We have been to Carnival by Tresind before and we had a delightful culinary experience with their 15-course menu. We’ve also had dinner at the Tresind restaurant located in voco Hotel and the evening affair was also an enjoyable one. So when we had the opportunity again to visit the restaurant for another season, we didn’t hesitate in booking another dining experience.

Carnival by Tresind launched their Season 6 with “Books” as the theme. It includes a Bookmark tasting menu which has six courses. This is another way of introducing new dishes and highlighting their food.

Alcohol: YES

Copper trees

Carnival by Tresind at DIFC

Dilli 6 (streetfood experience) and the bar counter

Carnival by Tresind Season 6: The Bookmark Menu Review

Entering the restaurant is always a welcome treat with vibrant colors that play off and sets the mood for an exciting yet intimate fine dining experience.

As a quick summary, here are the food items that are included in the set menu:

The Bookmark Menu – non veg – AED 259
Choose any 3 (hopes/grapes/cocktails) AED 75
Bread
Pani Puri (tanga)
1. Momo-fuku – chicken momos, red chili chutney, charred cucumber salad
2. Hot Sauce Nation – shrimp mezhukkupuatti, homemade black pepper tobasco
3. Meatilicious – grilled lamb chop, mysore masala, mini dosa crips
Sorbet (palate cleanser)
4. Encyclopedia of Nilgiri – nilgiri chicken korma, aromatic green spices,
5. Fish Tajine – seabass curry, preserved lemon, kalamata olives
6. Gajak – caramel, peanuts and chocolate – done the alinea way

“Books” Season

The food (most of them) are served in bookcases and you have to open each case to see the dish. Prior to opening it, the knowledgeable staff will share the story and explain a background behind the menu item.

The book covers add a bit of mystery on what to expect from each dish which adds up to its intrigue. They have a menu dedicated for vegetarians an non vegetarians according to their guest’s preferences. We opted for non-veg.

Bread

Pani Puri (tanga)

Appetizers

They first served us with complimentary bread and of pani-puri. The initial offerings already made us want to have more portions. This was our first meal of the day so we were a quite famished. However, when we recall our previous experiences in Tresind restaurants, portions have always been bite-size to make room for the rest of the dishes

Momofuku (chicken momos) were then served and then the Hot Sauce Nation. I really enjoyed the momos and the chili sauce. Meatilicious lamb chop was also served and compared to our first taste of it, it still didn’t disappoint.

Momo-fuku
chiken momos, red chili chutney, charred cucumber salad

Hot Sauce Nation
shrimp mezhukkupuatti, homemade black pepper tobasco

Meatilicious
grilled lamb chop, mysore masala, mini dosa crips

Samosa
chicken samosas, peanut salan, flame grilled paron peppers

Lastly, we had a chicken samosa. The delectable dish was not part of the menu but was offered to us to sample.

A palate cleanser sorbet was then offered to us to prepare for the main course dishes.

Sorbet (palate cleanser)

Main Course

For our main dishes, we had the Encyclopedia of Nilgiri (nilgiri chicken korma, aromatic green spices) and Fish Tajine (seabass curry, preserved lemon, kalamata olives). I could really feel the thrilling spices of both dishes. For those who are new to Indian food, it’s really good to check out and be amazed by the dishes served at Canival by Tresind.

Encyclopedia of Nilgiri

Fish Tajine

Two other items that were not in the menu but were also offered to us. We had the Five Shades of Pumpkin (pumpkin kofta, seed sauce, flower pakora) and the Artichoke masala (slow braise artichokes in smoky aromatic sauce). Both were vegetable dishes and both very exciting to the tastebuds.

The artichoke sauce was so good! It’s the same as that of what’s used for Chicken Tikka masala. I can still remember the taste of the sauce and I didn’t even notice I was eating all veg.

By the time we finished the main course, we were very full and satisfied.

Five shades of pumpkin

Artichoke masala

Desserts

As for our desserts, we were supposed to have the Gajak (caramel, peanuts and chocolate – done the alinea way) but as they noticed that we were already full, the chef gave us their other desserts. When Life Gives You Lemons (lemon tart, strawberry sorbet, dehydrated meringue) and Newton (caramelized apple shahi tukda, saffron ice cream, milk khurchan).

We already had Gajak in our previous experience so I’m really happy that we were able to sample the other desserts. The Newton was a standout for me. 🙂

When Life gives you lemons

Newton

Bar Bible Drinks

Even the food and drinks menu are also delivered and prepared in book cases. Below are the alcoholic beverages included this season. Among the drinks, I enjoyed the Soul of Africa, Dark Knight and Spanish Settler.

drinks are also presented inside book cases

Chapter V – Soul of Africa (London dry gin, traditional African zobo & bitter)
Chapter I – Spanish Settler (butter scotch flavored pisco, lychee & bitter)

Chapter II – Black Diamond (active charcoal filtered whisky, drambuie & dried basil)
Chapter III – Dum Biryani (biryani flavored vodka, Baileys, apple juice & honey)

Chapter IV – Dark Knight (sandal wood macerated bourbon, honey, egg white and bitter)
Chapter VI – Bitter Truth (lavender and sweet potato macerated vodka, grapefruit and bitter)

Carnival by Tresind’s food taste and quality is already great by itself. However, the presentation makes it an even more entertaining and unique experience. Great job to the team for always trying to come up with ways to showcase your food.

In my opinion, you don’t really need much gimmicks as the food quality and taste is excellent, but the reinvention shows how dedicated you are to making food service exciting.

lights

copper/bronze mood

Quick Polaroid Photo to End the Night

On a sidenote, on our way to the exit, the staff approached us and asked if we wanted to have a quick photo from their polaroid camera. It was an added thoughtful touch that we didn’t expect. It was a lovely gesture and made for a nice ending to a memorable evening.

Even if we’re all in the digital age and we can easily take pictures from our smartphones, having a tangible printout readily available definitely made the client experience more personal. Great job guys!

Contact Information

Carnival By Tresind
Address: Unit P5-03/01, Level POD, Burj Daman, Dubai International Financial Centre
Phone: +971 4 421 8665 / 052 242 4262
Website: www.carnivalbytresind.com
Opening Hours: 12PM–2AM

Instagram: @carnivalbytresind
Facebook: @carnivalbytresind
Twitter: @carnivalbytresind

How to Get There
The nearest metro station is Emirates Towers metro station (Red Line). From there you can take a taxi to the Burj Daman Building.

Google Location
Alternatively, below is a Google location map of the Carnival by Tresind restaurant in Burj Daman, DIFC