Take a stroll around the Disney-Landesque La Mer, and with everything going on it would be pretty easy to miss one heck of an eatery. Plonked right by the water before you make your way over towards the cinema area lies the Smoked Meat Kitchen or SMK for short. Everyone loves acronyms in Dubai right?

Anyway, this smokehouse or shall I say smokehut, has got it going on.

Applying the smoke of English oak to a range of beef cuts, SMK has created some truly sensational comfort food. There’s a bunch of stuff like Mac N Cheese Balls, paprika Fries and a Cubano Sandwich but the two key things to try here are the Brisket Bun (AED 55) and the dry aged Beef Ribs (AED 90). Both offer a smokey tenderness that is rarely seen here in Dubai. The pickled chili gives each a little fire without being over the top - unlike the eatery’s surrounds and while the burger isn’t big, the ribs are a great portion and absolutely dripping in flavor. Their home made rubs and BBQ sauces only adding fuel to the flavor fire.

I would go as far as saying the ribs were the best I’ve ever had.

Now I have to ask myself, can a tiny little hut at La Mer be the best smokehouse in Dubai?

I will get back to you on that!