logo
Food Review: Why Mr Toad's Saturday brunch is worth the hop

Food Review: Why Mr Toad's Saturday brunch is worth the hop

Khaleej Times14-04-2025

Whenever I looked up recommendations for a spot with casual vibes, good food, and great music, one name kept popping up - Mr Toad's Pub & Kitchen.
It's been sitting just a little over a kilometre from my place, but somehow, I'd never managed to visit, until last Saturday, when I finally made my way to their Dubai Silicon Oasis branch for their newly launched Saturday brunch.
After walking through the quiet (and frankly, pretty dull) hallway of the Premier Inn, I wasn't expecting much. But the second I stepped into Mr Toad's, it felt like I'd crossed into a whole new world — dim lights, warm wooden interiors, live music, and a buzzing, happy vibe that instantly made me want to kick back and soak it all in.
The staff were super warm and welcoming, helping us to our reserved table and handing us a special brunch menu curated just for Saturdays.
And let me tell you - it's proper.
Launched on April 5, the new Saturday brunch runs from 1pm to 4pm across three venues: Dubai Silicon Oasis, Dubai Investments Park, and Al Jaddaf.
And here's what you get: Unlimited beverages, a buffet spread of starters and desserts, and a hearty main course from a list of proper British classics.
Think golden battered cod and thick-cut chips, juicy cheeseburgers, creamy garlic prawns, peri peri chicken, and bangers and mash that feel like a warm hug.
It's a British comfort food feast with something for everyone. And just when you think it couldn't get better, there's live entertainment by the fantastic Norby Ramírez Muñoz, keeping the energy high throughout.
The decor has its own charm too, with quirky knick-knacks and cheeky little toads dotting the space, adding a playful touch that's hard not to love.
Mr Toad's Pub & Kitchen offers three Saturday brunch packages.
The Soft Package is priced at Dh129 and includes juices, water, soft drinks, and non-alcoholic beverages.
The House Package, at Dh249, includes everything in the Soft Package plus a selection of house beverages.
The Premium Package, priced at Dh299, offers everything in the House Package along with select premium beverages.
Verdict? Mr Toad's Pub & Kitchen isn't just another restaurant, it's a vibe. And their Saturday brunch is the kind of easygoing, good-food-good-times affair we all need, once in a while, at least.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

'Hypocrisy': Zadie Smith faces backlash after signing letter calling for Gaza ceasefire
'Hypocrisy': Zadie Smith faces backlash after signing letter calling for Gaza ceasefire

Middle East Eye

time3 days ago

  • Middle East Eye

'Hypocrisy': Zadie Smith faces backlash after signing letter calling for Gaza ceasefire

