There are countless places where you can have dinner under the stars in Abu Dhabi, but it still never ceases to feel special. Mykonos is a new restaurant at Le Méridien Abu Dhabi; unassuming at first, this place is bigger than you might think and serves up tasty Mediterranean plates and al fresco views.
Walk into Le Méridien Village on any given night and you’re bound to find a buzzing crowd. It’s a little awkward to get into, with a tiny wooden bridge (watch those heels, gals) leading into the garden.
Once you’re inside, you might have some trouble spotting Mykonos, which is tucked away in a far corner of the village, near the pool. We can imagine the restaurant would benefit from a big sign (or a flower wall perhaps) to draw people inside.
If it’s cool outside, head straight for the terrace, which has a view of Al Maryah Island and the sea. If it’s too hot out, go for one of the seats by the window inside.
Start your meal with the Mykonos salad, which is packed with citrus dressing, feta cheese, tomato and cucumber. Summery and light, it goes perfectly with the views of the water. Next up the soft-shell crab sushi (not so Greek) is so big it requires two bites to get through. Even if you pride yourself on your use of chopsticks, you might find these chunks hard to manage.
An order of red mullet comes features two pieces of fish that practically fall off the bone. The fish is masterfully presented in two spirals on a bed of rice – nice.
Finally, finish off with the deconstructed cheesecake. When they say deconstructed, they really mean it; the texture is soupier and less cheesy, but the flavours hit the spot nonetheless.
Service is a little awkward at times and we find ourselves asking for forks and plates to share with. The music is loud and clubby, which is something of a contrast to the tranquil vibes outside. But then, so far, so Mykonos. All it needs is the crowd.
This place has huge potential, and once it irons out the kinks, it’s set to be a buzzing destination.
What is it:
A pretty Mediterranean spot with potential
Why go:
The views of Al Maryah Island
