From lobster and scallops and hammour and more, Abu Dhabi is proof there’s plenty more fish in the sea, and much of the finest is served every day in the city’s eateries. Here’s our round-up.
Abu Dhabi’s history as a fishing port means the city has a special relationship with all things fishy. The good news is there are plenty of places you can try it in the capital. Whether you live for lobster, crave crab or are passionate about prawns, you’ll find seafood cooked to perfection in many of the city’s best restaurants. Dive in.
Best seafood restaurants
The eateries you must visit if you’re after fruits of the sea
Finz: Winner of Best Seafood at the Time Out Abu Dhabi Restaurant Awards 2012, Finz is one of the city’s oldest and biggest players when it comes to dishes from our oceans. So why did it win last year? Beautifully presented dishes, a vast menu, excellent knowledge from the friendly waiters, a beautiful setting and consistent quality. Situated at the back of the Beach Rotana, Finz looks like a secluded beach shack. Inside, the windows are massive, while the décor is bright and breezy. A grand spot to stop for a romantic dinner.
Must try dishes: The freshwater prawns, cooked in butter and olive oil with Asian-inspired flavours of coriander, chilli and garlic. Then go for the generously portioned lobster and choose to have it steamed, grilled, wok fried or cooked in a butter sauce with mushrooms. Also highly recommended is the grilled barramundi with violet mashed potatoes and the fish and chips.
Beach Rotana, Tourist Club Area (02 697 9011).
Pearls & Caviar: Serving some of the most creative cuisine in the capital (their brunch was a winner at the TOAD awards last year), this eatery is where Abu Dhabi’s chic like to spend an evening and they certainly dish up some rather fine seafood. The monochrome interior is classy and slick and if you want to eat al fresco, the terrace, with its views of the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, is a great option when the weather’s cooler. DJs play in the upstairs bar most evenings if you want to carry on the evening after dinner. This restaurant is a great place for a celebratory meal with innovative fine dining seafood dishes on offer.
Must try dishes: Start with the hand dived scallops with seared cauliflower cream, sultanin purée and saffron reduction then try the Alaskan halibut with leek stew, tapioca and lemongrass or the Canadian lobster cooked in an orange salted butter with fresh tarragon for your main.
Shangri-La Hotel, Qaryat Al Beri, Bain Al Jessrain (02 509 8888).
Fishmarket: You’re greeted on arrival by a vast display of fish and seafood on a bed of ice, then the fun begins: a waitress will take you around with a shopping basket helping you make your selection from the various shrimps, fish and all sorts of crustaceans. You then tell the waitress how you want it to all be cooked, what sauces you want and whether you want it with noodles or rice, before the chefs get to work on it in their open-plan kitchen. The food here is generally very good, although the prices might be a bit much for some wallets.
Must try dishes: Try the gorgeous, tasty simplicity of their grilled prawns.
InterContinental Hotel, Al Bateen (02 666 6888).
Sayad: This fancy restaurant in Emirates Palace focuses on seafood dishes with hints of molecular gastronomy, the not-quite-so newfangled cooking technique which employs all manner of technical innovations from food-appropriate scientific disciplines to experiment with how ingredients transform during different cooking processes, often yielding unique and unexpected results. It’s not as pretentious as it may sound. The creative cooking methods complement the seafood, the presentation of the dishes is always very impressive and the different textures and flavours are a lot of fun.
Must try dishes: The barramundi fillet which arrives on a plate strewn with slices of peach and little mounds of almond crumble.
Emirates Palace, Corniche Road West (02 690 7999).
Scott’s: This upmarket establishment only opened in December 2012 and is hoping to climb up the ranks as one of the city’s go-to spots for a great meal. Set over two floors, the upstairs section has a bar straight out of Mad Men and seating that looks out onto the lounge terrace. You’ll find five kinds of oysters, three kinds of caviar, various crustaceans, fish and side orders, meat, poultry and desserts on the huge menu. The prices are a bit steep so it might be one to save for a special occasion.
Must try dishes: Order the seared scallops in their shells with sea asparagus and a buttery garlic sauce to start and the whole sea bass for a main which comes served simply with a rich butter and lemon sauce.
Jumeirah at Etihad Towers, Corniche Road West (02 811 5555).
La Mer: Lovers of all things fishy will face several welcome dilemmas at La Mer in the Sofitel Abu Dhabi. The large menu covers everything from sushi to squid and octopus plus a whole array of different fish. You can order from the menu or from ‘the fish market’ – choose your desired fish or lobster and then have it cooked to your liking with a choice of different sauces and sides. The interior at La Mer reflects the colours of the sea, with modern fixtures and lots of ocean blues and greens, which are offset nicely through the inclusion of some rather funky white chairs. While the décor is sublime, the restaurant does lack a little atmosphere so make sure you take your most outgoing friends with you.
