Filini

Filini
Take a seat on the terrace of this stylish restaurant and admire the view of Yas Links golf course and the turquoise waters of the Arabian Sea.
Filini is the ideal place to while away an afternoon, indulging in fine Italian cuisine and taking in the Yas Island scenery.
The best time to do this is on Fridays when the restaurant offers a unique ‘brunch’ concept with freshly prepared Italian dishes from a specially designed menu. “It is important that Filini reflects the true Italian way of living and the concept of our new brunch is intended to mirror a traditional family dining experience in Italy,” says chef Thomas Marchi.
Instead of the standard buffet brunch, waiters deliver 15 different small dishes to the table. The menu changes weekly, but includes antipasti, pasta, risotto, pizza, chicken, meat and fish dishes and classic desserts such as tiramisu and panna cotta.
The brunch costs AED145 including soft drinks, or AED190 with house wine and beer.
Those who visit outside of the brunch times can make their selection from the extensive à la carte menu. Recommended dishes include beef caprese with buffalo mozzarella, grilled tomato and basil olive oil, and veal escalope with sage and crunchy bresaola with sauteed spinach, raising butter and hazelnut sauce.
Where: Radisson Blu Hotel, Abu Dhabi Yas Island
When: 12 to 3pm and 6 to 11.30pm
Contact: 02 6562000

Afya Beach Lounge

Afya Beach Lounge
Children can build sand castles on the beach, jump in the bouncy castle or play in the playground at the Friday afternoon barbecue at Traders Hotel Qaryat Al Beri. And there’s also face painting for a little extra colour.
While the children are playing, parents can listen to classic tunes played by the DJ, while enjoying barbecue food and drinks.
On the barbecue menu, guests will find grills such as shish tawook, fish, marinated prawns and kofta as well as roasted meats, burgers and chicken drumsticks. There is also a selection of cold Arabic mezze, salads and desserts
Beverages, which are bought separately, include soft drinks, juices, wine and beer.
The beach barbecue parties have risen enormously in popularity. So much so, that the beach is now open from Saturday to Thursday from 5pm. Diners can enjoy a Mediterranean barbecue on Thursday nights from 6pm and shisha and snacks on the remaining evenings.
For families looking to enjoy the sand and sea under the stars with great food and music, the Traders Beach Barbecue Party is perfect.
Where: Traders Hotel, Qaryat Al Beri
When: Fridays from 5 to 11pm
Contact: 02 5108888

Suhail

Suhail
Set amid the towering dunes of the desert, the ter-race at Suhail is the ultimate place for watching an Arabian sunset.
Arm yourself with a camera and tripod to capture the moment forever, or just sit back and relax on one of the comfortable sofas with an aperitif.
After the sun goes down, look out over the surrounding desert village which lights up like a luxury oasis or venture inside to the bar or adjacent restaurant.
On the menu at this rooftop bar and grill, guests will find fine cuts of meat and fresh seafood flown in from all over the world as well as vegetarian options. Highlights include the starter of duck liver ravioli with mushroom duxelle and truffle foam, and sesame-crusted yellowfin tuna with wasabi mousse and ginger confit. For mains, try the pan-fried marinated black cod with young vegetables and parmesan foam, or the wagyu beef strip loin with pont neuf potato, shallot marmalade and Szechuan peppercorn sauce.
To accompany the cuisine, Suhail offers a comprehensive selection of fine Champagnes and wines all housed in a walk-in wine cave.
Where: Qasr Al Sarab Desert Resort by Anantara
When: 7 to 11pm
Contact: 02 8862088

