Here's everything you'll be eating at Ravinia Festival 2025
Ravinia's not just feeding your soul this summer—it's coming for your stomach too.
As the 2025 Ravinia Festival kicks off its summer season on June 6, with over 100 concerts and an eye-popping 40 artist debuts (hello, Janelle Monáe, Kygo and Nas), festivalgoers can expect more than just top-tier tunes. The food lineup, curated by Levy and Executive Chef Mark Hill, is a headliner in its own right.
Returning guests will find classic comforts with serious upgrades, like the Pulled Pork Stack, a decadent layering of creamy mac and cheese, barbecue mole-drizzled pork and crispy tortilla strips; or the Cappuccino Crunch Float, featuring cappuccino chip ice cream topped with whipped cream for the ultimate caffeinated cool-down.
But the biggest culinary glow-up might just be at Park View, where new fine-dining flair includes lamb tartare with house tzatziki and oregano, and a smoked short rib served over annatto potato purée with roasted corn and mole demi-glace.
Would you prefer to graze while watching the show? The revamped Tree Top Lounge is now a chic communal hangout with a full bar and live concert feeds. It plans to serve small plates with global flair, like burrata with Thai pesto, cured tuna with kimchi and sesame leaves, and wagyu sliders spiced up with togarashi tomato jam. Even the seafood fritto misto gets the Chicago treatment: calamari, shrimp, scallops and giardiniera with lemon aioli.
And for one night only, Ravinia is serving up a menu as iconic as its guests. On June 7, in honor of Grace Jones and Janelle Monáe (who share a love for Jamaican flavors), you'll find jerk chicken with brown sugar glaze, pigeon peas and cornbread, plus jerk pork tacos at the Lawn Bar—because nothing says 'festival royalty' like spiced meat and a side of mac.
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Credit: Dhaba Lane A budget, Indian street food-style eatery in JLT, Dhaba Lane has been delighting savvy diners with its moreish curries since 2017. Serving traditional dishes from Punjab to Delhi, Calcutta and beyond, there are plenty of regional flavours to try here. It serves traditional plates with a modern twist, all at prices that won't make your eyes water. The interiors are cute and the spices are punchy, check out curries, chaat, biryanis and beyond. Open daily, noon-3.30pm, 6.30pm-midnight. Unlicensed. Cluster D, JLT, dhaba-lane (054 999 4251). Franky's Pizzeria Best restaurants in JLT. Credit: Franky's Pizzeria The Park in JLT is one trendy place to visit – being home to cool Asian street food eatery Hawkerboi and café Splendour Fields. And now you'll also find Franky in Florence here – one of the best pizzerias in Dubai, and one of the newest. 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Tucked away in the budget eatery haven that is JLT, this cute little spot serves up some of the tastiest Vietnamese grub in town. Proudly using clean cooking techniques and fresh, healthy ingredients, the menu is full of flavour-packed plates such as fragrant prawn summer rolls and zingy papaya salad, as well as truly slurpable pho with everything from brisket to chicken, veggie to prawn. For traditional, healthy dishes on a budget, this is one of the best Asian restaurants in Dubai. Unlicensed. Cluster C, JLT, (04 431 3099). Check out our full Hanoi Naturally review here Hawkerboi Best restaurants in JLT. Credit: Hawkerboi. A relative newcomer to the Asian dining scene in Dubai, Hawkerboi can be found at The Park in JLT. Offering cool, moody date night vibes with an interesting list of mixed drinks, Hawkerboi started life as a supper club, before setting up in its permanent location in April 2023. Now one of the best Asian restaurants in Dubai – and Time Out Dubai's Casual Restaurant of the Year for 2024 – Hawerboi is always buzzing. The open kitchen serves street food-style plates, think chicken satay, crispy fried squid, duck gyoza and banana blossom salad, as well as perfectly roast meat, flavoursome curries and palate-popping stir-fries. There's a tasting menu – which comes in at under Dhs400 for nine courses – if you want to explore different dishes, too. Licensed. The Park, JLT, @ (505 427 5217). Check out our full Hawkerboi