Must try dishes: Go with any of the sushi, the lobster or create your ideal dish from the fantastic fish market.
Sofitel Abu Dhabi Corniche, Al Markaziyah (02 813 7777).
Nautilus: Even though you have to trek out of the city to find it, the Yas Viceroy really is a great place to visit for a spot of dinner. The science fiction inspired white, curved walls of the hotel’s interior make a night out feel like an event, as does the fact you’re sitting by a F1 track and, most importantly, the marina. Nautilus is one of the Viceroy’s best restaurants. Cool pendant lights welcome you as you enter, along with a stunning display of fresh fish, clams, caviar and more all on ice. Service here is fun and friendly and the staff are very professional. If you live in the city and haven’t ventured out here, you’re missing a trick.
Must try dishes: The sea bass, which consists of delicately pan roasted fillets of fish on a bed of artichoke, cannelloni beans and baby squash.
Yas Viceroy, Yas Island (02 656 0600).
Oceana Grill: This lovely establishment is shiny, elegant and understated and the service is on a par with the swanky and elegant. We half expect them to remember our names and orders the next time we visit. While it looks like the kind of place at which you’ll shell out a large wad of cash, it isn’t – not by a long shot. Oceana Grill’s buffet system is rather interesting, too; they’ve got a set price for breakfast and lunch buffets but during the dinner buffet you get to order your mains from the à la carte menu, and it’s included in the price.
Must try dishes: The crispy slab of salmon served with caramelised onions in a reduced, fortified grape sauce. Juicy and crispy, sweet, light and full of flavour.
Rocco Forte Hotel, (02 617 0000).
Turquoiz: As the name suggests, sit facing the blue ocean that can be viewed from the large sunset terrace at The St Regis. This vibrant venue is set apart from the hotel as a rustic series of buildings strung out along the sand. This lovely venue got off to a rough start but the food and service has improved dramatically. Serving a selection of seafood, light meals and snacks, the seafood pasta is delicious and we also love their take on fish and chips. This place is all about sand, sun, sea and serenity and is the best spot for some serious beachfront dining.
Must try dishes: Go for the linguini with mixed seafood or the fish and hand cut chips, mushy peas and tartar sauce.
The St. Regis Saadiyat Island Resort, Saadiyat Island (02 498 8888).
Golden Sail Seafood Restaurant: Tucked away on the ground floor by the Al Noor hospital is this little gem. Golden Sail has been trading in Abu Dhabi for 15 years and all their fish is bought from the Mina fish market. The décor looks like its seen better days (although the big tray of fish and prawns on ice as you enter looks impressive) but the staff are friendly. We were more than impressed with the food on our recent visit.
Must try dishes: The grilled sea bream is an absolute must. Also worth devouring is the mixed seafood tagine. The combination of perfectly cooked shrimps, squid and cuttlefish in a rich, tomato based sauce is quite simply the bee’s knees.
Khalifa Street, Al Markaziyah (02 627 7204).
Bu Tafish: This quirky eatery is themed inside like a ship, putting seafood lovers right at home. They serve an assortment of fresh daily catches, all prepared to your liking. The venue impressed us with all their offerings, and we especially loved the tahini and spicy dipping sauces at the table. Service is friendly and prices are reasonable. A definite winner in our books.
Must try dishes: The grilled jumbo shrimps, with a hint of spicy sauce on them, followed by a hefty fried Sultan Ibrahim.
Hamdan Street, Tourist Club Area (02 677 7780).
Al Sayad Marine and Grills: This little venue definitely looks shabby but the wonders that emanate from the kitchen make it well worth a visit. They normally will prepare fresh daily catches as they are located at the Mina. They also offer takeaway for those who would rather dine at home.
Must try dishes: The grilled jumbo shrimps are superb. Follow this with a dish they call ‘Special’; it’s a farmed fish from Ras Al Khaimah that they marinate in spicy sauce and grill. It’ll make for a messy meal but worth every morsel.
Mina Zayed port area (02 673 3711).
Seared scallops with cauliflower cream
Chef de cuisine, Cyril Calmet of Pearls & Caviar
Ingredients: (serves two)
6 pieces of fresh Loch Fyne scallops
150g cauliflower
15g butter
30ml fresh cream
2 quail eggs
60g dried raisins
2tbsps chicken jus
200ml chicken stock
9 pieces of chervil
10g minced shallots
Salt and pepper to taste
Extra virgin olive oil
Method:
1 Soak the dried raisins in water overnight. Prepare a pot of water and bring the soaked raisins to a boil for 45 minutes, stirring the mixture until it turns into a smooth cream.
