It’s hard not to be blown away as you enter the gates of the Armed Forces Officers Club and Hotel. Our port of call on this occasion, once we’d finished admiring the incredible grandeur of the entrance, was the hotel’s Tex-Mex style bar and restaurant, Taverna.
The brightly-lit restaurant provided a pleasant welcome for us on a Saturday evening, just as the English Premier League’s late game was kicking-off. The large TV screens, strategically placed around the bar/restaurant, provided plenty of options of what to watch: cricket, rugby league and football were the offerings during our visit.
There were a handful of guests seated around the restaurant on arrival, giving us ample choice of the best place to sit. The waiter kindly changed the channel on the TV close to where we were seated to the Premier League match. It was the start of what was to be a hugely enjoyable evening, made even better by the excellent and attentive staff.
Leafing through the impressive selection on the menu, as we munched on the generous offerings of complimentary tortillas (with tasty dips), we chose crispy chicken wings and Louisiana crab cake for starters. For the main course, we chose the Mexican fajitas and Cajun spice rubbed chicken breast, which came with grilled banana, spicy fruit sauce and sweet potatoes. The fajitas were listed as having a choice of chicken, beef or prawns. Unable to make a choice, our waiter suggested that we might like all three. Why not!
The chicken wings arrived in great number, all lined up ready to eat. Their spicy, well-seasoned skins, combined with the barbecue sauce, made them divine to taste. The Louisiana crab cake was a little bland and we expected it to have a little more oomph than it actually had. It probably could have done with a salsa for that added flavour.
The Mexican fajitas arrived out on a sizzling pan with peppers (or capsicums), onions and a sweet and spicy sauce that combined the various ingredients together. The flour tortillas came with their own covered encasing, warm and ready for their delicious filling. The combination of all three definitely worked well.
The Cajun spice rubbed chicken breast was an interesting combination of textures and flavours that worked well together. After two helpings of tortillas, and the starters and main course, we could only manage one dessert between us and we opted for the healthier fruit salad, which was probably the ideal way to round off the evening. It was plain and simple, but very nice.
Overall, the Taverna is a really nice venue, with excellent and attentive service. We’re certainly looking forward to going back to watch some sport with some decent food.
The bill (for two)
Louisiana crab cake Dhs60
Crispy chicken wings Dhs35
Cajun chicken breast Dhs45
Mexican fajitas Dhs85
Tropical fruit salad Dhs30
Total (excluding service) Dhs255
