A fabulous beachside location, right at Jumeirah Public Beach, with its iconic white sands and Copacabana buzz, the chic Maison de Juliette delivers delicacies worthy of five-star hotels.

I’ll start immediately with the menu dishes, because they are excellent and they deserve to be the pride of Juliette, and later we can talk about location and chicness – because a restaurant is for eating, and eating well, better than at home; and I am tired of finding locations over-ruling cuisine. In fact, it’s already three in a row that I skip presenting on weekenduae, because one cannot eat location.

However, at Maison de Juliette, good cooking comes first!

A simple fresh salad of grilled shrimps and avocado rolls – but done well: the shrimps are seasoned and grilled under supervision of a professional Chef. It is evident the moment you take your first bite.

The other ingredients play together on your palate – the dressing is tangy and sweet, yet at the same time there is gentle creaminess; the sprinkling of pomegranate seeds and roasted almond slices adds extra dimensions to the taste depth, and the textures of the crispy bread and soft avocado pleasure the sensory perception – and then you bite into a juicy heirloom tomato, and the natural juices take over for a moment, and you close your eyes and smile – an excellent salad!

Ah! As I check the menu, the dressing is a combination of Harissa sauce and plum! How creative!

But let’s take a step back and start with the soups.

There are only two, but brilliant.

A naturally sweet and plain potato and pumpkin soup, almost unseasoned, allowing the natural cream to bind the two main ingredients – delicious, in an earthy, I walk barefoot, child of nature sort of way; and the second soup is its complete opposite, almost an evil twin, an intense traditional French onion soup, with unashamedly powerful onion stock base, thick in both texture and flavor, crowned by two thin bread biscuits absolutely smothered by molten cheese!

If you’re with your sweetheart or best friend, order both and then swap half-way through – a very satisfying combination.

And the closest you can find to Juliette’s onion soup in terms of authenticity, yes, you would need to fly to Paris…

The main courses also follow what I’m starting to understand is the Chef’s philosophy in menu assembly: please them with opposites, something for everyone.

Seafood gnocchi (I’m thinking creamy, as it mentions a homemade bisque) or a choice of grilled salmon; chicken done two ways: either with what must be a vibrant sauce (based on Roquefort cheese, a French blue) or braised on a bed of aromatic saffron; and also a filet mignon (I wish I’d ordered this!) or lamb chops with creamy risotto, but with thyme and blackberry jus – and a proper stand-alone vegetarian dish: a Provençal Gratin.

With just 7 options, the Chef Specialties mains have covered as much distance as an Ironman beach triathlon, offering an entire spectrum of flavors and fragrances that for once I was really stuck for choice.

I wish I could have ordered all of them. In a panic of indecisiveness and being tugged from one masterpiece to another, I almost capitulated and chose the vegetarian option!

Instead, I went for the chicken with saffron rice – subtle aroma, a beautifully braised chicken leg and thigh, presented proudly atop the yellow rice and surprisingly tasty mushrooms and farm veggies, and a little serving pot of extra sauce. Very delicious, very thoughtfully executed, and an overall delight to eat.

The salmon came in a generous portion, perfectly grilled, on a bed of tasty mashed potato, and accompanied by root vegetables – a classic dish.

Again showing care and consideration, extra sauce was provided on the side – and promptly put to good use!

Also on the menu are several breakfast and brunch options – which I think I will return to sample, given the satisfaction the mains provided – and also there is a good selection of sandwiches, if you’re feeling snacky rather than going for a full meal.

I promised myself I would also return to try the other Chef Specialties!!!

Desserts were numerous, and all enticing, and my usual end-of-meal espresso macchiato was superb: tightly brewed, served hot, full of flavor, definitely no sour notes from under-extraction, really a tip-top preparation by the barista.

Several elegant tarts were on display.

An inside view just to highlight the depth of the attention to detail that underscored all the menu items we tried: look at the biscuit foundation, it is filled with crunchy caramel! They even filled the biscuit base for your delight!!! A regular dessert-maker would have been happy just building the mousse up from a biscuit… but not at Maison de Juliette: they went the extra mile. For you.

So what Maison de Juliette offers is above and beyond location and decor – the good work in the kitchen is the real reason to visit this lovely and vibrant restaurant on the beach.

Although I should also say that the Maison’s terrace in the evening must be a great place to sit and converse…

… the tableware and cutlery were of a level of sophistication above most other restaurants…

… and the interior decor and seating arrangements were very pleasing indeed.

All in all, Maison de Juliette is a wonderful little restaurant, which could easily become your favorite.

Hit the beach, stop by the Maison!