WINNER
Oak Room
Of all the many restaurants in the capital, few ooze as much charm as Oak Room. This super-cool steakhouse has a rock and roll theme, with arty shots of The Rolling Stones, David Bowie and Lou Reed covering the walls, and an awesome soundtrack of the best British rock and indie artists. It specialises in beautiful meat, and the Weekend Roast is one of the best ways to spend a weekend. Featuring fine cuts of meats or a creamy fish pie served with roast vegetables and all the trimmings. Finish your feast with classic puddings like Victoria sponge and apple pie.
The Abu Dhabi EDITION, Al Bateen (02 208 0000).
HIGHLY COMMENDED
Butcher & Still
This prohibition-themed steakhouse Butcher & Still is the very definition of the word cool. The 1930s theme is carried out to brilliant effect, making it glamourous, sophisticated and very hipster-friendly all at the same time. The food is incredible, too, and it’s always a good sign when the side dishes such as the potato gratin, cheesy roast cauliflower and creamy spinach are just as fantastic as the tasty cuts of meat.
Four Seasons Hotel Abu Dhabi at Al Maryah Island (02 333 2444).
JW Steakhouse
With comfy leather seats and a Southern-USA feel, JW Steakhouse at Marriott Hotel Downtown Abu Dhabi is a very cool place to enjoy a fine cut of meat. The sides here are worth the money too, with smoky fries with paprika and gruyère, mash with truffle or cheddar cheese, loaded potato skins, lobster mac ’n’ cheese and indulgent creamed spinach all on offer. It’s all really quite fantastic and good value.
Marriott Hotel Downtown Abu Dhabi, Shaikh Rashid Bin Saeed Street (02 304 7777).
NOMINEES
Ray’s Grill
Head up to the 63rd floor of Jumeirah at Etihad Towers for a meal here. The meat is fantastic quality and the seafood dishes are also worth crowing over. Excellent service is par for the course here and if you ever wondered about different salts and peppers, you’ve come to the right place.
Jumeirah at Etihad Towers, West Corniche (02 811 5666).
Stratos
It’s in a revolving dining room, which is pretty special in itself, but Stratos is not just a gimmick. The food at this sky-high venue is also worth shouting from the rooftops about. Be sure to check out the special deals on throughout the week and it’s even better value than usually. Not the slickest or most modern of venues on this list but definitely one of the most impressive.
Le Royal Méridien, Sheikh Khalifa Street (02 695 0490).
The Forge
Steakhouses are usually thought of as high-end venues where you’ll probably splash out a big wad of cash on your meal, and while some of the places on this list are more affordable than others, The Forge wears its class, sophistication and price point on its sleeve. If you’re after a fancy nigh tout, things don’t get much better than this.
The Ritz-Carlton Abu Dhabi, Grand Canal, Khor Al Maqta (02 818 8282)
The Foundry
What The Foundry does better than perhaps any other venue on this list is service. There’s a reason this fairly casual steakhouse in a very good, but not quite five star, hotel has regulars that come back time and again. It’s great value, too, but the hospitality is what makes it really stand out.
Southern Sun Abu Dhabi, Al Zahiya (02 818 4888).
The Grill
A restaurant that has really impressed us over the past year – The Grill is a sophisticated but not stuffy venue serving some quite brilliant food. If you live towards Downtown Abu Dhabi and have not tried it because of its Khalifa City location, we urge you to reconsider.
Marriott Hotel A Forsan, Khalifa City A (02 201 4131).
The Park Bar & Grill
With the inflix of new hotels opening on Saadiyat Island you might be tempted to overlook the Park Hyatt, however it remains one of the most impressive properties in the capital. This is its flagship restaurant and is reason enough to visit.
Park Hyatt Abu Dhabi Hotel & Villas, Saadiyat Island (02 407 1138).
Turtle Bay Bar & Grill
You might be tempted to head straight to the rooftop bar here, which looks over the protected Saadiyat sands, where the Hawksbill turtles live (hence the venue’s name), however it’s indoors where you’ll find the delicious food. Expect plenty of surf and turf, and all of it is great.
Saadiyat Rotana Resort & Villas, Saadiyat Island (02 697 0000).
