12 GREAT DINING EXPERIENCES IN ABU DHABI
LA CAVA
ROSEWOOD
PAIGE
2 FOR 1 ON CHEESE AND WINE NIGHT WITH BB+
Paige, Logan & Lorenna headed out to try the La Cava cheese and wine night and quickly realised why it’s hailed as one of the best cheese and wine nights in Abu Dhabi, and why it should top your list - especially now with a tasty 2 for 1 BB+ discount every night of the week. For 2 hours, you can enjoy unlimited cheese, wine, and charcuterie … Now that sounds brie-lliant!
This intimate and exclusive cellar has a moody ambience which makes it ideal for date night, dinner with friends or even a fun ladies night out. With 16 varieties of vino to choose from from around the world, an unlimited cheese platter where you can literally pick and cheese, as well as plates of pork charcuterie, you'll be spoilt for choice. We're already planning our next wine-venture!
Location: La Cava, Rosewood Abu Dhabi
Date: 7 ATE 9 Cheese and wine served daily (closed on Monday)
Time: 6PM – 1AM | 2-hour package
Price: Tues – Thurs Standard AED209 | Bold AED309 (includes premium grape and bubbly)
Fri – Sun Standard AED259 | Bold AED309 (includes premium grape and bubbly)
Book: call 02 813 5550 or book directly https://www.rosewoodhotels.com/en/abu-dhabi/dining/la-cava
LOCK STOCK & BARREL
YAS BAY
REBECCA
ROAST THAT ROCKS
If you like live music with your Sunday roast, Lock Stock’s roast that rocks is one for you! For AED120 you get a full roast dinner, one house beverage, and live music between 5PM – 8PM. With a choice of up to two meats, including beef striploin, lamb leg, or chicken, served with either a giant … and we mean giant … Yorkshire pud or unlimited Yorkies instead. Served with all the trimmings you’d expect, including roast potatoes (surprisingly good – from someone who is often disappointed in roasties), cauliflower cheese (gorgeously gooey), honey-glazed parsnips, green beans, and gravy. The portions are generous, so come hungry!
The musician, Peter, made sure the room was rocking out to old-school classics, popular British pop songs, and a few current faves too. He even did requests and we all had a giggle when Celine Dion’s “My Heart Will Go On” was shouted out.
A great deal, some sing-along tracks, and unlimited Yorkshires - Sunday sorted!
Location: Lock Stock & Barrel, Yas Bay
Date: Roast That Rocks Sunday
Time: 2PM – 10PM (live music from 5PM – 8PM)
Price: AED120 for roast and 1 house beverage
Book: 04 423 8308
STILLS
CROWNE PLAZA YAS ISLAND
LORENNA
THE STILLS STACK BURGER MENU
The very wise Samuel L Jackson once said, “burgers are the cornerstone of a nutritious meal”, and Stills have taken this to heart with their new burger menu: The Stills Stack. Available for a limited time only, the menu comprises of four Wagyu beef burgers which are a must for any burger fan.
We absolutely loved the full-of-toppings portobello burger with its sweet bacon and caramelised onion jam, melted brie cheese, and fried onions. The quick burger with its simple smashed patty and great taste came in a close second. Cheese fans can’t miss the fondue burger smothered in melted Gruyere and Emmental cheese, and those of you with a big-boy appetite need to get your chops around the smash burger, a gigantic mega-burger stacking up a whopping four Wagyu patties – certainly one for the meat lovers!
These burgers will only be around till the end of July so get ‘em while they’re hot!
Location: Stills, Crowne Plaza Yas Island
Date: Daily
Time: From 12:30PM onwards
Price: From AED60
Book: 02 656 3066 or email stills@yasplazahotels.com
SILK & SPICE
SOFITEL
LOGAN
THAI LUNCH
This menu is fabulous if you’re a lover of Thai food and are craving a really good lunch. The menu gives you the freedom to choose any starter, main course, and dessert from the a la carte menu – essentially creating your own meal but at a set menu price. It also includes a pint of traditional Singha Thai beer or a glass of wine (from a choice of 12 – including rose and sparkling!) to make that lunch date extra enjoyable!
