By
February, 09 2026
If CQ French Brasserie feels familiar, that’s because… it is. And that’s very much a good thing.
The much-loved French bistro has just opened a new location in
Barsha Heights at the Grand Millennium Hotel, bringing with it all the things that made its JLT outpost such a favourite — comforting French food, a buzzing atmosphere, great-value deals, and a wine list that doesn’t make you wince when the bill arrives.
You might also recognise CQ as the evolution of
Couqley, a brand that originally started in Lebanon. After more than a decade, the agreement that brought Couqley to Dubai has come to a natural end, and the team behind what made Couqley such a success here are now taking things forward under a new name:
CQ. Same partners, same team, same food, same vibes — just a fresh chapter and a name that reflects the future.
The Space
The new Barsha Heights location is a step up in scale. It’s spacious and lively, with plenty of indoor seating, a covered terrace perfect for long lunches or relaxed evenings, and a big showpiece bar right at the centre that anchors the room. It feels like a proper neighbourhood brasserie — the kind of place you can drop into midweek or settle into for a drawn-out dinner with friends.
It also helps that CQ sits in the
same hotel as Lucky Voice and Lock, Stock & Barrel, making it an ideal place to start the weekend. Think a little French sophistication first — good food, good wine, good conversation — before moving on to after-hours live music or full karaoke debauchery upstairs.
First Things First: The Wine
Before we even get to the food, the wine deserves a moment.
CQ proudly calls it a
“humble wine list”, and that’s exactly what it is — concise, approachable, and refreshingly unpretentious. Bottles start from
AED 172, with over half the list coming in under
AED 500, alongside a small sprinkling of fine wine for those moments when you feel like upgrading. It’s designed so you can order what you actually want, enjoy the meal, and not spend the evening doing mental maths.
The Food: French Classics, Done Right
As you’d expect, the menu leans confidently into classic French bistro territory — and that’s exactly where CQ shines.
We went straight for the favourites:
Escargot,
beef tartare,
moules frites, and a gloriously indulgent
baked truffle brie. The undisputed highlight for me, though, was the
steak frites — tenderloin, cooked perfectly, and still one of the best-value classic dishes in the city. It’s a signature for a reason, and yes, it’s still always on promotion.
Dessert didn’t disappoint either. A proper
pain de perdu delivered on nostalgia, while the
chocolate chip cookie skillet — not remotely French — was absolutely necessary and entirely irresistible.
The Bottom Line
CQ French Brasserie is proof that when something works, you don’t need to reinvent it — just nurture it, refine it, and let it grow. Same great food, same welcoming team, same excellent value, and the same easy-going French bistro energy that made it a favourite in the first place.
If you loved Couqley, you’ll love CQ. And if you’re discovering it for the first time, this is a very good place to start.
The Wines we tasted
