Review: Murmur, Aljada is Sharjah’s first ever fine dining space that nails fusion cuisines

Nestled within the lush green enclave of Aljada, Murmur stands out as the emirate’s first-ever fine dining space. It is a place made for people looking to escape the everyday and turn a casual catch-up with friends into a full-blown 3 course meal. While the space is still in its soft-opening phase, it has already drawn in much of the local crowd. Murmur isn’t about the theatrics. There are no tall, towering statues with large fountains to welcome the guests. It’s simple and inviting, yet unique in its own way. Complementing its placid outdoor foliage, Murmur’s interiors are grounded in rich red tile-clad walls, plush earth-toned booths, and warm wooden shelving for the bar. But for us, what truly stole the show was the long hallway leading straight to the restrooms. Somewhere between the pops of colour is this mirrored hallway that makes for the perfect photo-op. And yes, we managed to snag a few great pictures for the grid as well. Just as we sat down by the booths, we were served an amuse-bouche: a smooth carrot hummus served with crispy light chips. Much to our delight, the dish struck just the right balance of sweetness and tang. Up next for our appetizers was the Murmur Salad, a leafy green salad topped with crispy shreds of beetroot and a tart dressing that was a delightful blend of savoury flavours. This certainly isn’t just any boring-healthy salad; it actually has the flavours to back it up. Following the appetizers, we were served a variety of mains that all had some element of global flair to it. The Halloumi Arrabiata, in particular, was a stand-out dish. Pan-seared halloumi dusted with sumac came paired with tangy marinara sauce and slices of olives, bringing a salty yet sharp contrast that we kept going back for. Also safe to say we were in for a serious pasta affair at Murmur, because our next dishes were the Truffle Mac-n-Cheese and the Zatar Linguini. Much like the names may suggest, the Mac-n-Cheese is a cult classic among comfort foods – elbow macaroni dipped in some seriously gooey béchamel sauce and umami-filled truffles. What’s not to like? Next up on the list is the Zatar Linguini, which is a generous bowl of pasta that marries the herbaceous pesto with earthy zatar, adding a Middle Eastern twist that we never knew it needed. Then came the holy grail of it all – the dessert that took the cake. The Karak San Sebastian. Need we say more? It takes the rich, creamy San Sebastian cheesecake and gives it a distinctly karak-inspired twist that also surprisingly didn’t feel too heavy after we managed to clear the plate clean. If you are anything like us and find yourself in a bind as to what to order, don’t worry – the pros at Murmur will list out all of the ingredients and help you decide on what’s best on the menu. If that alone doesn’t sell you on the place, then you need to meet the staff behind the counter making the most unique drinks. When it comes to making a mean mocktail, you better trust their vision – because you are in for a treat.