We loved the tom kha soup, with its rich notes of lime, coconut, chilli, and fish sauce, balancing sweet and sour perfectly. And the Thai staples; green curry and pad Thai did not disappoint. But the star of the show is the Best Bites favourite, the mango sticky rice. Served with a moreish coconut ice cream and topped with coconut shavings for that extra bite. This dish would have Logan running back every time. With superb Thai hospitality this is a lunch date you don’t want to miss.
Location: Silk & Spice, Sofitel Corniche
Date: Daily
Time 12PM – 3:30PM
Price: AED99 for 2 courses | AED125 for 3 course inclusive of your choice of 1 pint or 1 glass of grape
Book: 02 813 7777
KHANA KHAZANA
LE MERIDIEN
PAIGE
NEW OPENING
If you're looking for an adventure for your tastebuds, you need to check out the newly opened Khana Khazana in the Village of Le Meridien. A good menu with traditional recipes that are carefully prepared but with a modern twist, the food will leave your tastebuds doing the happy dance and paired with a cocktail, it's a party! Best of all, it's pocket-friendly and we're loving it.
We loved the light, doughy-ness of the chicken khurchan bao, and the beautifully plated samosa chaat. Made to order to your own spice level preference, every dish had the perfect balance of spices, and with most dishes coming under AED50 it makes it a pretty affordable place to make some new food discoveries too. This little gem needs to head firmly on to your must-try-Indian-list!
Location: Khana Khanzana, Le Meridien
Date: Daily
Time: Monday – Thursday 12PM – 1AM | Friday – Sunday 12PM – 2AM
Book: 052 565 6088
BA:TE
EASTERN MANGROVES
RACHAEL
FRIDAY NIGHT AND SATURDAY DAY SAKURA BRUNCH
Ba:TE (pronounced baa-tay) is a lot of things: it's an outstanding Japanese fine-ish dining restaurant in Eastern Mangroves, it houses a very cool bar (Jumak) serving, in our opinion, some of the best cocktails in Abu Dhabi and it's a place where off-islanders can now brunch without having to sell a kidney for the cab ride!
Brunch is a mixture of the expected and the surprising. The Ba:TE platter, full with layers of maki rolls, umami ceviche, salmon carpaccio, and gorgeously crunchy Japanese tacos, was seriously massive and seriously impressive. Pick your own main or share with your table mates - the ansim tenderloin being a winner, or the crispy sweet potato is an excellent vegetarian option, and finish strong with a dessert platter. Expect a lot of food, and we loved that the music level was just right so you could talk and enjoy your food. And BB+ members can enjoy an exclusive 20% off both brunches.
Location: Ba:TE, Eastern Mangroves
Date: Friday & Saturday Brunch
Time: Friday 6:30PM - 11PM (3 hour sitting) | Saturday 1PM -4PM
Price: Soft AED299 | House AED450 | Bubbly AED690 | 20% off with BB+
Book: 02 632 5272
MERIDIEN PLAZA
LE MERDIEN
LORENNA
BRUNCH IN LITTLE TUSCANY
Brunch in Little Tuscany this summer without the hassle of having to get on a plane! Enjoy an exceptionally good value Italian-style brunch that’s available all weekend and comes with pool access for just an additional AED50!
Starting at just AED129 (for food only) this brunch is pocket-friendly as well as tummy-pleasing. You’ll be served a tableful of sharing starters, our favourite being the uber-soft focaccia bread and the crunchy-on-the-outside gooey-in-the-middle mozzarella sticks. Head up to the buffet section for a fabulous pasta and pizza selection, before choosing your dessert choice: get the not-at-all-Italian-but-a-massive-crowd-pleaser banana split where the mixture of banana, ice cream, chocolate and caramel is always a champion for us! If you wish to continue the fun head to the pool and beach to snooze off your lunch!
Location: Meridien Plaza, Le Meridien
Date: Saturday & Sunday
Time: 12:30PM - 4PM
Price: Food Only AED129 | Soft AED149 | House AED209 | Kids 6-12 50% off | Pool access +AED50
Book: 056 688 5361
TEATRO
PARK ROTANA
LOGAN
TEATRO’S NEW MENU
Teatro’s charm never fails to win us over and their well-priced new menu that has something to appeal to all tastes, serving Italian, Indian, Asian and lots of steak and seafood. A great option for a reasonably priced date night or meal with friends, helped along by the 20% off a la carte with BB+ and you’d be hard-pressed to find something that didn’t appeal on this very eclectic menu.
