A new restaurant serving up splendours from the sea is set to tackle the city’s fish loving taste buds. Although entering a market already overflowing with quality seafood fare, this high-end eaterie, which opened just over a month ago, is hoping to climb the ranks as one of the city’s go-to spots for a great meal in a special setting.
Scott’s London has been operating for over 140 years establishing a solid reputation for superb food along the way. So why has a branch suddenly emerged in the nation’s capital? Quite simply, because of the thriving local market, as well as being featured in the iconic Etihad Towers.
Walking through the lobby at Jumeirah at Etihad Towers, you can’t help but be impressed. The opulent décor piqued by funky elements leads to Scott’s, which is located behind the hotel. Standing on a lone island by the pools, the large white curved structure looms like a giant pearl in the sea. Venturing into the restaurant, past a large metallic swordfish, it’s clear that the interior design fully complements the ascetic magnificence of the hotel.
The structure houses two floors; the upstairs section has a very elegant gentlemen’s corner, with a chic bar and seating that looks out onto the terrace which, although open all day, is intended for people to lounge around in as opposed to dine in. With the capacity to seat nearly 100 people, the lower floor is split up between indoor and outdoor seating. We sat outside, taking in the great view of the water and the city’s stunning skyline in the distance.
The chef working behind the scenes is Carl Tichart, a South African bringing with him years of experience in fine dining. Once our waiter presented us with our menus we asked the head chef if any changes had been incorporated to better suit the local market here. ‘We already have local fish on our menu, for example the prawns are local, as are the kingfish and hammour. In the future we will be adding other dishes with a local twist but also staying true to the Scott’s style.’ While most of the fish is sourced from the UK, this branch will also be featuring items that are available in local markets.
The menu is simple and modelled on the one in London. Offering up five kinds of oysters, three kinds of caviar, various crustaceans, fish and side orders, meat, poultry and desserts, the delectable menu will have you wishing you had a bottomless pit for a stomach. We opted for the Scottish smoked salmon, seared scallops in their shells and the shellfish bisque. The salmon was incredibly fresh and succulent enough to devour without lemon or bread. The scallops tasted every single bit as good as they looked. The bisque is poured at your table with the broth extremely flavourful without being overpowered by the taste of any particular herbs.
After the impressive array of starters were cleared, we had decidedly high hopes for our mains. Particularly memorable was the whole seared sea bass, which was cooked to perfection and not doused in seasoning. A herb and butter sauce accompanied it on the side and while the sauce was incredible, the fish was so fresh that it seemed criminal to mask its taste. Amid our dishes were some side orders, which included cauliflower cheese and mashed potatoes. The cauliflower was not overcooked and you could decipher its taste among the cheese, making it difficult to resist. The mashed potatoes were just as good and had us continuously digging in for ‘just one more little bite’.
The service at places of this calibre is usually exemplary, although they tend to hover and interject themselves into your dining experience. Though we probably had three waiters tending to our needs, we never felt hounded by eager staff wishing to please us. Everything was served, taken and cleared quietly and discreetly. And, in fact, it is details such as these, as well as keeping up with an incredibly fresh menu that could place Scott’s Abu Dhabi on par with its sister in London. Although newly opened, this venue is already building a formidable reputation.
While the meal, setting and service are incredible, the experience will put a serious dent in your wallet. However, you can chalk it up to a special evening out and looking at the other venues in this price category, if Scott’s carries on producing fare like this it may well find itself up there with the big hitters in the city.
Open daily noon-3.30pm, 7pm-11pm. Jumeirah at Etihad Towers, Corniche Road East (02 811 5555).
