Indian Curry

Indian Curry - known locally as "the curry house" - sits in a heritage-style building on Khalid Bin Sultan Street near the rugby and golf clubs, flanked by a landscaped park that runs alongside the wadi with views toward Jebel Hafeet. In cooler months, the outdoor terrace is the reason to book, offering one of Al Ain's more atmospheric alfresco dinners as locals stroll and run past on the wadi path. The kitchen spans North Indian and a short list of Italian dishes. Indian is where to stay. Butter chicken, chana masala, aloo gobi, dal masala and chicken jalfrezi are reliable orders, the biryani arrives quickly and pilau rice is well-spiced. The tandoor does the best work: butter naan is consistently excellent, and the complimentary bread and dips that open the meal are a nice touch. The house seasoning leans sweet and mild, so diners who prefer proper heat should be explicit when ordering and may still find the kitchen pulls punches - the most common caveat across visits. Portions are generous, and prices are fair for the quality. The dining room can be curtained off into private family sections, and service is attentive and prompt when the floor is calm, with complimentary appetisers and bread brought promptly. A few diners have flagged unevenness when staff are stretched and drinks (particularly the fresh juices at 20-25 AED) land on the expensive side. One quirk worth knowing: large TV screens in the outdoor area occasionally play whatever a nearby table requests, so request a quieter corner if you want conversation. For a relaxed family dinner, a group gathering or an evening away from the mall food courts, Indian Curry remains one of the neighbourhood's most dependable tables.