We loved the lavender lemonade and the epic melt-in-your-mouth tenderloin. And of course, no meal is complete without dessert and Teatro’s tiramisu is next level and big enough for 2! The mochi is also a great way to finish, without pushing you over the edge.
Location: Teatro, Park Rotana
Date: Daily
Time: 6PM - 1AM
Book: +97126573317
BACKYARD BISTRO
WTC
BYB IS BACK IN THE GAME
With a brand-spanking new makeover, Backyard Bistro is back and this time with comfier seating! With cool red-leather type booth seats, and complete with a giant truck that doubles as a DJ deck, as well as a spacious outside terrace for those of you still grappling on to the last days of ‘outside weather’, it’s a great place to enjoy some of the many deals they have throughout the week such as a pretty ace jazz band on Tuesday evenings.
The menu had been upgraded as well, with some exceptional pub-food starters stealing our hearts. If you like a bit of spice then try the spicy edamame - wowza these little guys have got a kick! - and the crispy blooming onion is always a winner. If you're heading out with a group there’s some fab big-plate sharing items including a massive sliders platter, a Mexican feast, and the ultimate feast combo which comes with its very own nacho cheese fountain! Yummy!
Location: Backyard Bistro, The Hub World Trade Centre
Date: Daily
Time: Monday - Friday: 12PM - 2:00AM | Saturday - Sunday: 12pPM - 2:30AM
Book: 050 114 3666
BAOFRIEND
CORNICHE
LORENNA
If you’re a lover of a good bao, Baofriend is going from strength to strength and needs to be firmly planted on your list of must-tries - and soon! With a kitschy-cool interior and a semi-open kitchen, bright smiling staff, and even some themed merch you feel like you have stepped off the streets of Abu Dhabi into East Asia.
If you're looking for a quick bite, their bao combo is insane value for a bao, fries, and a drink for AED21. Soft cloud-like baos are the specialty here, all made fresh in house, but there are plenty of other Asian specialties to whet your whistle. The miso ramen was slurpingly good, and the seaweed salad was another highlight. We will certainly be back to try out their great value business lunch deal and well pretty much make our way through the menu!
Location: Baofriend, Corniche Road
Date: Daily
Time: Monday – Friday 7AM – 12AM | Saturday – Sunday 10AM – 12AM
Book: 050 399 0046 or 02 622 5594
LOCK STOCK & BARREL
YAS BAY
LOGAN
BRUNCH IS BACK: AND LOUDER THAN EVER
If you’re looking for a brunch hot-spot that still has a great party vibe and atmosphere, Lock Stock & Barrel’s new live music brunch is the one for you! It would be a great place to celebrate a birthday or event or blow off some steam with your mates: everyone’s smiling, hands are in the air and the sing-along music gets everyone dancing too - it’s an eclectic crowd, all after a good time!
Food is served sharing style, and expect fun party food like cheeseburger sliders, pulled beef tacos, nachos, and a foot-long pepperoni pizza. Drinks orders are taken from your table, and we loved the swift tequila kick of the margaritas, spaced out with refreshing Corona’s and Magners Irish Cider. The live band were outstanding and had the crowd up on their feet in no time - it was a vibe!
Check out more of the brunch here: *insert Instagram reel link
Location: Lock Stock & Barrel, Yas Bay
Date: Saturday
Time: 2PM - 5PM
Price: Soft AED225 | House AED275 | Prosecco AED325
Book: 02 235 8659
ACAI SPOT
WAITROSE MALL
This cute little outlet in the new mall, (which for now we're calling the Waitrose Mall) is great for an after school treat or breakfast or lunch on the go. Grab an acai cone, bowls full of goodness, breakfast bagels, muffins and sandwiches. For a healthy treat, try either a granola bar, or one with its party clothes on - chocolate topped!
Open: 8AM - 11PM
Contact: 02 246 3920
Lorenna White
6/10/2023
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