2 Cook the shallots with the butter, then add the cauliflower and chicken stock, seasoning with salt and pepper. Cook until tender and add the fresh cream. Bring to a boil and stir until the cream is smooth.
3 Fry the quail eggs.
4 Grill the scallops on a metal plate with a little extra virgin olive oil until the colour turns golden brown.
Final presentation:
Place on a round plate and add chicken jus and chervil with the fried quail eggs on top of the scallops.
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Standout dishes
Tasty seafood from eateries serving a range of cuisines
Steamed sea bream at Park Bar & Grill
If you are looking for delicious fish with fresh Asian flavours then choose the steamed sea bream. It’s nicely cooked and flakes with ease at the touch of the fork. They season it with a soy-based sauce and it comes with julienne Asian vegetables and sits atop a neat pile of delicious Porcini mushrooms.
Park Hyatt Abu Dhabi, Saadiyat Island (02 407 1138).
Rock shrimp in creamy garlic chilli at Sho Cho
Think delicately deep fried prawns in the lightest of batter, served in a creamy sauce which brings together chilli and garlic, all on a bed of salad. The shrimp look like popcorn and you’ll find yourself popping them into your mouth just as fast as you would the real stuff in a cinema.
Souk Qaryat Al Beri, Bain al Jessrain (02 558 1117).
Lobster bisque at Brasserie Angelique
This starter is no mere soup, it is velvet decadence in a bowl. It’s thick and creamy and a gorgeous orangey-red colour that hints at the explosion of lobster flavour that will scream across your tongue the moment you take your first spoonful. And hiding underneath all of that smooth liquid is a happy little lobster ravioli. Lovely!
Jumeirah at Etihad Towers, Corniche Road West (02 558 1117).
Seafood cataplana at Vasco’s
The Portuguese chef at Vasco’s introduced the cataplanas when he first joined the restaurant, and now they are firm favourites on the capital’s lips. Stews of meat or seafood are cooked with onions, tomatoes and bell peppers. The seafood variety comes with the delicious dried salt cod called bacalhau which soaks up all the flavours of the stew and is simply mouthwatering. Have it with chips.
Hilton Abu Dhabi, Corniche (02 558 1117).
Hammour tikka at Hotplate
Chunks of fish are marinated in a spicy concoction and then grilled to perfection. The final result is served on a hot plate that arrives at the table sizzling and delicious. You can ask for the dish to be prepared mildly spicy, however we find that it loses a bit of flavour that way.
Mina Centre Mall food court, Mina Zayed port area (02 552 1277).
Tiger prawn moilee at Indigo
While we’ve found the food at Indigo to be hit and miss at times, a recent trip to this Beach Rotana eatery had our reviewer doing a merry jig, thanks to the beautifully cooked prawn moilee. This South Indian curry is packed full of mixed veg and the coconut sauce finds a perfect balance between sweet and savoury. The prawns are hefty and plump, although a few more in there wouldn’t go amiss. One of the best dishes they serve.
Beach Rotana Hotel, Tourist Club Area (02 697 9000).
Cod and chips at Stills
This most traditional of British dishes is available in several places in the city, but not many of them get it right. Step forward Stills, at the Crowne Plaza on Yas Island. Three fluffy slabs of fish are covered in a brew batter and served with a plate of stylishly cut fries. The only thing that needs working on is their mushy peas, they are a tad dry, as if the chef had just hit a few with a hammer.
Crowne Plaza Abu Dhabi Yas Island, Yas Island (02 656 3053).
Pad Talay at Talay
A great place for Thai seafood, Talay at Le Méridien is perfect for a romantic night. We highly recommend sampling their Pad Talay. You’ll be greeted by a delectable selection of shrimp, squid and white fish fused with peppers and spring onion in a thick, gloopy, tangy sauce. You can also peer in at their live lobster tanks while waiting for your food.
Le Méridien Abu Dhabi, Tourist Club Area (02 644 6666).
Double Salamander Black Cod at Rouge
Served with parsnip and sizzling scallion oil every morsel of this dish is incredible. The black cod is so soft it practically melts when caressed with a knife and the sweet kick of the parsnip puree offers a tantalising accompaniment. There are also generous portions of bok choy to salivate over.
Al Maqta Hotel Abu Dhabi, Al Madina Al Riyadiya (02 617 0000).
Fish curry at Darbar
The coconut curry sauce does wonders to support the fish in this dish. The type of fish used depends on the availability of what’s in the market, however, trust us, if you like curry you will absolutely adore this particular fish dish.
Behind Café Zizinia, Tourist Club Area (02 645 2221).
Char grilled hammour at Corner Al Hawamir
The hammour is a must try at this affordable eatery. Pick your specimen from a tray of ice at the entrance and the chef grills it to perfection. We doused large chunks of the fish with tahini and parsley sauce. The fish is relatively boneless, and you can discern a smokey taste in each bite that enhances the fish without overpowering the flavours.