review here Jamie Oliver's Pizzeria Best restaurants in JLT. Credit: Jamie Oliver's Pizzeria. As to be expected from a pizzeria behind one of the world's most famous chefs, Jamie Oliver's makes the kind of pizza you'll crave for no reason at all. It could be a random Tuesday afternoon, and those bold simple flavours that sit atop traditional doughy bases will pop straight into your head. Popular with a steady stream of office workers who have claimed this JLT spot as their favourite lunch location, book ahead to avoid disappointment. Unlicensed. Cluster R, JLT, (04 874 7082). Check out our full Jamie Oliver's Pizzeria review here McGettigan's JLT Best restaurants in JLT. Credit: McGettigan's JLT One of the most popular Irish bars in the city, McGettigan's JLT pulls in the crowds day and night, thanks to its fun-loving vibe and cracking deals. Brunches, happy hours, roast dinners, ladies' nights, live music, comedy – you'll find it all at this longstanding pub. The terrace is a prime spot for the winter months having all the feels of a proper pub garden. The food menu is a solid selection of burgers, wings, flatbreads, sausage and mash et al, which will fill you up and keep you happy. voco Bonnington Dubai Cluster J, JLT, (04 356 0470). Check out our full McGettigan's JLT review here Mythos Kouzina & Grill Best restaurants in JLT. Credit: Mythos Kouzina & Gril Despite facing new competition every year, Mythos remains the best Greek restaurant in Dubai, no question. A go-to if you want incredible Greek food, prepared expertly at a reasonable price, there is now a second, similarly excellent Mythos at C2 in City Walk, but it's the OG that holds our hearts. Found in JLT, this cute taverna-style spot has a friendly vibe, a petite terrace ideal for cooler months and a menu jam-packed with home-cooked favourites that you won't be able to get enough of. From creamy, garlicky tzatziki, to comforting, flavour-laden moussaka and gemista, a glorious baked feta and an unmissable mixed grill platter (those lamb chops are outstanding), this is one you'll be returning to time and again – we guarantee it. Licensed. Armada Avenue Hotel JLT, Cluster P, JLT, (04 399 8166). Check out our full Mythos Kouzina & Grill review here Pickl Best restaurants in JLT. Credit: Pickl Everyone's heard of Pickl – and with good reason, it's a giant when it comes to the best burgers in Dubai. A multiple winner of the Best Burger Bar in Dubai award, you can look forward to a perfectly seared patty, smothered in special sauce and snuggled into a squishy potato bun. Not only are the beef versions lip-smackingly good, but Pickl's chicken sando has become the stuff of legend, so make sure you order one of each – you won't regret it. Morning, noon, night – there's never a wrong time to dig into a Pickl burger. Unlicensed. One JLT, JLT, (04 584 6859). Check out our full Pickl review here Pitfire Pizza Best restaurants in JLT. Credit: Pitfire Pizza It's done it again. New York-Neapolitan-style pizzas are the order of the day here at Pitfire. Pizzas so loved that they can be found at Time Out Market Dubai, the original branch is nestled in JLT's Cluster D. Set up by a husband-and-wife team, the pizzas here are massive and come fully loaded – Pitfire doesn't skimp on the toppings. There's everything from traditional pepperoni and margherita to turkey ham and pineapple and even potato or dates, meaning whatever your jam you'll find it here. The crusts are puffy and blistered and Pitfire is still the best pizzeria in Dubai (and the only place for those compulsory garlic knots). Unlicensed. Cluster D, JLT, (800 748 3473). Check out our full Pitfire Pizza review here Saigon Best restaurants in JLT. Credit: Saigon. Don't be deceived by the laid-back atmosphere of this casual Vietnamese spot in JLT – chefs here are serious about authenticity, serving up the likes of crispy spring rolls, healthy salads and steaming bowls of pho and noodles in a tiny, no-frills restaurant that won't break the bank. Prioritising quality over quantity (trust us here, it's one of the best Asian restaurants in Dubai), it's popular with both locals and expats alike, who can't help but be drawn in by the inviting smells emanating from the kitchen. Unlicensed. Lake