Angela Beitz heads out to a glamorous new night spot at one of the city’s most opulent hotels to see how it measures up against its rivals in the capital
The Ritz-Carlton Grand Canal may have only officially opened on March 10 but it’s already made a huge impact on the capital. Construction has reportedly cost Ritz-Carlton and its partner, Abu Dhabi National Hotels, more than Dhs1.5 billion (approximately $408.3 million US) so expectations are high for this latest super hotel. We’d heard a lot about their modern and innovative restaurants but it was their Venetian-inspired bar, Sorso, that was the reason for our visit this time around.
Service
Sorso means ‘to sip’ in Italian and this is how the Ritz-Carlton suggest you enjoy your evening drink. Service is impeccable. It’s probably some of the best we have experienced in the capital. Bar manager Robin Charnaud is an expert when it comes to mixology and creating fresh new beverage ideas for guests. Robin explains the concept behind the bar is to provide a traditional Ritz-Carlton experience, right down to the menu which is covered in a striking satin fabric. There are only about six signature blends on the menu and with names like Girl In A Yellow Dress, Wasp’s Wings and Venetian Perfume it’s hard not to be intrigued. The staff are also more than happy to make you your own drink if nothing on the menu takes your fancy. A great point of difference at Sorso is that all of their syrups and purees are made from scratch in-house. They have everything from peach and cherry puree, a thyme-infused ingredient for one of the signature blends and even a syrup they use which smells like Christmas. The bartenders topped our drinks up throughout the evening and brought a regular stream of excellent bar snacks – the olives, roasted cashews and cheese covered breadsticks are also all made in-house.
Décor and atmosphere
We sat at the back of the room on one of the very comfortable sofas looking at the bar which was buzzing with bartenders busily creating drinks. The bar itself is situated off the main lobby and is quite intimate. The décor is mainly black and red; looking like something out of a traditional production of La Bohème it has a real French boudoir vibe about it. The hotel is designed to reflect aspects of Venice, and this is the case in Sorso, with most of the chandeliers and lamps containing Murano glass and a black carpet which features words written in Italian such as Venezia and Ti Amo. There is live entertainment on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday nights from singer/songwriter Lisa Theunissen accompanied by Alistair Cusik on piano.
Food
The food at Sorso is designed to be shared and consists of tasty dishes like tempura fries, roasted chicken wings with pomegranate fries and mini black Angus sliders. We tried the crispy calamari, the coconut-coated prawns and the lamb chops. This was some seriously tasty bar fare. The calamari were coated in oatmeal and came with a grilled lemon and a delicious Romesco sauce that was packed with nutty flavours and loads of coriander. The prawns were lovely too, coated in lots of coconut and coriander and came served in a very cute cut out coconut half with sweet chilli dipping sauce. The lamb chops were fantastic. Four beautiful cuts, perfectly cooked and lightly covered in a tandoori rub sat on a black slate platter accompanied by mint yoghurt with a mango chutney.
Pros
Amazing service, fabulous drinks and great live music all add up to a fun night out. Perfect to unwind after work or for a special occasion like a birthday where you can drink and order great bar food to share.
Cons
The bar was a little empty on the night we visited but this didn’t dampen the atmosphere. It’s also a little bit of a trek from downtown, but frankly it’s worth the trip for the lamb chops alone.
Open daily 5pm-11pm, Ritz-Carlton Abu Dhabi Grand Canal, opposite the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque (02 818 8282).