On Wednesday, a total of 380 writers and organisations signed a letter condemning the Israeli government's actions in Gaza as 'genocidal' and urged for an immediate ceasefire. Among the signers were Zadie Smith, Ian McEwan, Russell T Davies, Hanif Kureishi, Frank Cottrell-Boyce, and George Monbiot. The letter states that describing the situation in Gaza as "genocide" or involving "acts of genocide" is no longer a matter of debate among international legal experts or human rights groups. It was also signed by notable authors and figures such as William Dalrymple, Jeanette Winterson, Brian Eno, Kate Mosse, Irvine Welsh, and Elif Shafak. This letter coincided with another letter published on Thursday to the UK government by 300 British artists, doctors, activists and academics, who urged British Prime Minister Keir Starmer to end UK complicity in Gaza war crimes and help broker an immediate and permanent ceasefire. Singer-songwriter Dua Lipa, actors Benedict Cumberbatch, Brian Cox, Toby Jones, Andrea Riseborough, and broadcaster Gary Lineker are among the signatories of this letter. New MEE newsletter: Jerusalem Dispatch Sign up to get the latest insights and analysis on Israel-Palestine, alongside Turkey Unpacked and other MEE newsletters Some of the letter's signatories, like Lineker and Cox, for instance, have been vocal about the war for months, but many others have remained silent. While many on social media cheered on these letters and supported the calls for a ceasefire by such prominent names, many said the letter was a little too late. We reject these letters. The time has passed for these letters to have any legitimacy. These letters are now used to whitewash the silence and worse whitewash the active complicity of authors like @ZadieSmith in the genocide of the Palestinian people. — Danya (@dandoon_danya) May 28, 2025 Specifically regarding the letter signed by Smith and other authors, many social media users expressed anger due to her previous comments about Israel and Palestine in a 4 May 2024 New Yorker article. In this article, while talking about Israel's war on Gaza and the crackdown on pro-Palestinian students on western campuses, Smith wrote, 'In the case of Israel/Palestine, language and rhetoric are and always have been weapons of mass destruction.' At the time, many on social media harshly criticised these statements, saying that Smith compared the language of the students protesting in support of Palestine to weapons of mass destruction. Today, when the letter by Smith and other prominent authors came out, the same anger resurfaced, with many showing their resentment towards the author. Zadie Smith signed an open letter calling Israel's actions in Gaza genocide. When tens of thousands of Palestinians had already been killed, she was calling for "nuance." Now, she's trying to save her reputation. I threw all her books in the bin and will never buy another. — Carlos Azevedo (@cprazevedo) May 28, 2025 Many suggested that Smith helped 'manufacture consent for criminalising Palestine solidarity campus protests' with that New Yorker article, but now is only trying to 'save her career'. Zadie Smith helped manufacture consent for criminalizing Palestine solidarity campus protests by calling protest slogans "weapons of mass destruction," and now she wants to subscribe to the letter calling it a genocide. Girl, fuck all the way off — Anita Zsurzsan 🇵🇸 🕎 (@iamjourjean) May 28, 2025 Many social media users said that Smith is only 'trying to rewrite her culpability' because of the discourse she used in the New Yorker article, criminalising students and having a reductive stance on Israel's war on Gaza. God give me the strength to handle repulsive pro-genocide people trying to rewrite their culpability. The day started with Zadie "I know I said protesting genocide is evil but now it wins Pulitzers so I changed my mind" Smith and now this absurdity. — Heidi N. Moore (@moorehn) May 28, 2025 In the face of such letters, many social media users also referred to what they termed as 'hypocrisy' and 'two-siding' Israel's war on Gaza, which until now has killed over 54,000 people since October 2023. Worth revisiting this Radar now that Zadie Smith has come around a year later. I'm glad she's signed the pro-Palestine letter. I just wish it didn't take over year and a half of obvious genocide for her to stop both sidesing the issue. — Briahna Joy Gray (@briebriejoy) May 29, 2025 Since Israel's war on Gaza started, many prominent artists have repeatedly called for a ceasefire and a stop to the war on the enclave. These letters are the latest examples of such calls, and they have garnered more reaction and support because they include prominent figures from the film and literary worlds. Artists have also faced censorship and criticism from pro-Israeli supporters due to their advocacy for Palestine. One example of this was when over 750 artists signed a letter criticising the Royal Academy of Arts for 'anti-Palestinian censorship' after it removed two artworks about Israel's war on Gaza from its Young Artists' Summer Show.

World needs ambition like Sheikh Mohammed's, says Piers Morgan
World needs ambition like Sheikh Mohammed's, says Piers Morgan

Gulf Today

time3 days ago

  • Gulf Today

World needs ambition like Sheikh Mohammed's, says Piers Morgan

Dubai's scale of evolution, transformation and dynamism is contagious, said renowned British broadcaster and media personality Piers Morgan, while praising the bold vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE, and Ruler of Dubai. Recalling the construction of the Burj Khalifa, Morgan noted that when the tower was just 40% complete, Sheikh Mohammed instructed it be pushed to become the tallest building in the world. "That's the level of ambition the rest of the world needs. Be bigger, better and higher in everything we do,' he said. Piers Morgan speaks during the session at the Arab Media Summit in Dubai. From admiration for Dubai's amazing growth to a hard-hitting critique of global media challenges, Morgan's session at the Arab Media Summit with Mina Al Oraibi, Editor-in-Chief of The National, on Wednesday, touched upon ambition, truth, controversy, and the future of journalism. He was speaking on the third and final day of the Summit organised by the Dubai Press Club. The session addressed controversies around his coverage of the Gaza conflict "I'm not here to take sides, I'm here for 'The Truth,' Morgan emphasised. Responding to Al Oraibi's point about his rising influence in the Middle East, Morgan cited his viral debate with comedian Bassem Youssef, which garnered over 22 million views. "That moment showed us the world was watching,' he said, recounting how the two later met in Los Angeles for an extensive discussion that helped him understand the region's complex history. Sheikha Latifa and Dr Anwar Gargash with Piers Morgan during the Arab Media Forum in Dubai. He clarified that he is not a reactionary. "I change my views when the facts change. My job is not to take sides, it's to stand with 'The Truth;' not your truth or my truth, but 'The Truth',' he explained. He warned of a rising tide of misinformation, citing a recent UK case where a woman was jailed over a now-deleted social media post. "She apologised, yet she's serving two years. That's baffling. Where do we draw the line?' "Free speech must be protected,' he said, "but it must not be confused with fake news. Facts are sacred. Agree on the facts; then debate your opinions.' While Morgan admitted he still enjoys reading print newspapers, he was blunt about their future: "No one under 35 is consuming traditional media. They get their news from TikTok and X. That's the reality.'' Emphasising the importance of credibility in the age of AI, when social media gives News, he said, "Let everyone be a journalist, but for trained professionals, individual credibility is important.' Asked why he doesn't shy away from controversy, Morgan was candid: "I love controversy! It makes people watch me. But never on false promises. I am the voice of common sense. That's what most people relate to.' He cautioned against overestimating noise on social media: "Only 20% of people are on X, and it's 8% of them making the noise. That doesn't represent reality.' When asked about the future of media, Morgan responded, "Legacy media is in the dark ages. Look at where youngsters are today; they are on phones, laptops, YouTube. That's the future.' As the session closed, Al-Oraibi emphasised the importance of responsible journalism in shaping informed societies, while Morgan reiterated that in a world full of noise, truth still matters, and real ambition can reshape the world.

