The Lemon Tree is hosting the city’s latest Greek night. In search of some good moussaka and maybe even a little crockery destruction, TOAD headed down to The Holiday Inn find out more.
Though the city has a myriad of Italian, Mediterranean, Turkish and European restaurants, there is little presented on behalf of the Greek community. A lonely stall at a food-court was the only option on offer. Luckily however, that’s all changed. The Holiday Inn’s Lemon Tree restaurant has a Greek night every Thursday that is proving to be a huge success.
The idea is that of the general manager of the Holiday Inn, Philipp Economou (who is, incidentally, Greek) when he spotted the niche in the market. ‘Recently, while at a Greek event in Abu Dhabi, I realised how large the Greek community actually was with the turnout at this event. And that’s when the idea first dawned on me. At the very same event, I met a Greek musician who also happened to mention about the need for a Greek night. This further fuelled the brewing thought in my head,’ he explains.
The Greek night features live entertainment in the form of a bouzouki (a stringed instrument similar to a mandolin) player. ‘Considering the musician was willing to offer his services, which is key for a Greek night, the entertainment was sorted. Now remained the other half of putting this idea into action, and that meant sitting down with the chef and his team and working out a great Greek menu! Also, the aim was to create a night with an ambiance of Filoxenia, which is a Greek expression literally meaning “love of stranger”. To explain further, it’s an expression used to welcome anyone and everyone with arms wide open, and that for us is the crux of our Greek Night.’
Greek cuisine is typically a social affair, with a selection of mezze often on the table. The Lemon Tree explores classic Greek cuisine along with traditional entertainment too. ‘I think we’ve been able to identify a gap, create a product to fill this gap and do justice to it as well. I think the secret behind a successful Greek night or a Greek restaurant is finding the right musician. While the food element may not be very difficult considering it is quite similar to the Middle Eastern cuisine, the music is key to creating just the right Greek ambiance,’ Philipp explains.
The formation of the menu took a full month. ‘My favourite part of the process was the menu tasting that lasted for 30 days! Ensuring the dishes were near-perfect and packed with authentic Greek flavours was so much fun. Trying to recollect the tastes and flavours from back home, and tweaking them, was both interesting and challenging.’
The menu changes a little each week, to keep the regular diners entertained, using authentic Greek ingredients. ‘What we do differently is that we offer a variety of mezzes to share among friends and family, and authentic Greek food which includes Kalamata olives, Greek olive oil and true-to-home Feta cheese. Considering we are the only hotel in Abu Dhabi to run a Greek night, also adds to the curiosity levels. With our live bouzouki player, our guests can not only request their favourite songs but also sing along. With our reasonable pricing and great ambiance, the night is all about having fun’ If you don’t know much about Greek food, Philipp says, ‘A lot of the Greek dishes have Middle Eastern origins, and vice versa. It is a bit of give and take. The base of Greek cuisine is similar to the Middle Eastern offering such as the olive oils, vegetables, fish and meat, but it’s the spices and the seasoning that makes all the difference. The best thing about Greek food is that you can taste each element of a Greek dish once prepared, and it is also very healthy.’ Though the night is currently temporary, it has been so successful that it just may become a permanent fixture. Philipp says, ‘As of now we will continue to run the Greek night as is, but we would be open to an opportunity of making this permanent.’
So join in the fun, just make sure you book your table!
Holiday Inn Abu Dhabi, Muroor Road and Airport Road (02 657 4888).
More theme nights
Eat your way around the Mediterranean with these themed nights
Spanish Moods at Ornina
Enjoy Spanish-inspired beverages and the sound of Ornina’s Flamenco guitarist, Vincente Allende, every Tuesday from 7.30pm-10.30pm.
Al Bandar, Al Raha Beach (02 556 6090).
French night at Cristal Bar
Join a French night, every Tuesday at Cristal Bar. Diners are treated to French cheeses and pastries as well as duck terrine, all to the sounds of tradition French music, from 8pm-midnight.
Millennium Hotel Abu Dhabi, Al Markaziyah (02 614 6020).
Syrian Night at Atayeb
The brain-child of the resident Syrian chefs at Atayeb takes diners on a culinary journey through Syria, every Sunday evening from 7pm-11pm.
Yas Viceroy Abu Dhabi, Yas Island (02 656 0600).
