The novelty of being able to dine outdoors in the winter months is not lost on us, especially when, for many of us, pictures from back home are of landscapes covered in snow.
While we may need to cosy up next to an outdoor heater or wear a jacket (shock!), enjoying an al fresco experience is always top of our to-dine list.
This Beach Rotana venue makes the most of its idyllic setting, with an array of tables spread across the grass looking out to Al Maryah Island a stone’s throw from the shore.
And the space it occupies is a winner. No concrete-hewn building, no roofs, no fuss.
Taking our seats on the grass at a picnic table-style bench, we take a look at the menu to see what’s on offer. What we’re impressed most with is the effort taken to be environmentally friendly, sustainable and celebrate locally-grown produce.
All the meat is grass-fed and free-range, and the seafood and vegetables are bought from farms and fishermen in Al Ain.
The Garden by Bay View gets top marks for its efforts, and before we even begin to tuck in we’re big fans.
When we do get round to ordering we choose the chicken wings and the charred and crushed avocado to start.
The wings, served Korean-style, are a real treat, while the avo (essentially a funky guacamole) is scoffed with gusto.
For main courses we opt for an Angus burger and the catch of the day. The former is pretty hefty but we’re definitely cool with that. The meat is well cooked and the toppings (including more avocado, of which we clearly can’t get enough) are plentiful, but it lacks a little punch perhaps from a lack of pepper.
However, the catch of the day, this time red snapper, is an absolute delight.
Rubbed with chilli, this fabulous fish is cooked masterfully and arrives with a medley of fresh vegetables including marrow, courgette and peppers.
We gleefully make short work of it, making a mental note of how we could recreate it at home (if our skills stood up).
We appreciate the charm of the al fresco approach, love the efforts made to celebrate local foods and we leave with full stomachs. We’re excited to see more of this place in the future.
