Abu Dhabi dining Archives — A TO ZA’ATAR

March 1, 2018 by cbrandtwright 0

What’s Cooking UAE: Cho Gao, Abu Dhabi.

Sharing the screen with one of my good foodie friends, David Tapley, of Out & About UAE. One of my favorite episodes of What’s Cooking UAE to film!

Abu Dhabi dining Cho Gao Abu Dhabi What's Cooking UAE

October 2, 2017 by cbrandtwright 0

Abu Dhabi, What's Cooking UAE

What’s Cooking UAE: Delecto.

Thought you might enjoy viewing one of my episodes with What’s Cooking, UAE. Feel free to visit their YouTube channel to enjoy other episodes. Are there any venues you think we should visit next?

Abu Dhabi dining Delecto food show UAE What's Cooking UAE

September 6, 2017 by cbrandtwright 0

Abu Dhabi

The Grill, Marriott Al Forsan: Protein paradise.

Looking forward to dining with Abu Dhabi friends we hadn’t seen in far too long, anticipation was high for our meal at The Grill. The restaurant — like the majority of the venues at the Marriott Al Forsan — is located on the main floor, to the left of the lobby after the entrance. On arrival, I found the layout spacious and was happy to see modern touches in the form of an open kitchen, private dining room, soaring ceilings, and kitschy black and white photography on the walls. We were greeted warmly and shown to a table overlooking the kitchen, which, turns out quite a bit of protein — including one of the largest cuts in the UAE, the 1200g Tomahawk Chop (priced at a competitive AED475). Guests are invited to view the large grill, should they want to see how their meat is doing. To start, a beautiful,…

January 28, 2017 by annbenjamin 0

Abu Dhabi

Hooked: Island vibes on Zaya Nurai Island.

When I’m not reviewing food, I’m often writing — usually novels — but also about hotels (and very rarely, novels about hotels). In this instance, I was out at Zaya Nurai Island for some freelance coverage and was invited to dine at the newly opened Hooked with my host. With such a lovely setting, how could I refuse? Located directly up the arrival dock is Hooked, a Mediterranean restaurant with an Arabic twist (‘coastal influences of the Levant’ as per the website). The venue is a unique spot in Abu Dhabi (as are most of the restaurants on the island, because how often are you going to dine on a private resort island?). With a smaller interior and an expansive chicly designed exterior, this is an ideal place to enjoy a meal al fresco. With a collection of fresh fish, a full bar, and a variety of appetizers, Hooked was a perfect place…

August 29, 2016 by annbenjamin 0

Abu Dhabi

No. FiftySeven Boutique Cafe

I was tipped off to this restaurant by another member of the food community in Abu Dhabi (the best recommendations always come this way, do they not?). Situated in a part of Abu Dhabi I had never been to previously (honestly, I thought the main island stopped at Emirates Palace…), tucked away in the back, is No. FiftySeven Boutique Cafe. While I do believe in my trusty Google Maps, I drove (more or less) into a marina/dockyard and ended up parking along a rather dodgy road. After walking through the set of residential buildings, I’m still not entirely sure how parking works for this restaurant. Moms with prams, take note (or, someone tell me the secret of where to park, because Google Maps is certainly not clued in). So, what’s the story behind this cafe? One foodie who wholeheartedly believes the style of a space influences how people feel. One design…

April 15, 2016 by annbenjamin 0

Abu Dhabi

Come for the Camiloni, stay for the fish? A review of Original Fusion…

Ringing a good friend in Abu Dhabi, I inquired if she would like to join me on Sunday night for a meal at Original Fusion. “I’ve never heard of it,” she asked. “What do they serve?” Even though I had reviewed the menu, which promised to ‘blend great Emirati heritage with various European dishes’, all I could answer was, “Fusion.” (Unnecessary) reservation made, we arrived at an empty restaurant with our pick of tables (we were the sole patrons throughout the evening). With its loft-like atmosphere thanks to exposed duct work, an oversized light fixture, and a color palate of purple and white, the interior felt like a sophisticated airport lounge. I’m not sure if this was the intent or not. Why the bar area is located on the far side of the restaurant (therefore forcing guests to cross through the dining room) seems a tad strange, but I did enjoy the open kitchen concept. Having…

September 8, 2015 by annbenjamin 0

Abu Dhabi

Zuma: A Must Visit in the Capital

When sending off a colleague earlier this week, we asked her where she wanted to go and she only had two requests: Hakkasan or Zuma. Either is a fine choice, but I think Zuma was ultimately the better selection for a group (for reasons I’ll go into below). Reservations? I didn’t make them, but we were seated easily at a circular 8 top. Given how crowded the restaurant was on a Sunday night, I would say that reservations are essential. Ambiance? Zuma is modern cool. From the moment you walk up to the fancy entrance (located between the Rosewood Hotel and the Galleria), you realize this is a very unique space. The open concept kitchen, oversized bar and attractive staff add to one of the best spots in the city. It is such a popular place among my employer that we ran into two other independent groups of people I work…