Shopping till you drop? Nah, not us. We like to refuel when we’re indulging in a little retail therapy, so have tried and tested some of the capital’s best mall eateries.
Il Forno: Il Forno serves a classic Italian menu with an endless range of pizzas, pastas and salads. It’s all quite basic stuff, but surprisingly tasty given the low prices. The pizza is particularly good – thin crispy bases, generous amounts of topping and they’re easily big enough to share between two people. But the main reason we always revisit this branch of Il Forno is the shady terrace outside, where you can sit and gaze at the sea and the Beach Rotana’s stretch of sand while you eat. Classic menu maybe, but classic mall dining this isn’t.
Best dish: Pizza Rosta. Red peppers, artichokes, cherry tomatoes and goat’s cheese make it a vegetarian winner.
Abu Dhabi Mall (02 6447511)
Mirabel: We’re going to go out on a limb here and say that Mirabel is the poshest mall-based restaurant in the capital. It’s certainly the only one we’d go to deliberately, rather than just because we were already shopping in the vicinity. Their elegant European style stretches from the decor (art deco pictures and fresh lilies) to the menu, a spread of gourmet salads, sandwiches and light main meals. Their cakes are unspeakably good, and the atmosphere is relaxed and sophisticated. Just don’t sit outside, or you’ll end up with a view of Marks & Spencer’s window display to gaze at for the duration of your meal – and their boulder-holders aren’t particularly appetising…
Best dish: Goat’s cheese millefeuille, made with Crottin de Chavignol cheese, delicate pastry sheets and plenty of rocket.
Fotouh Al Khair Centre (Marks & Spencer Mall) (02 631 5111)
Thai Express: It’s easy to forget in Abu Dhabi that Thai food shouldn’t be too expensive – the ingredients are generally simple and most of the popular dishes can be fried up in a matter of minutes. Yet the only place in the city where this is really reflected in the price is Thai Express, a humble stall in the Food Court of Al Wahda Mall. Colossal platefuls are served up, and taste fresh, spicy and zingy in turn. No wonder the queue is always so long.
Best dish: Phad Thai with chicken, shrimp, peanuts and sweet chilli sauce
Al Wahda Malll (02 443 7570)
Zaatar W Zeit: Everything about Zaatar W Zeit is inviting, from the funky sketches of Lebanese food on the walls to the smell of warm bread and the cheery staff. Their wraps weigh a ton, as they’re so laden down with labneh, herbs, vegetables and meat. In other words, you’re never left hungry, particularly not if you get in a portion of their fries with sour cream on the side – so bad for you yet so delicious it’s criminal. Wash it all down with a mint lemonade and you’ll be on top of the world for the rest of the day.
Best dish: Djeij W Jebneh – packed with chicken, cheese, salad and pickles. Order it on brown bread for an extra crunch.
Abu Dhabi Mall (02 645 8034)
Zyng Asian Grill: The jury’s still out on Zyng Asian Grill. The doubters say they serve inauthentic slop in a sterile environment. This, we’ll concede, has some truth to it – it’s certainly fast food. But we have to admit Zyng Asian Grill is one of our guilty pleasures, because the thing is, most of their salt-laden, fatty dishes still taste good. The menu has options from all across Asia, including passable sushi and Chinese appetisers. It’s always busy, which is nothing short of a miracle for this rather grim corner of Marina Mall.
Best dish: Their rainbow sushi rolls are freshly prepared and made with generous chunks of tuna and salmon.
Marina Mall (02 681 9319)