Prego's

Prego’s
This warm and friendly restaurant is one of Abu Dhabi’s most popular Italian eateries and its terrace is highly sought after during the winter months.
Overlooking the gardens, beach and turquoise sea, it’s a prime position by day or night.
The menu features classic dishes with starters such as beef carpaccio and bruschette. As expected there is pizza, pasta and risotto with seafood, beef and chicken varieties as well as a good selection to keep vegetarians satisfied. The Prego’s team is also happy to adjust menus to cater for dietary requirements and personal preference.
Menu highlights include the homemade pasta with garden herbs, cepe mushrooms, smoked turkey, asparagus and black truffle oil; oven-baked tiger prawns with sweet peppers, baby potatoes and rocket salad in citrus dressing; and the warming winter dish osso bucco.
Stick with tradition and order tiramisu for dessert or branch out with the fresh berry tart with parmesan ice cream and raspberry coulis.
For warm, friendly service and a relaxed vibe, you can’t beat Prego’s.
Where: Beach Rotana Abu Dhabi
When: Noon to 3.30pm and 7 to 11.30pm
Contact: 02 6979000

Finz

SEAFOOD
Finz
Perched over the water in a wooden hut, this romantic seafood restaurant has a boardwalk terrace that’s perfect for outdoor dining.
Whether taking in the views of the glistening Gulf waters or observing the growing Abu Dhabi skyline, by day or night Finz is one of Abu Dhabi’s favourite restaurants.
The menu features all manner of seafood dishes, but perhaps one of the most recommended is the salt-crusted sea bass for two, which comes with lobster and tarragon sauce, seasonal vegetables, baby potatoes and rice. The mixed seafood grill platter is also popular.
The seafood is sourced from all over the world. The sea bass is from Norway, the Dover sole from European waters, the sako tuna comes from the Philippines, the oysters are from France, the salmon from Norway and the catch of the day is from the local fish market.
The wine list is extensive, while the service is friendly and attentive. There are few better ways to enjoy a seafood meal than overlooking the water, with a gentle breeze of mild sea air.
Where: Beach Rotana Abu Dhabi 
When: Daily 12.30 to 3.30pm and 7 to 11.30pm
Contact: 02 6979000

ALSO TRY
Nautilus
Yas Viceroy
02 6560600
Admire luxury yachts in Yas Marina while feasting on fresh seafood in this ultra- modern restaurant.

Turquoiz
St. Regis Saadiyat Island Resort
02 4036577
Relaxed beachfront restaurant and lounge serving a good selection of fresh seafood.

Chamas

STEAKHOUSES
Chamas
There are two things you’ll need to get through dinner at Chamas: A large appetite and a craving for meat. That’s not to say that vegetarians won’t be catered for here – there is an extensive salad bar – but really, it’s more for the avid carnivores.
Chamas, which means flames in Portuguese, is Abu Dhabi’s only churrascaria, or Brazilian-style steakhouse, and the pasadors (meat waiters) roam the restaurant with a variety of flame-grilled meat on long skewers eagerly carving slices onto the diners’ plates.
After choosing their first course from the salad buffet, guests will find a coaster-sized disk at each place setting when they return to their table. One side of the disk is red while
the other side is green. This is to let the pasadors know when to bring more meat. Red means ‘not now thanks’, while green means ‘bring it on’.
With a warm atmosphere, energetic staff and as much meat as diners can stomach, guests are certain to remember their meal at Chamas.
Where: InterContinental Abu Dhabi
When: Dinner and Friday lunch
Contact: 800 423463

ALSO TRY
Marco Pierre White Steakhouse & Grill
Fairmont Bab Al Bahr
02 6543000
Popular steakhouse
overseen by the three-star Michelin chef.

55th and 5th The Grill
St. Regis Saadiyat Island Resort
02 4036577
Signature restaurant with a terrace overlooking the Arabian Gulf.

Hakkasan

ASIAN
Hakkasan
One of the first restaurants of high-end international fame to open in the capital, Hakkasan is an ultra-trendy Chinese restaurant from a Michelin-star stable.
The restaurant’s design and décor are as much a work of art as the dishes. Dark wood, high ceilings, creative lighting and private dining spaces adequately reflect the modern Chinese cuisine while still capturing the Middle Eastern location.
Start the evening at the 20-metre-long bar and enjoy a signature cocktail before moving through to the restaurant, which is divided into two sections with private dining areas. Those near the kitchen can watch the chefs through the aquarium-like blue glass.
The menu is impressive with many Hakkasan specialities. Try the jasmine tea-smoked wagyu beef ribs as a starter and charcoal-grilled silver cod with Champagne and Chinese honey for main.
Where: Emirates Palace
When: Daily 6pm to midnight
Contact: 02 6907999

ALSO TRY
Cho Gao
Crowne Plaza
Abu Dhabi
02 6166122
Trendy restaurant in the centre of Abu Dhabi serving a range of Asian cuisine.

