_11783667-1200x800.jpg)
Walk into Stratos Revolving Lounge & Bar on any given night and you’re guaranteed a gorgeous view of the downtown Abu Dhabi skyline.
As the sun sets you’ll see the city bathed in golden light, and as the evening stretches on you’ll enjoy a stunning nightscape too.
There is no better way to soak up those Friday night vibes than at Stratos’ evening brunch. Grab your sweetheart, your family, or a bunch of friends and head to this spot. Just make sure you come hungry because the procession of food here is almost infinite.
As soon as you step inside you’ll feel a shift in the atmosphere. Maybe it’s the jazzy tunes, maybe it’s the slowly revolving bar, or maybe it’s the busy space filled with plates whirling in and out of the kitchen. Whatever that “it” factor is – we’re drawn in right away.
Everyone is dressed up for this classy joint, and conversation is flowing over drinks and mountains of food. The evening brunch is themed around supper club staples, so if you’re a vegetarian this might not be the best option for you, since almost all of the menu is meat-based.
The meal starts with lentil and sundried tomato croquettes stuffed with black olive emulsion, basil, leeks, and tahini yogurt. Be careful because these bites are impossibly moreish (we ordered seconds and still had to stop ourselves shovelling a third round into our pockets on the way out). Steamed duck gyoza follows with ginger and black vinegar sauce, and is similarly easy to fall for.
Next comes a gently seared tuna tataki, buffalo wings and roasted shrimp. The wings are tasty and have just the right amount of spice, but are quickly passed over in favour of the shrimp, which sits in a chorizo broth with chickpeas and onions.
By this point, we’ve completely forgotten about the Josper-roasted meatballs and Angus beef sliders, which are next to arrive to the table. Through the haze of a rapidly descending food coma, both manage to impress, but leave us in what can only be described as a complete stupor.
If you have a raging appetite that just can’t be satisfied, this brunch is certainly up to the challenge. The portions are huge, which is a welcome change from the all-you-can-eat brunches that bring you tiny bites on hundreds of plates.
The Stratos supper club brunch will cost you Dhs395 per person and there is no soft option, so if you’re not ordering from the five mixed drinks choices on offer, you might not feel like you’re getting your money’s worth.
There’s also the option to upgrade to the sparkling package for an extra Dhs80, or opt for the extra-bougie bubbly package for an additional Dhs155. If, somehow (impossibly) you’re not blown away by the sprawl of food in the original package, you can also add an additional platter to the meal (genuinely) with the chef’s selection of meat and seafoods from the Josper for Dhs100.
Simply put, this brunch packs an incredible punch with its great vibes and incredible endless food and drinks. If you don’t have a good time, we’ll eat our hat. (Just give us half an hour first.)
Dhs395 (mixed), Dhs475 (sparkling), Dhs495 (extra platter), Dhs550 (bubbly). Fri, three hours from 6pm. Le Royal Méridien Abu Dhabi, Khalifa Street (02 695 0490).
