The Food Byte: Suhoor at The Secret Garden, Address Downtown, Dubai

Suhoor in the city is equally as delightful as iftar is. You will see it almost everywhere- people tend to relax with almost every second person at the table having a shisha. It is also a time when board and card games are revived.

Suhoor is the meal prior to keeping a fast in Ramadan and while it is usually consumed late into the night, it isn't uncommon for a 10pm start. The ambiance is quite different to that of iftar and if you are lucky enough, you'll either be invited by the people at the next table for a card game or find inspiration from them as they make plans for their Eid holidays.

One such place is The Secret Garden. Nestled at the Address Downtown, Dubai, this venue is perfect not only for suhoor but intimate gatherings or a special celebration. With the majestic Burj Khalifa in the background, live Arabic music and mobile air-cons keeping the temperature cool in the open air restaurant (indoor seating is available), suhoor here was a pleasant experience.

You have the option to either choose the a la carte menu or the specially designed suhoor menu; either way you will be treated to a scrumptious Arabic cuisine.

With options of cold and hot mezze, we started with the Tabbouleh, Lamb Kibbeh and Cheese Sambousek- the latter always makes it to my plate. We skipped the Red Lentil Soup and selected the Arabic Mixed Grill. Featuring a skewers of Shish Taouk, Lamb Chops and Kofta Kebab, the meat was tender and cooked to perfection.

It's the perfect serving for a suhoor meal and I always say, no meal is complete without dessert. With an option of either of the 3 traditional Arabic desserts or a fruits platter to pick from, we ordered Bakhlava and Mohalabiya. I was pleasantly surprised to discover the Address Downtown have their signature tea collection and I was impressed with the variety.

I have a special place in my heart for white tea and when infused with Jasmine blossom, the tea takes you to a place of zen. You have to try the White Tea with Jasmine (the signature tea of the hotel) or the Green Tea Floral. This is also one of the reasons why I would pop by The Secret Garden at any time of the day. I give this venue 3/5 stars.