Al Nahyan Camp, Defence Road (02 443 8684).
Black shell mussels in white grape and cream
Chef de cuisine, Anja van Zyl of Finz
Ingredients: (Serves 4)
2kg mussels
2 onions, finely chopped
2 cloves of garlic, smashed
300ml white grape
2 sprigs thyme
300ml cream
1 knob butter
Olive oil
Freshly ground pepper to taste
Fresh parsley, chopped for serving.
Method:
1 Heat oil and butter together and fry onions until soft, then add thyme, grape and cream.
2 Bring to the boil and bubble for 3 minutes then add garlic.
6 Rinse mussels and remove any beards. Discard any which are open.
8 Add mussels and stir. Within 3 minutes they should be cooked. But cook until they open, discard any that are still closed.
9 Sprinkle with chopped parsley and serve with toasted French-style garlic baguette.
Catch your own
Fancy taking to the ocean waves and bringing home your dinner? These boat operators all run fishing trips in the city.
Arabian Divers & Sport Fishing Charters
The company has three boats which are coast guard approved and they offer full-day, half-day and multi-day fishing trips. All trips include bait and tackle and refreshments.
www.fishabudhabi.com (050 614 6931).
Western Marine Sports Club
Run plenty of trips around the emirate which will set you back Dhs350 an hour. Trips booked only for a minimum of three hours.
www.wmsc.com (050 760 4060).
Empros Watersports
Operating out of the InterContinental Hotel in Al Bateen, these guys organise trips every day, and refreshments and bait and tackle are all included in the price, so you have nothing to worry about except having fun.
www.empros.ae (02 673 6600).
Lulu Boats
Their packages include fishing equipment, insurance and refreshments, and their trips take four hours. They can supply fishing bait upon request and they also run cruises along the Corniche as well as island trips.
www.luluboats.com (050 642 9777).
Captain Tony’s
Based out of Yas Island, Tony charges Dhs1,500 for four people. Bait, tackle and beverages all included in the price so sit back, relax and let Tony show you the waves.
www.captaintonys.ae (02 650 7175).
Sea Tourism
These guys run three-hour trips with refreshments included all over the beautiful Abu Dhabi coastline.
www.seatourism.net (02 681 3064).
Get your own kit
So you’ve been on a tour and now you want to head out on your own? Not only will you need a bigger boat, you’ll need some equipment. Blue Waters sell everything you could possibly need to head out to sea.
www.bluewatersmarine.com.
Finally…know the rules!
If you want to fish from the shore in Abu Dhabi, you need a licence. Head to www.abudhabi.ae and search for a Weekly Recreational Fishing Licence. It’ll cost you Dhs30. According to Federal Law number 23, people must get a licence issued by the Environment Agency Abu Dhabi. The penalty for fishing without a licence could range from a fine to confiscation of your fishing gear and possibly even a jail term. The Ministry of Environment and Water has announced a two-month ban from April to June on catching Al Badah, a popular variety of fish consumed in the UAE. Such regulations are in place to protect several dwindling species like hammour, farsh and sheri.
Oysters Rockefeller
Chef de cuisine, Carl Tichart of Scott’s
Ingredients:
24 oysters, opened
80g celery, finely chopped
60g shallots, finely chopped
20g chervil, chopped
15g parsley, chopped
200g spinach, blanched
250g unsalted butter
40g bread crumbs
20ml Worcestershire sauce
Salt and pepper to taste
Method:
1 Sweat off the shallots and celery in a knob of butter.
2 When shallots and celery are tender add the chopped parsley, chervil and the blanched spinach.
3 Put into a food processor with remaining butter, bread crumbs and Worcestershire sauce, blend until smooth. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
5 Put a spoon of the mixture on top of each oyster and bake or grill for 3-4 minutes until the butter has melted and the top is golden in colour.
Save our fish
Which seafood should you order at a restaurant?
The Emirates Wildlife Society and the World Wild Fund for Nature are doing their bit to protect the future of the UAE fisheries with their ‘Choose Wisely’ campaign. They have a consumer guide which reveals which species are being overfished. So choose wisely when you order a seafood meal.
Overfished species: Hammour, Painted Sweetlips, Kingfish, Goldlined Seabream, White Spotted Spinefoot, Spangled Emperor, Snub Nose Emperor and Golden Trevally.
A reasonable choice: Small Tooth Emperor, Long Tail Silver Biddy, King Solider Bream and Black Spot Snapper.
Not overfished: Orange Spotted Trevally, Two Bar Seabream, Black Streaked Monocle Bream, Yellow Bar Angel Fish, Pink Ear Emperor, Sordid Sweetlips and Ehrenbergs Snapper.
