The Abu Dhabi Grand Prix is the finale of the Formula 1 season and people flock from all around the world to the UAE capital to experience the thrilling occasion.
During Race Week there are loads more things to do away from the track, including big parties, brunches and shopping deals – and it wouldn’t be an Abu Dhabi event if there wasn’t food involved.
With that in mind, Time Out Abu Dhabi has teamed up with some of Abu Dhabi’s very best restaurants and the Department of Tourism and Culture – Abu Dhabi, to bring you Pit Stop Menus.
The idea is simple – each restaurant will offer a special set menu between November 14 and December 2 to showcase its very best dishes.
Here are all the Time Out award-winning restaurants to try.
For more on Abu Dhabi Culinary Season follow @ADculinaryseason on Facebook and Instagram and the hashtag #ADculinaryseason.
Byblos Sur Mer
This fine dining restaurant serves up some of the best and most authentic Lebanese dishes. With beautifully presented mezze, amazing grilled meats and views over the marina at the InterContinental Abu Dhabi, a meal here is just as lovely as any you’d find in the actual coastal town of Byblos Sur Mer in Lebanon. The Ba’Alback set menu includes hot and cold mezze like hummus, kibbeh and lamb sausages, plus mixed grills and desserts.
Dhs275. Daily 12.30pm-1.30am. InterContinental Abu Dhabi, King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud Street (02 666 6888).
Café 302
This trendy café has already proven a hit in the city with its chilled atmosphere and menu packed with delicious, healthy food. Take a trip to the downtown café during Race Week and you can get your fill of a three-course menu for Dhs99 and try delicious dishes including lentil soup, spinach and kale salad, angus steak with peppers and onions, pan-seared salmon and banana cream pie.
Dhs99. Daily 6am-11pm. Al Maha Arjaan by Rotana, Hamdan Bin Mohammed Street (02 610 6666).
Catch
With an incredible location on the Corniche overlooking the crystal clear waters of the Arabian Gulf, Catch definitely has some of the best views in town and it’s a great place to grab a bite to eat, too. Make your way there on Race Week and you can enjoy a three-course menu for Dhs199 and take your pick from a host of dishes including sea bass ceviche, gyoza, miso-marinated salmon, wok-fried noodles, chocolate fondant and more.
Dhs199. Daily noon-1am. Nation Riviera Beach Club, Corniche West (02 611 0909).
Cho Gao
Serving up Asian delicacies in the heart of Abu Dhabi, Cho Gao is a great place to enjoy a meal or a drink with a stylish and inviting dining room taking you on a journey to the Far East. Take a trip to Cho Gao during Race Week and you can try a three-course set menu packed full of Asian dishes including Sriracha chilli prawns, miso soup, cashew chicken and Peking duck for less than Dhs200.
Dhs199. Daily noon-1am. Crowne Plaza Abu Dhabi, Hamdan Bin Mohammed Street (02 616 6261).
Cho Gao Marina Walk
With hanging wooden lanterns and a cool Oriental-inspired interior, you’ll find a huge range of dishes from across Asia at this chic restaurant. The Pit Stop deal includes a set menu of brilliant dishes, including hot and cold starters, mains, noodles, sides and desserts. Highlights include the California maki rolls, laksa soup, beef rendang and green tea cheesecake.
Dhs175. InterContinental Abu Dhabi, King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud Street (02 666 6888).
Filini Garden
The spot on Yas Island boasts amazing views over Yas Links, a stylish garden-themed restaurant and an outdoor area which gets packed out with party goers on any night of the week. The Race Week deal features three courses of classic Italian plates, featuring a starter of calamari fritti, mains of beef lasagne or mushroom risotto and lemon tart for dessert.
Dhs230. Sun 5pm-1am; Mon 5pm-3am; Tue-Wed 5pm-1am; Fri 12.30pm-3am; Sat 12.30pm-1am. Radisson Abu Dhabi, Yas Island (02 656 2000).
Hakkasan
This sleek and stylish venue is one of the very best restaurants in the city and the chain is certainly up there when it comes to the world’s greatest exponents of Cantonese cuisine (just check the amount of Time Out Abu Dhabi awards on the wall if you don’t believe us). Taste of Hakkasan menu is available for just one hour every day during Race Week but it’s worth heading down for. It includes Peking duck, stir-fried beef, steamed dim sum, crispy cod and many more dishes.
Dhs298. Daily 7pm-8pm. Emirates Palace, West Corniche (02 690 7739).
JW Steakhouse
This classy steakhouse has a cool USA-style dining room with comfortable leather chairs and views over Downtown Abu Dhabi. The set menu deal includes a choice of starters like sea bass ceviche, mains of lamb, ravioli and steak, and sweet desserts.
Dhs199 (lamb or ravioli), Dhs299 (steak). Daily 6.30pm-11.30pm. Marriott Hotel Downtown Abu Dhabi, Shaikh Rashid Bin Saeed Street (02 304 7777).
Tamba
This is one of the coolest places to hang out in the city and has an incredibly atmospheric dining room and chilled-out terrace area. The Indian-inspired food is amazing too, and right now you can sample the very best of it in an 11-course menu. The appropriately named ‘culinary journey’ includes smoked chicken in tomato gravy, assorted biryani, watermelon salads and two incredible desserts.
Dhs299. Sat-Wed noon-1am; Thu-Fri noon-3am. The Hub, The Mall at World Trade Center Abu Dhabi, Al Markaziyah (02 672 8888).
Todd English’s Olives
If you’re looking for a super cool, relaxed hideaway then Todd English’s Olives at the Venetian Village is a great place to grab a bite. Take a trip to Al Maqta during Race Week and you can enjoy a three-course lunch for Dhs75 and can take your pick from the likes of creamy broccoli soup, barbecue chicken flatbread, chicken parpadelle and pan roasted cod fillet and more. Plus on Friday you can settle in for the sunset brunch featuring dishes like braised beef short ribs from Dhs225 or the Saturday brunch with dishes including pan-seared snapper from Dhs265.
Lunch: Dhs75. Friday brunch: Dhs225 (soft drinks), Dhs295 (house beverages), Saturday brunch Dhs265 (soft drinks), Dhs375 (house beverages). Sun-Thu noon-3pm; Fri 4pm-7pm; Sat noon-3.30pm. Venetian Village . The Ritz-Carlton Abu Dhabi Grand Canal (02 404 1941).
