The menu at Abu Dhabi’s Mezze is an eclectic mix of dishes from across the world. So we decide to make our choices a bit random, too, and start with a mezze platter followed by grilled Gulf prawns (a house specialty, they say) and Indian chicken curry.
Both the food and our water takes a while, so we’re pleased to find that the mezze is more than worth the wait. We’re expecting a small sample of each dish, but instead we get whole bowls of hummus, fattoush, tabouleh and moutabal, and a sizable plate of fatayer and kibbeh. It could easily feed four hungry people and for Dhs65, it’s amazing value.
We’ve barely made a dent in the starters before the mains are placed on the table, so we ask to take the rest away and move on to the curry. The tomato sauce is a bit watery, and although there’s a bit of a kick to it, it’s lacking the wonderful spices that we’d expect from an Indian dish. The naan and yoghurt dip that comes with it is actually the best bit.
Meanwhile, our four small grilled prawns are in desperate need of some serious seasoning. They’re served with a huge mound of plain rice and fairly bland steamed vegetables.
Although some of the dishes could be improved, the Arabic specialties are spot on. Plus, with a slick dining room and views across the Gulf, it’s still a venue with an awful lot of promise.