Talay
Le Meridien Abu Dhabi
02 6446666
Best Thai restaurant in town. Reserve a table on the terrace overlooking the water.

Mezlai

REGIONAL
Mezlai
The UAE’s first five-star Emirati restaurant, Mezlai at Emirates Palace is a must for those who want to taste more than just the local culture during their visit. While Lebanese cuisine is common throughout Abu Dhabi, Emirati cuisine has been hard to find, until now.
Mezlai’s chef, Ali Salim Ebdowa, says Emirati food differs from Lebanese food in the way it is cooked and the spices that are used.
Chef Ebdowa recommends visitors try his signature dish lamb medfoun. “You don’t see this dish every day,” says chef Ebdowa. “Families would normally make it during Eid. It’s a once-a-year dish.” The roasted lamb shoulder with chick peas in tomato sauce is served with a sauce of dates, honey, vinegar, yeast, local spices and garlic.
Mezlai is not out of place in the opulent Emirates Palace hotel. With high ceilings and large windows, it is bathed by light during the day yet cosy in the evenings.
Arabian hospitality is at the core of the experience and diners are treated to Arabic coffee and dates in the majlis on arrival.
Where: Emirates Palace
When: 1 to 11pm
Contact: 02 6909000

ALSO TRY
Marakesh
Millennium Hotel Abu Dhabi
02 6262700
Moroccan restaurant with theme nights and entertainment by a belly dancer and band.

Mawal
Hilton Abu Dhabi
02 6811900
Lively Lebanese restaurant with a belly dancer and singer to entertain late into
the night.

Spaccanapoli

ITALIAN
Spaccanapoli
This central Abu Dhabi restaurant serves simple traditional food that an Italian family would prepare at home. According to restaurant manager Luca Busato, when the team was putting together the initial menu, “we had to think of what our mums would cook at home”.
Spaccanapoli’s warm, themed interior has a relaxed atmosphere making it perfect for families.
But the real treat is in the eating and this is something Spaccanapoli does on a grand scale. The large wood-fired pizza oven can produce one-metre-long pizzas.
All recipes are prepared using traditional methods and with an Italian chef and restaurant manager, diners know they are in for the real deal.
Where: Crowne Plaza Abu Dhabi
When: Noon to 4pm and 7 to 11pm
Contact: 02 6166122

ALSO TRY
Prego’s
Beach Rotana
02 6979000
Casual Italian eatery serving authentic cuisine, with a terrace overlooking the water.

The Beach House
Park Hyatt Abu Dhabi
02 6738301
Offers Mediterranean dishes and great views of Saadiyat Beach. Venture upstairs for sundowners.

Words by Scott Birch

Verre by Gordon Ramsay

Verre by Gordon Ramsay

Some say abrasive, others say passionate. Whichever camp you fall into regarding Gordon Ramsay, you can’t deny the quality of his restaurants and his influence on the Dubai dining scene. When Verre opened a decade ago, it was the first celebrity restaurant in the city and Ramsay’s first outside the UK. In a fast-moving culinary environment it has managed to maintain its status as one of the best eateries in the emirate.
While the figurehead oversees the restaurant on his frequent visits, the task of maintaining Ramsay’s particular standards falls on the shoulders of talented chef Scott Price. Given the scope to adapt the menu to incorporate the best produce available, Price adds his own signatures and style to the Ramsay formula.
Revamped last year, the interior is a sophisticated, contemporary space that is elegant enough to let the food do the talking.
Dinner guests can choose from the three-course set menu, with enough options to keep most diners happy (unless they happen to be Ramsay’s bête noire, the vegetarian). Alternatively, there is a superb degustation menu which provides samples of many of those same dishes – perfect if you can’t make up your mind. All dishes are meticulously presented, with quality ingredients and inventive combinations.
An essential selection has to be the signature tarte tatin. Made for sharing, this sticky sensation is served table side, only adding to the spectacle.
Or for a close-up experience, book the chef’s table and dine in-kitchen with chef Scott. He promises not to bite.
Location: Hilton Dubai Creek
Contact: 04 2127551

