We’ve all had our fair share of traditional seafood dining. You love it, but sometimes you crave something different, creative and indulgent. If your palate has grown weary of the same seafood flavors, then a visit to Salt at the Jumeirah Messilah Beach Hotel & Spa will change your perspective when it comes to seafood dining. With inventive menu options that celebrate traditional seafood in a contemporary light, and a stunning setting to complete your dining experience, Salt will take you on a decadent gastronomic journey.

You’re instantly transported into a different realm when you walk through the doors at Salt. The live lobster and seafood tanks filled with different types of fish will command your attention, and more importantly serve as a delicious reminder of what freshness is in store. Before going to Salt, we recommend that you book in advance so that you’re guaranteed seating in the area of your choice. You may choose to dine in the softly lit booth area, creatively framed by beautiful shapes of waves made with crystal and glass. You could also choose to dine under the bespoke glass chandeliers, shaped to resemble bubbles in gorgeous shades of blue, located toward the right side of the restaurant. Let the bubbles dazzle you as you stare upwards, you’ll instantly feel like you’re under the sea, or you may also shift your attention here to the stunning views of the outside gardens of the hotel. If it’s a special occasion that you intend to celebrate, then the VIP ‘Lobster Table’ is perfect, as the team at Salt will prepare a customized menu for your party, and a striking floor to ceiling mural that emulates the seaside, would serve as the backdrop to this prestigious table.

After we had taken in our beautiful surroundings, we started off our meal with a delicate amuse bouche of Gratinated Mussels, Provençal butter and tomato alongside freshly baked breads. We were also served The Passion Sour, a welcome drink that delivered a striking mélange of passion fruit, lemon and pineapple juice – this drink will serve as the perfect accompaniment to all of your seafood choices. To make sure that you’re spoilt for choice, the Salt team also has an array of refreshing cocktails for you to try. The Rose Delight, a scintillating infusion of berries, Messilah Sunrise, or the ginger and lime infused Pearl Of The Ocean will leave your taste buds dancing with joy.

At Salt, you should expect nothing short of luxurious service. One that, simply after setting foot inside the restaurant, is not easily forgotten. The host, along with the entire team, is extremely friendly and will accommodate any request that you might have. We were also delighted when we learned that Salt’s head chef Indika Bandara has created a special menu for us to try. We started off with the King Crab Rillettes, made with basil-infused gelatin with delicious crab filling and a smoked trout endive salad with fresh herbs. We also loved how the rillettes were placed atop a slice of yellow watermelon, as this lifted the flavors of the entire dish by perfectly balancing the seafood elements. This was followed by the Cold Seafood Platter, which arrived in its very own glitzy display on ice, with four different sauces including tuna tapenade, salmon caviar, saffron infused aioli and minty yoghurt dip. Don’t get greedy, as this platter offer copious amounts of lobster, king crab, scallops, mussels, prawns and marinated salmon to share with a group of loved ones, giving you a taste of what togetherness is like.

Then what followed was one of our favorite moments of the evening, the soup. When it comes to Lobster Bisque, traditional always wins in our books. The best part about the creamy, saffron-infused concoction with shellfish oil is its magnificent presentation! Your dish arrives with juicy medallions of poached lobster, sans the soup. Before you wonder where your soup has gone, the waiter arrives with a small soup boat, if you may, and you get to observe a theatric presentation that makes bisque both delicious and enjoyable.

For our main courses, we were given an option to choose from locally sourced, and beautifully grilled, Fillet of Hammour (Grouper) or freshly imported Crispy Skin Norwegian Salmon. For the salmon option, the presentation was once again flawless. The crisped salmon skin is masterfully placed atop the perfectly cooked fillet, and the accompanying side of aromatic rosemary potato tart, asparagus and lobster béarnaise made the salmon sing. As for the Grouper Fillet, the flavors of the hammour are balanced out with a pea purée, king crab thermidor and a tomato and thyme sauce vierge.

What I personally love the most about indulging in a soirée filled with scrumptious seafood is that I am never overly full afterwards. It’s that ‘just-right’ amount of full, where you crave something sweet yet light, or if you’re sharing with more people, you can dare to go bolder in the realm of dessert. At Salt, the team is always ready to not only satiate those sweet cravings, but also surprise you with completely unexpected creations. From the Vahlrona Trilogy, a trio of chocolate desserts that includes a rich and fudgy tart, a light and airy chocolate sorbet with pieces of chocolate crunch, along with a dainty Tanariva mousse. If this cocoa-bean infusion doesn’t hit the spot, then the gooey goodness that is the Molten Chocolate Cake with raspberry sauce will surely please the senses. Finally, if you’re in the mood for something on the fruity side, then you may ask the chef to whip up the Coconut Passion and Strawberry Dome; this crispy coconut meringue with light hints of orange and passion fruit will absolutely refresh your taste buds. Give your luxury dining experience an uplifting ending and order some tea or coffee, and the team at Salt will also provide you with the tastiest Petit Fours.

Salt is located in the west wing of the lower level lobby of the Jumeirah Messilah Beach Hotel & Spa. Dinner is served from 7 p.m.– midnight, Mon-Sat. Please call 2226 9666 for reservations or email JumeirahRestaurant@jumeirah.com , and follow @JumeirahMessilahBeach on Instagram.