friends or even alone. The food offerings were at par, and personally, as a mother, I feel it is a tastier as well as healthier option for families, who susceptibly end up eating fast or junk food.  With lovely settings within a community mall, a welcoming staff, Zaatar w Zeit at the Spring Souk is without a doubt offers a comfortable refreshing experience for everyone.