Welcoming guest blogger, The New Glitterati<\/a>, to the team! \u00a0The fact I was invited to this dinner (and instead went to Social<\/a>) makes me super sad — it clearly would have been worth the trip. \u00a0And a warning, do not read while hungry!!<\/p>\n

Overview<\/strong><\/p>\n

Abu Dhabi is not particularly known for its Italian food, and it\u2019s certainly not a go-to for us. Circo<\/a> <\/strong>is tucked down in the InterContinental next to the Belgian Cafe and the first thing we saw, aside from the well-executed circus-themed decor, was the gleaming \u201cTime Out Abu Dhabi – Best Italian, 2015\u201d plaque proudly placed by the entrance. It\u2019s been awhile since I\u2019ve had a legit Italian meal and we were excited to try something new and see what the \u2018Dhabs had on offer.<\/p>\n

Plaques notwithstanding, Circo has a lot to live up to. The child restaurant of New York\u2019s famous Le Cirque, beloved by such regulars as Frank Sinatra, Diana Ross, and Andy Warhol (just your neighborhood celebrities, really), Circo is closely overseen by Le Cirque\u2019s founding Maccioni family. The Abu Dhabi location opened in late 2014 and joined the diverse offerings of the InterContinental which also includes Byblos and Chamas.<\/p>\n

Full disclosure: we were invited as guests of the General Manager, Gianluca Maglianella, and Mauro Maccioni, of the legendary Le Cirque Maccioni family. We received five star service, something Abu Dhabi tends to fall short of, but I took note that all of the guests dining at Circo on this particular Thursday seemed to be treated exceptionally well. Take note, hospitality sector: \u201csilent service\u201d is the fine dining art of subtle but timely anticipation of guest needs, and does not need to be subject to the ubiquitous Abu Dhabi mentality of \u201cbigger and bolder is better.\u201d Circo staff are artisans when it comes to unobtrusive refills, nearly invisible table clearings, and perfect timing of courses with accompaniments that don\u2019t even have to be requested. This alone sets the restaurant apart from some of its price point competitors.<\/p>\n

Reservations<\/strong><\/p>\n

While the interior was less than half full on a Thursday night at 8PM, the outside was completely booked. Circo shares coveted waterfront marina space with some of the other InterCon restaurants, and has a limited number of prime tables. Definitely call ahead to book for outside dining, but don\u2019t despair if it\u2019s full – the inside tables have the benefit of live entertainment as musicians play instrumental versions of a wide variety of jazz and modern favorites.<\/p>\n

Ambience<\/strong><\/p>\n

It could have been kitschy, but Circo nailed the circus theme with just the right balance of whimsy and class. The live music was a pleasant accompaniment, and it was fun to discover the little circusy details like trunk clasps on the bar front and a wall of mounted stylized monkey heads.<\/p>\n

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Menu<\/strong><\/p>\n

We were treated to a 5 course menu of chef\u2019s choice samplings.<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s what we had:<\/p>\n

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