You’ll feel right at home at S.E.A Bistrot, I promise

Dear foodies,

I finally tried that bistro everyone’s been talking about—you know the one. I almost didn’t go, enticed by the idea of staying home in my sweats. I wasn’t up for the crowd and the bustle that comes with eating out, but I’d been thinking about trying out this spot for way too long. S.E.A Bistrot gave me the intimate, wholesome dining experience that I was looking for on a lazy Thursday night. With only four tables in their upstairs seating space, my dinner companion and I felt like we were eating in someone’s dining room.

We flipped through the Asian-inspired menu, eager to try everything they were offering. With our server’s much-needed guidance, we were encouraged to try their best-selling duck salad to start. After the first bite, we understood why. The richness of the deep-fried braised duck lathered in plum sauce was balanced nicely with the refreshing fruit garnish—a mix of apples and pomegranate from what I could taste. In between bites of that, I sampled their Cantonese sesame prawn toast and handmade prawn dumplings that came with a side of black truffle and chili oil—name a better combo, I’ll wait.

The gentleman serving us returned to find the plates of appetizers wiped clean. As he cleared them away, he told us the restaurant was run by award-winning chef Shane Macneill—who worked at Nobu in London and Milan, as well as Dubai’s Shanghai Me and MayaBay—alongside his wife, Djo. Knowing that just made this place more special. Despite Macneill’s culinary experience, the restaurant remained affordable and authentic—and honestly, I love that.

You could tell that the people behind this place are passionate about food, and that’s exactly what I tasted when I ladled a spoonful of Szechuan-style prawn over warm rice. I enjoyed it more when I took a triple-cooked fry and dipped it into the delectable sauce. The rice was comforting, but the fries dipped in that sauce are what I'll be coming back for. Their chicken dish was just as hearty, pan-fried to perfection and doused in a lemongrass and chili sauce—a quintessential Thai flavor.  

Washing it down with another sip of ice-cold passion fruit iced tea, we called it a night, regretful that we had no room for dessert. On our way out, Chef Macneill greeted us warmly. The couple spent some time talking to us about the restaurant and their intention to craft an eating experience that’s intimate and homey; I’d say they succeeded in doing so.

Location: S.E.A Bistrot, Jumeirah 3

Vibe: Homey and wholesome

Top pick: Sesame prawn toast

Shams suggests: Order the Szechuan-style prawn with a side of triple-cooked fries