Bar wars
Stills
Where: Crowne Plaza Yas Island (02 501 3054)
The deal: We’ve been promised a Euro-style gastro-pub, which, in the UAE, can mean anything from a knock-about British boozer to fine dining by an LED fireplace. Nevertheless, Crowne Plaza tends to pick foody-bars well (just visit its Belgian Beer Café in Festival City, Dubai). With foie gras and Ballybunion mussels on the menu, this could be a winner.
Open: We’ve been told this month. Expect it well before F1 time.
Rush & Skylite
Where: The Yas Hotel, Yas Marina Circuit (02 501 7086)
The deal: A menu of super-punchy Eastern fare and uber-sophistication ensured Buddha Bar was voted best bar in Dubai by Time Out. This hi-rise pairing comes from the same people behind Buddha, so we’re expecting a lot. The rooftop bar (Skylite) offers a relaxed cabana and shisha chill-lounge; while the other (Rush) perches over the Yas Marina Circuit itself. The atmosphere should be awesome.
Open: To the public from November 2 – although a chosen few get to party there at the Grand Prix.
You got beef?
MPW Steakhouse
Where: Fairmont Bab Al Bahr, near Qayart Al Beri Souk (02 654 3000)
The deal: We all know about Marco Pierre White by now. Well, the uber-male renegade chef is rumoured to be dropping by the F1 this month in between overseeing the opening of his long-awaited steakhouse. The buzz is good – reviews of the London branch are largely positive. The capital is in need of a traditional steakhouse to rival Rodeo Grill – we reckon this might be it.
Open: In time for the F1 – Marco’s got to eat somewhere.
Blue Grill
Where: Yas Island Rotana (02 697 9000)
The deal: Billed as ‘trendy yet comfortable’ – usually hotel slang for, ‘we spent the money elsewhere’ – this steakhouse looks to be a pretty traditional sort. The good news is the money probably went on the wine cellar, which is supposed to be better than most. Meanwhile the char-grilled Australian prime Angus beef and muscular US steaks prop up a hefty menu and there’s no mad celebrity chefs in sight! A bonus?
Open: Mid-October. Pre-race steak anyone?
Eastern promise
Zeeba
Where: Radisson Blu Hotel, Yas Island (02 656 2000)
The deal: Persian cuisine is the order of the day here. Something the city lacks in spades, with only the super-expensive Anar and the odd backstreet gaff offering an alternative. The Persian equivalent at the Rad Blu in Dubai, Shabestan, has long been a consistent performer, with its live band and authentic mains, we expect similar quality here.
Open: Get ready to tuck in at the start of this month.
Barouk
Where: Crowne Plaza Yas Island (02 501 3054)
The deal: There’s no shortage of Levantine-themed restaurants in Abu Dhabi, but this appears to be only non-mall equivalent beyond the bridges. Offering the usual mix of waraq enab, fried kibbeh, houmous and tabbouleh, it promises some decent Lebanese fare at a reasonable price.
Open: Probably around the middle of the month.
Mamma mia!
Filini
Where: Radisson Blu Hotel, Yas Island (02 656 2000)
The deal: Authentic and reasonable is our assessment of the equivalent Italian joint at the Radisson Blu in Dubai, La Moda. Certainly the Blu does unpretentious well and Filini looks set to fall into that category. Much is made of the wine list and the setting, but the food looks to be pretty simple fare, if not exactly rustic. The simpler the better, we say, but we wonder if the celeb factor of Frankie’s will win over any waiverers?
Open: Anytime soon.
Frankie’s
Where: Fairmont Bab Al Bahr, near Qayart Al Beri Souk (02 654 3000)
The deal: That man Marco is back, this time with excitable Italian jockey Frankie Dettori in tow. A great deal is made of the restaurant’s reputation as family friendly, even if it isn’t all that cheap. In fairness, the food is largely excellent, though, if the Dubai branch is anything to go by, and this will provide a sore test for the capital’s more established Italian restaurants.
Open: Well in time for the Grand Prix Abu Dhabi final.
And finally…
The Yas Hotel deserves a greater mention in our list, even if there isn’t much information about yet. Perhaps most exciting is its authentic Japanese restaurant, Kazu, sporting sushi bars, teppan tables and a robatayaki grill. Meanwhile, it also boasts a noodle bar (Noodle Box), as well as new tandoori (Angar), Italian (Amici) and seafood restaurants (Nautilus). The latter sounds particularly enticing as its sits on the marina. All these open after November 2, although perhaps the most anticipation is reserved for Vine, the new fine-dining French restaurant, which is said to reside in ‘a gothic apothecary’. Alas you will have to wait for February for this one – Mary Shelley’s not finished designing the curtains yet.