Rhodes Twenty10

Rhodes Twenty10

Dubbed ‘the don of British cuisine’, Gary Rhodes has a host of best-selling books and TV series to back up that claim. Renowned for championing the great British dessert (think sticky toffee pudding or treacle tart) and other comfort classics, it may be surprising to learn that this venture is first and foremost a steakhouse – albeit arguably the best in town.
Like Rhodes Mezzanine, Rhodes Twenty10 has stylish décor and ambience that’s as crisp as a perfectly cooked chip. The menu has an ‘emphasis on sharing’ so expect starters to be substantial enough for two. When it comes to mains, there is a wide selection of premium cuts including the ubiquitous wagyu – all cooked to exacting standards.
Rhodes’ desserts, as mentioned, are not to be missed, and provide a distinctly British finale to a fine steak dinner.
With a growing fanbase and Rhodes’ reputation, we suggest you make your bookings early to avoid the traffic.
Location: Le Royal Méridien Beach Resort & Spa
Contact: 04 3995555

Reflets par Pierre Gagnaire

Reflet par Pierre Gagnaire

This multiple-award winning restaurant offers the finest of French food from the mind of masterful chef Pierre Gagnaire. His eponymous restaurant in Paris regularly ranks in the top five restaurants in the world and with other restaurants opening across the globe bearing his name, you can be assured of a similarly stellar experience in Dubai.
With presentation and service bordering on theatre, playful décor and a mischievous menu of weird (and always wonderful) dishes, this is a true gastronomic adventure.
If dinner reservations are proving difficult, opt instead for the three-course business lunch which, at AED180, represents excellent value.
Location: InterContinental Hotel Dubai Festival City
Contact: 04 7011127

Frankie's

Frankie’s Italian Bar & Grill

Go along for a fun ride with horseracing’s crown prince, Frankie Dettori, as he presents his own version of iconic Italian dishes alongside renowned culinary king Marco Pierre White. The two first collaborated in London and the winning formula has been recreated in both Dubai and Abu Dhabi.
The menu is broad, comprising 80 dishes typical of northern Italian cuisine, while the pianist adds an extra air of grandeur and sophistication.
Originally conceived as a diner, service is fast and informal, making it particularly good for families or those looking for a more relaxed meal. The multi-award winning Frankie’s is a hot favourite for fun fine food.
Location: Oasis Beach Tower
Contact: 04 3994311

Indego

Indego by Vineet

Serving a cunning combination of the best Indian cuisine but with European influences, this is a high-class dining experience. Not so much ‘fusion’ as ‘suggestible’, the menu is the brainchild of India’s first Michelin-starred chef, Vineet Bhatia.
If weather permits, dining can also take on a more relaxed feel on the terrace, where a new tapas menu features typically inventive combinations, including sundried tomato chicken tikka, masala rice balls with asparagus spears or chilli-lime scallops and saffron mash.
Inside, the décor has more of a polished Western feel, with crisp white tablecloths and simple furnishings punctuated by Indian icons to remind you of what’s in store.
Chef Bhatia continues to create, meaning a trip to this award-winning Indian restaurant is sure to delight
both die-hards and debutants to the popular cuisine.
Location: Grosvenor House Dubai
Contact: 04 3176000

Also try

Jamie’s Italian

04 2329969
This first international foray for UK celebrity chef Jamie Oliver has been eagerly anticipated by Dubai residents. The Festival City outlet has two levels as well as an outdoor terrace for winter months. Expect rustic and hearty Italian fare with the renowned Oliver twist.

Asha’s

04 3244100
If high-end Indian food sounds tempting, head to Asha’s at Wafi City for a fiery and fine taste of Indian acting legend Asha Bosle’s favourite dishes.