Long time readers will know that when I lived in Abu Dhabi, I was an island snob. \u00a0I was also overworked and a bit of a shut-in, so I limited almost all my dining to Saadiyat (with occasional trips to the main island and Yas). \u00a0Thus, I missed out on some great opportunities in the capital! \u00a0Case in point, Teatro<\/a><\/strong>. \u00a0I’ve lived in the region long enough to have visited a number of Rotana properties, but never knew Teatro was considered the signature restaurant of the brand. \u00a0So, with an invitation to the Park Rotana<\/a> (which I’ll review in a separate post), it was easy to say yes.<\/p>\n

To start, what I think one of Teatro’s greatest strengths is the insane range of the menu (You want burrata? \u00a0Gyoza? \u00a0How about maki or pizza? \u00a0Butter chicken? \u00a0Vegetarian options? \u00a0Teatro’s got you covered). \u00a0Hubs and I pointed out multiple times during the meal that this is the perfect place to visit with any group of more than two. \u00a0Basically, with a collection of all kinds of cuisines, everyone can find something they want. \u00a0This was clearly reflected in the diners across the restaurant. \u00a0We saw a wonderfully diverse crowd, including families (most of the children were aged 5 and up, and all well-behaved).<\/p>\n

Deciding to lean into the many cuisines, we mixed culinary medias quite a bit by dining on a bit of Thai, Chinese, Japanese and fusion dishes. \u00a0We went strong with appetizers (and probably ordered too many, literally, there wasn’t enough room on the table). \u00a0With sushi, ribs, prawns, salad, and rather incredible drinks, Hubs and I had to take a long break between courses. \u00a0Our favorite of the group were the Sweet and Sticky Veal Ribs<\/em> (AED92), which came with 4 portions (plenty for both of us). \u00a0The meat was incredibly tender and just as sweet and sticky as advertised. \u00a0For beverages, we were pointed towards the Tokyo Twist<\/em> as well as the Tiffin Cup<\/em>. \u00a0The Tokyo Twist (including notes of ginger, cilantro, and sake) was one of the most refreshing drinks I’ve had the pleasure of drinking (and, for the record, my little Dubai heart swelled when reviewing the prices of the cocktails at Teatro — just right for the market and not the overpriced beverages we have to deal with down the road).<\/p>\n

For our mains, Hubs took the advice of our waitress and ordered the special tofu bowl (limited menu for Chinese New Year through February 4th), while I stuck with the generously portioned Lotus Blossom<\/em>\u00a0with duck<\/em> (AED115), which I had sampled at the Taste of Abu Dhabi (and fallen in love with). \u00a0Both were definitely big enough to share, or, in my case, enjoy for lunch the following day.<\/p>\n

If I had any notes, it would be that I don’t specifically ‘get’ the restaurant. \u00a0As a personal preference, I prefer venues to dedicate to one cuisine\u00a0or another, but I don’t think this lack of focus has any real impact on Teatro. \u00a0I also couldn’t understand why the menus had names (and photos) from various Broadway shows — it didn’t really add anything, and as far as I could tell, the theme didn’t carry through any other part of the meal. \u00a0Similarly, I couldn’t get a read on the ambient music (and wished there would be a consistent sound).<\/p>\n

So, even though the venue itself can’t seem to decide exactly what it wants to be, would these details stop me from coming back? \u00a0Not at all! \u00a0Although a bit further off island, I think Teatro is the location for a fun (and tasty) evening (without having to break the bank). \u00a0The staff were attentive, personable, and happy to help us celebrate a festive Chinese New Year.<\/p>\n

<\/a> <\/a> <\/a><\/a><\/a> <\/a><\/p>\n

Have you been Teatro? \u00a0Off of the extensive menu, what’s your favorite dish to order?
\n<\/a><\/p>\n

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Long time readers will know that when I lived in Abu Dhabi, I was an island snob. \u00a0I was also overworked and a bit of a shut-in, so I limited almost all my dining to Saadiyat (with occasional trips to the main island and Yas). \u00a0Thus, I missed out on some great opportunities in the capital! \u00a0Case in point, Teatro. \u00a0I’ve lived in the region long enough to have visited a number of Rotana properties, but never knew Teatro was considered the signature restaurant of the brand. \u00a0So, with an invitation to the Park Rotana (which I’ll review in a separate post), it was easy to say yes. To start, what I think one of Teatro’s greatest strengths is the insane range of the menu (You want burrata? \u00a0Gyoza? \u00a0How about maki or pizza? \u00a0Butter chicken? \u00a0Vegetarian options? \u00a0Teatro’s got you covered). \u00a0Hubs and I pointed out multiple times during…<\/p>\n

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