Terrace Tower, Cluster D, JLT, (04 576 4466). Check out our full Saigon review here San Wan Hand Pulled Noodles Best restaurants in JLT. Credit: San Wan Hand Pulled Noodles Having opened in JLT in 2023, tucked away in an unassuming corner of Cluster F, right next to Asian Street by Thai, San Wan Hand Pulled Noodles' popularity has rocketed into it claiming the title of the best budget restaurant in Dubai, hands down. Service is friendly and there's a concise menu of Northern Chinese classics that you don't want to miss. Serving affordable, authentic Shaanxi cuisine, the main order here is, as the name suggests, those deliciously moreish noodles – which you can watch the chefs pulling in the kitchen. The chicken wontons are a must-try too. In short, don't miss it – it's a mighty find in a low-key location. Unlicensed. Cluster F, JLT, @ (050 759 9584). Splendour Fields From the team behind Tom & Serg and Common Grounds, you know you're onto a good thing if you stop by Splendour Fields. Found at The Park in JLT – in the same building as Hawekerboi and Franky in Florence – there are super views over the lawns, which make for the ideal backdrop for your coffee break. With special home-brews and baked goods from Rise & Dawn Bakehouse, a croissant and coffee is elevated here. In the morning choose from plates such as ricotta hotcakes, mushroom and truffle benedict or smashed avo, while later in the day salads, burgers and mains like Aussie parma star. A cute new addition to JLT's café scene from a respected brand. Licensed. The Park, JLT, @splendourfields (056 603 0897). Check out our full Splendour Fields review here Tiki's Bar by Canary Club Found atop Canary Club in DIFC, this extension of the popular restaurant has proved particularly popular since it opened its doors at the end of last year, and it's got some brilliant bar food to thank. Those taco makis, skewers, rolls and pizzas taste even better washed down with creatively-named mixed drinks – the Tahitian Traveller is a Time Out Dubai favourite. Licensed. Inside Canary Club, Banyan Tree Residences, JLT, (04 584 5999). Check out our full Tiki's Bar review here The Little Bali Credit: The Little Bali Another cracking affordable eatery in JLT – for authentic Balinese cuisine there's nowhere better in Dubai than The Little Bali. With budget plates that are bursting with flavour, the menu is traditional with top choices such as ayam taliwang (grilled chicken with lalapan, rice and sambal taliwang) and ikan goreng (crispy tilapia in a choice of sauces). You can also find more unusual meats such as oxtail and camel on the menu too. Don't miss the nasi goreng and satay sampler platter for classics done well. Unlicensed. Cluster U, JLT, (04 554 8575). Check out our full The Little Bali review here ubk Forget happy hours, it's happy days at this cool and casual hangout. The venue serves up happy hour deals from opening time to last orders. Not only are there great offers to be had, but this is a top spot to catch a game or a live band with pals, enjoy decent-priced, hearty pub grub (including a recently introduced Beyond Burger or a massive hot dog) and soak up the sun from the spacious outdoor area. Licensed. Mövenpick Hotel Jumeirah Lakes Towers, Cluster A, Jumeirah Lakes Towers (04 438 0000). Check out our full ubk review here Vietnamese Foodies Vietnamese food has become a cornerstone cuisine in recent years, but if it's a no-nonsense venue, healthy cooking and wallet-friendly prices that really float your boat, you could do much worse than Vietnamese foodies. Home to steaming hot pho bowls that feature the legendary 14-hour simmered broth, this is the restaurant to go to for an unapologetically slap-up Asian meal in JLT. Unlicensed. Cluster D, JLT, (04 565 6088). Check out our full Vietnamese Foodies review here Need a reservation in the meantime? New restaurants in Dubai that you need to visit right now From casual eats to fine dining, there's bound to be a new venue you'll want to try Dubai's best restaurants: 85 incredible places to dine All the winners of the Time Out Dubai Restaurant Awards 25 of the best restaurants in DIFC: Reservations you have to make now Tried, tested and highly rated restaurants to try in Dubai's financial district
