It takes a lot to get me out on a Thursday night. Who am I kidding, it takes a lot to get me out at all. But when Marc from Think-Luxe sends you an invitation to a hip new venue, you know it’s going to be worth the effort of braving the traffic on Al Khail Road. The venue in question? Keanu’s, a bougie new pizza joint from Three by Eva. The Three family are the superstars, mother and two sisters, behind a long standing local favourite of the same name.
Now before you try to raise your eyebrows past the botox in disbelief that pizza can be lux, hear me out. My first thought was the same. Is pizza really lux? Now not going to lie, I totally checked out their Instagram first. And the posts of the pizzas was enough to make my mind up. Crispy, perfect looking bases, toppings that looked like they’d been designed in a fashion house and, oh, I forgot to mention the lush Parmesan crisps that adorned what looked like a four cheese with white sauce base. Pizzas that are most definitely lux. But does the taste match up to the look?
Let’s rewind to Thursday night. Not only is the restaurant pleasantly easy to navigate to (and park – IYKYK) but the opening night turned it into something that resembles a mini underground club. We walk in around 8:30pm, which for an event that starts at 8pm is extremely early by Dubai standards, and the place is already rocking. It’s packed, with lights casting the whole place in their very on trend neon yellow, a DJ spinning the best of the best nostalgic tunes and some of the most interesting mocktails we’ve ever come across. And of course, pizza. Served canape style, piping hot and fresh from the oven. You had to be rapid if you wanted a piece because I have never seen a pizza be under such demand.
We were offered a pizza box as a mini plate, I guess, to which my reply was – I’m going to eat it all don’t worry. Although I did find out later there was a cool prize hidden in the boxes so that was perhaps a rookie error on my part. But the moment that you’ve been waiting for, did the pizza live up to the hype?
Well….
If the title of this article didn’t give it away, then let me tell you. It did and then some. The crispy base tasted better than the images, the toppings generous enough that they made the pizza bend but not overly so that they slid off. The whole bite was perfectly balanced and rich enough that after three pieces I had to politely decline anymore. In fact the pizza was so good, I didn’t even miss the hot sauce that usually accompanies my pizza.
For a city as saturated with restaurants, Dubai’s food scene is surprisingly lacking on places that make you want to come back. Keanu’s is exactly the opposite. It welcomes you in with the persona of being the cool next door neighbour who’s lights stay on late but makes you stay once you taste the menu with the music that keeps you there long after the plates are cleared.
