Walk into Urban Kitchen on a Friday and you’ll immediately be confronted by the sweet sounds and incredible smells of the Extraordinary Dusit Brunch. If you aren’t walking in hungry, you’re about to be ravenous.
This is the kind of brunch that puts other “international” brunches to shame. Each cuisine has its own section, with special cooking stations dedicated to specific dishes. It replicates the feeling of walking through a foodie district in a big city, with street food offerings everywhere you turn. In one word, this brunch is huge.
To ease in, start with the sushi and salad. There is every type of sushi you can think of on offer, with a chef putting together new rolls faster than you can scoop them up. Mango crab salad deserves a shout out too – sweet, tangy, and the perfect way to start the feast.
Hang on though, because it’s about to get even better.
Live stations include chaat, Thai curry, Peking duck, banh mi and pasta.
There’s a bread and cheese section with creamy brie, raclette, comte, buchette and more (again, the cheese alone would be enough to sustain an army), while the accompanying bread is freshly baked.
We skip right over the European section (there’s no time for hesitation, and if you even took one bite of each dish here you’d burst – we’ll have to come back some other day). There’s a huge seafood selection to get into, groaning with oysters, shellfish, tuna tartare, and seafood ceviche.
Those who manage to tear their eyes from their plates will note that the mood here is lively and the brunch is generally fully booked. And it’s no mystery why. Dusit’s Friday offering has a family-friendly vibe, with people of all ages enjoying the music, ambience, and food.
Onwards to dessert, which also has its own section, with individual cakes, chocolate fountains, fruits, candies, ice cream, cookies, tarts, bars, and more.
It’s a spread that hits every single note, upholding the quality and finesse of the rest of the brunch, with the cheesecake particularly worthy of a shout-out.
Take your time, or the sugar buzz could knock you right off your feet.
Everything about this brunch is a knock-out. Book it now, and be sure to arrive hungry. Extraordinarily hungry.
Dhs270 (soft), Dhs400 (house), Dhs99 (kids 7-12). Fri 12.30pm-4pm. Dusit Thani Abu Dhabi, Al Muroor Road (02 698 8137).
