It’s happy hour when we arrive at Yas Island’s Y Bar, and the place is packed out.
It’s a nice evening, so we sit out on the pleasant terrace where there are high tables, comfortable sofas and even a few second-hand books to browse. It’s a lovely place to sit and chill for a few hours, and the menu contains all the usual pub-grub classics such as pies, burgers, curries and steak and chips.
We take our time over a few drinks before ordering a couple of bar bites to share.
The nachos sounds good, but instead of coming with cheese sauce, we ask for a side of grated cheese on the side. That doesn’t quite happen, but the big bowl of cheese sauce is welcome. All is not lost, though. It’s saved by the tasty sour cream, guacamole and salsa, and we thoroughly enjoy munching through the very sizeable portion.
We also try the Central Park sharing platter, which features all the best meat-free fried foods. It probably didn’t take too much skill to make, but we’re thrilled by the combination of stuffed mushrooms, spring rolls, cheese jalapeño bites and onion rings.
However, the C4 shrimps are a big let down. Each piece is covered in a huge casing of mushy batter, and although the shellfish itself is pleasant enough underneath, it’s not really worth the faff of digging them out.
We certainly wouldn’t order the shrimps again, but for good-value pub food in a relaxed environment, Y Bar does most things right, especially if you have a few hours to spare.
WHAT IS IT…
Bar food served out on the outdoor terrace, or in the busy bar area
WHY GO…
For the sharing-style platters, nachos and lively vibe. The happy hour deals are good, too
