EQUALIZE Cafe is an interesting dining recommendation, but you’ll have to bear with me, because it needs explaining.

First of all, it is hosted at Skydive Dubai – upstairs, with a fantastic scenic open-air terrace.

So that’s a big plus in that the location is looking out onto The Palm Jumeirah on one side, flanked by the yacht passageway, and backed by JBR Marina on the other – as well as directly facing Dubai Eye ferris wheel – these are absolutely amazing prime Dubai locations with highly Instagrammable scenic views…

Plus you have Skydive Dubai parachutists flying in!

And I mean directly above and in front of you…

But, at the same time, it feels like the cafe is there ‘because’ of Skydive Dubai, and it exists solely to serve people before and after, as well as cater to the non-skydivers during your flight… but that should not be the case, and actually the quality of the dining experience is stand-alone, and it rocks independently from the major adventure sport complex it is housed in – but in reality, there’s no escaping the heavy shadow of Skydive Dubai.

And I felt that EQUALIZE Cafe deserves to stand out on its own.

In fact, EQUALIZE Cafe is a brilliant modern cafe – the decor is excellent, and besides the awesome location, I loved the wooden ceilings and the use of natural light in creating a fresh and energetic ambience.

It’s the kind of hip hang-out where you jump on your chopper, and ride out to meet up with your friends for good times and a snack…

But you know when you visit a big tourist attraction and there’s a restaurant part of it?

Actually, EQUALIZE Cafe does not fit that mould, if you give it the chance – the food is a level far above what one can expect from a “cafe”!

However, the somewhat underwhelming presentation doesn’t help and further pushes the narrative. But please take the time to taste the food – the Chef and his team have a marvelous culinary touch, and every dish was top-notch in quality of the ingredients and excellence of flavors.

It’s just they looked a little plain.

I mean, when this arrived, I felt like I could do better with my old toaster at home!

Yet, I was mistaken. In the jar was a majestic chicken patee, which I can only dream of making in my kitchen, despite my best efforts – rich and flavorsome, if you served this at Dubai’s finest five-star venue, it would win acclaim.

And the onion relish? Absolutely fabulous! Tangy, powerful, and a culinary masterpiece!

Poke bowl? Same story – one cannot say it was a generous portion, and yet the flavors were spot-on, with gorgeously prepared fresh tuna, contrasted with juicy ripe mango, garnished with love, and the rice carried an understated tart finish which was marvelous on the palate – again a delicious dish, that when presented at the table did not capture any wows.

And yet at first bite, we looked at each other in surprise – “Oh, this is good! Try this!”

The irony is that in the end the bowl was actually deep enough.

Coffees and drinks are offered in a great selection, thanks to the connection with RAW Coffee.

And the cold brew held its own against Dubai’s best!

Other menu options are also delicious and there’s an undercurrent of healthy hipster in the selections, as hinted by the #Iamnotplastic straw.

In fact, healthy options were spot-on.

Funky quinoa salad… on a bed of sexy Romesco sauce (originally from northern Spain, Basque country!); and below, for the primitive carnivores, an exceptional version of a beef tartare, elegantly decorated with umbrella greens, and caressed by an undercurrent of mustard grains.

Then add standalone coffee snacks, or desserts after a meal, and you have a complete picture of what EQUALIZE Cafe offers.

Overall, the cafe is destined to serve as a satellite to Skydive Dubai, no matter what, but it may also elbow its way into the fancy of mainstream diners and coffee-lovers: that remains a test that the good folk at EQUALIZE Cafe will need to battle, with creativity and adaptation – myself, I’d very happily set my Google Maps to take me there for a good cup of coffee, and even a lovely dinner, regardless of daredevils jumping out of airplanes – because delicious food is worth the trip, and EQUALIZE Cafe delivered well above expectations.