Possibly the best thing about tapas is getting to order loads of dishes and not feeling self-conscious about selecting half the menu.
In fact, you end feeling bad for the few dishes that you don’t end up choosing. Sorry, cuttlefish, it’s not you, it’s us.
Fully expecting to gorge ourselves on plate upon plate of food, we make our way to the new Rayana Latin Tapas Bar at Andaz Capital Gate. The pretty venue is buzzing when we arrive, a sign that word has got out and the good people of Abu Dhabi are ready to venture out for food once more.
Most of the tables outdoors are taken and we’re thankful that we made a reservation.
The sun has set so we don’t get to enjoy the stunning views as much as we would in the daytime but with catchy Latin music playing and a cool breeze we’re still happy with the al fresco table.
The menu has lots of delicious-sounding dishes on it and we decide to try five of them between two of us. Enough to get a real taste but not too much to be overwhelmed. We can always order more, anyway, that’s the beauty of tapas.
It all arrives at once, looking spectacular, and we waste no time tucking in.
The tostada, a crisp toasted tortilla topped with soft crab meat, is a delight. It’s a brilliant mix of textures and flavours.
Sea bass ceviche has a perfect punch of citrus and the white fish is perfectly seasoned, plentiful and succulent.
Not to be overlooked, the guacamole, topped with radish and fresh herbs, is fresh and vibrant and if perfect, scooped up with handfuls of tortilla and plantain chips.
We also make short work of the baby calamari in this case, which are crisp and salty, elevated by a squeeze of lemon.
Enjoyable, but less vibrant and exciting as the rest of the dishes, the patatas bravas is quite simple, essentially seasoned potatoes, but we still enjoy it nonetheless.
The only thing left at the end of the meal is the ‘tigers’ milk’ from the bottom of the bowl of ceviche, so good is the food.
Rayana is certainly as much a restaurant as a nightspot, so whether you’re up for a drink and some tunes or a bite to eat, we totally recommend checking it out.
