You know a brunch is gigantic when your placemat has a map of all the stations, and you still need directions to find the grill station (outside, over the bridge and on the other side).
The Market Brunch at Saadiyat Rotana Resort & Villa is recognised for being one of the biggest in Abu Dhabi with it taking up Sim Sim Restaurant and spilling over into courtyards, the outdoor pool area and even Si Ristorante Italiano & Bar, where a selection of British meats are available.
The scale is obvious as you walk down the stairs from the lobby to the lower level and are greeted with crates and crates of fresh produce. Talk about taking the market approach, literally. Diners are given welcome drinks and shown to their seats which have number cards on them (next to the map) for ordering from the grill. Sit outside for the views and grill access or inside to watch the action at the live stations.
Like the best of buffet brunches, there is a dizzying array of choice, so do a few laps and come up a game plan.
If nothing else, the additional steps will help you squeeze in an extra plate or two.
And take a bonus lap just to snap photos because the market displays, bags of spices and behemoth grills outside are worthy of a picture as much as they are for sampling.
This is not a place where quantity wins over quality and over the embarrassing number of plates we’ve tried, it’s tough to find fault with any dish. Build your own hummus, Indian, Italian, Mexican, grills, mezze and one of the biggest cheese stations we’ve seen all deliver.
Desserts can sometimes be a letdown at buffet brunches, but not at Sim Sim. It’s obvious there is a pro in the kitchen with elegant options (matcha rolls, saffron cheesecakes, tiramisu) lining the shelves for more mature sweet tooths, next to a double chocolate fountain and candies for kids.
Even with a grand place full of hungry guests of all ages, staff are present. They direct the flow at live stations and there is no confusion about whether it’s self-serve or not. Staff even come around to each table to take drink orders and deliver them in record speed. And they even time it right to ask if we’d like coffee with our (multiple) desserts.
The only time we’re confused is when we come back with plates piled high from the barbecue and carvery stations to be told we need to pay now. (Did we order the wrong grilled meat? Was there a time limit we weren’t aware of?) With fish still waiting to return from the grill, we ask and staff explain that there is no time limit and we’re welcome to stay from 1pm to 4pm (if our stomachs can take it).
Paying earlier works out for us because we’re then free to waddle straight out after making room for a final éclair.
If all the eating has left you ready for a nap, there’s full-day pool and beach access packages for brunch guests so you can sleep off that pasta corner under the sunny skies.
We sense a weekend routine forming.
Dhs390 (soft drinks), Dhs515 (house beverages), Dhs615 (bubbly, premium beverages, grapes, mixed drinks), Dhs195 (kids aged six to 11), free (kids under six). Fridays 1pm-4pm. Licensed. Saadiyat Rotana Resort & Villas, Saadiyat Island (02 697 0000).
What is it:
A mammoth buffet brunch on Saadiyat Island that has everything you want, and more
Why go:
For an epic feast that will stand out even for regular brunch-goers