Benedict Cumberbatch among more than 300 artists urging Starmer to end UK arms sales to Israel
Benedict Cumberbatch among more than 300 artists urging Starmer to end UK arms sales to Israel

Middle East Eye

time3 days ago

  • Middle East Eye

Benedict Cumberbatch among more than 300 artists urging Starmer to end UK arms sales to Israel

More than 300 British artists, doctors, activists and academics have signed an open letter urging British Prime Minister Keir Starmer to end UK complicity in Gaza war crimes and broker an immediate and permanent ceasefire. The prominent public figures have also demanded that the prime minister suspend all UK arms sales to Israel. "We urge you to take immediate action to end the UK's complicity in the horrors in Gaza," the letter starts. "Violence stamped with UK inaction - flown with parts shipped from British factories to Israel, could be obliterating families in seconds. Each arms shipment makes our country directly complicit in their deaths." Amongst the signatories are singer-songwriter Dua Lipa, actors Benedict Cumberbatch, Brian Cox, Toby Jones and Andrea Riseborough, broadcaster Gary Lineker, film director Danny Boyle, and Holocaust survivor Stephen Kapos. New MEE newsletter: Jerusalem Dispatch Sign up to get the latest insights and analysis on Israel-Palestine, alongside Turkey Unpacked and other MEE newsletters The main demands outlined in the letter urge Starmer to suspend UK arms sales and licences to Israel, ensure full humanitarian access across Gaza without military interference, broker an immediate ceasefire, and put an end to the starvation wrought on the besieged enclave. "Over 15,000 children have already been killed - including at least 4,000 under the age of four. Bedrooms where children once slept, kitchens where families shared meals, schools where they learned - all reduced to rubble while Britain stands by," the open letter read. "History is written in moments of moral clarity. This is one. The world is watching and history will not forget. The children of Gaza cannot wait another minute. Prime Minister, what will you choose? Complicity in war crimes, or the courage to act?" Since the start of the war on Gaza, the Israeli military has killed more than 54,000 people, the majority of them children and women, and wounded more than 123,300 people. The Government Media Office in Gaza reported on Wednesday that more than 18,000 children are estimated to have been killed over 19 months of Israeli attacks, including 16,854 confirmed deaths. Among the children killed, 916 were under one year old; 4,365 were aged one to five; 6,101 were between six and 12; and 5,124 were aged 13 to 17. Starvation and lack of humanitarian aid The signatories have condemned the total Israeli blockade of the Gaza Strip that has left the population facing acute hunger. They stressed that the UK must ensure "full humanitarian access across Gaza for experienced aid organisations without military interference." "Right now, children in Gaza are starving while food and medicine sit just minutes away, blocked at the border. Words won't feed Palestinian children - we need action... Mothers, fathers, babies, grandparents - an entire people left to starve before the world's eyes," the letter said. What's inside the boxes of aid being distributed in Gaza? Read More » "290,000 children are on the brink of death - starved by the Israeli government for more than 70 days. They cry until they can't cry anymore - until hunger takes even their voices. And their parents are left to do the unthinkable: hold them, and wait." Israel sealed off Gaza's borders on 2 March, blocking the entry of all international aid and goods, including basic food items, hygiene supplies, and fuel. On 1 April, all 25 bakeries supported by the World Food Programme across the Gaza Strip shut down due to the lack of wheat flour and fuel. Since Tuesday, the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, a controversial US-backed group that has been approved by Israel to take over aid distribution in the enclave, has claimed to have handed out just 14,000 food boxes to Palestinians - a fraction of what aid agencies say is needed to address the mass starvation unfolding in the strip. The new aid system, which limits food distribution to a small number of hubs guarded by American security contractors, seeks to wrest distribution away from aid groups led by the United Nations. The Israeli military on Tuesday fired shots in the area outside a GHF distribution site, as Palestinians waiting for aid briefly rushed inside the facility due to long delays conducting security checks on recipients. Israeli gunfire killed three and wounded at least 47 others. The UN and other major humanitarian organisations have rejectly the new system, saying it won't be able to meet the needs of Gaza's 2.1 million people and allows Israel to use food control as a weapon to control the population.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store