261 Restaurant & Bar

“Here’s a brutally honest version: 261 Restaurant & Bar at the Els Club, Victory Heights has one of the best outdoor areas and golf views in Dubai, which makes the experience even more disappointing—because it is arguably one of the worst services I’ve encountered at any restaurant in the city. You can easily sit for 15 minutes before a waiter even acknowledges you, let alone offers a menu. When they do appear, the staff look miserable, disengaged, and clearly overworked and underpaid, which sadly reflects directly in the service. You are never offered a refill on your drink unless you ask—and even then, you’ll likely find yourself hunting down a waiter just to be noticed. The venue has a fantastic grass area that could be an incredible space for customers and families with children, yet it’s completely underutilised. There is so much wasted potential here. What makes it even more baffling is that they seem to have more serving staff than actual waiters, which feels completely pointless. If those serving staff were trained and used as proper waiters, the overall service would improve instantly. To top it off, they prioritise outdoor tables for customers with dogs and will not give them up unless you also have a dog. That is absolutely ridiculous and frustrating for regular customers who just want to enjoy the view. This venue has everything going for it—location, space, atmosphere—but it is being held back by poor management and lack of customer focus. Honestly, the best thing the owner could do is replace the management, appreciate the opportunity this venue has, and run it properly. Right now, it’s a wasted gem.”