By Natasha Dury

If you love seafood, Sakhalin Dubai at J1 Beach needs to be on your foodie radar. The vibe is chic, the sunset views are gorgeous, but the real star is what lands on the plate: seriously fresh seafood.

As an islander, I’m pretty particular about seafood, and freshness is something you can taste instantly. At Sakhalin, the oysters were beautifully briny, the scallops naturally sweet, the tuna belly silky and rich, and the lobster full of flavour.

The restaurant’s concept mixes Mediterranean and Asian influences with a subtle Russian twist, so familiar ingredients arrive with a little extra personality.

We started with Dibba Bay oysters, and scallops with olive oil and ponzu. Simple, fresh, and so good. The tuna belly tartare with sturgeon caviar brought the luxe factor, while seared scallops with creamy sauce showed off a richer side of the menu.

But the comfort-food winner? Linguine with lobster and tomato sauce. Sweet lobster, pasta and a beautifully balanced tomato sauce. Honestly, what’s not to love?

Dessert brought us Sakhalin’s tiramisu and the bon bon sea buckthorn, rounding off a tasting that travelled from the Mediterranean to Asia and Russia. Add the open kitchen, ice market, raw bar, and J1 Beach setting, and Sakhalin delivers that rare combination of great food, great atmosphere, and wow factor.

The takeaway? Fresh seafood really does hit different and Sakhalin knows exactly how to let it shine.