Elite Traveler January-February 2017

elite traveler JAN/FEB 2017 111

TAKE THREE/// TOP RESTAURANTS

1/ GROUP DINING Hakkasan Abu Dhabi chef Lee Kok Hua was awarded his colors at the original, Michelin-starred Hakkasan in Hanway Place, London. Here he recreates signature dishes, such as Peking Duck with caviar, alongside others designed for the Emirates crowd. Try the charcoal-grilled silver cod with champagne and Chinese honey. In addition to the main restaurant, there are four private dining rooms, and mashrabiya (latticework) screens add further seclusion. Decor is modern ethnic with embroidered furniture and a backlit blue glass bar. Hakkasan Abu Dhabi, Emirates Palace Hotel, Corniche Road, hakkasan@emiratespalace.ae, +971 2 690 7739, hakkasan.com/abudhabi 2/ FOOD THEATER Choose from ristorante or salotto (lounge) and indoor or outdoor dining at Roberto’s, a home- grown Italian newcomer to the Abu Dhabi scene. The second flagship restaurant (the original is in Dubai’s financial district) is under the direction of the two-Michelin-starred chef, Enrico Bartolini and kept fresh daily by executive chef Francesco Guarracino. Think slick design meets food theater with an open kitchen. A marble crudo bar sets the stage for seafood creations and there is a DJ in the salotto . Tuck into the signature octopus with cheese, pepper and artichokes, and leave room for a dollop of “prepared on request” pistachio gelato. Roberto’s Abu Dhabi, Rosewood Hotel, Al Maryah Island, reservationsauh@robertos.ae, +971 2 627 9009, robertos.ae/abudhabi 3/ FRANCOPHILES If you seek something elegant with just a pinch of oh là là , Brasserie Angelique is the destination. It is unmistakeably French from the Art Deco- inspired interior to the final sip of Cognac, but there is nothing stuffy about this gem set amid the iconic Etihad Towers. The chef de cuisine is Belgian Niels Van Oers, who joined from Jumeirah’s Burj Al Arab flagship hotel in Dubai. He has maintained the authenticity of dishes such as Burgundy snails and boeuf bourguignon. Meanwhile the sole à la Normande is paired with Dover sole mousse, an almond and caper crust and lemon butter sauce. Brasserie Angelique, Jumeirah at Etihad Towers, Corniche RoadWest, jadrestaurants@jumeirah. com, +971 2 811 5666, jumeirah.com

FOOD TREND BRUNCH

Gulf weekends fall on Friday and Saturday, so if you are in town, skip breakfast and lunch and opt for a Friday brunch instead. This all-inclusive, all-you-can-eat option is almost tradition among expats and the hotels vie with each other to create ever more innovative versions. Enjoy Brunch in the Clouds at the St. Regis (Corniche Road West) where a butler takes you via private elevator to the world’s highest suspended suite on the 48th and 49th floors. There in the 12,056 sq ft Abu Dhabi Suite, which can be yours for $48,000 per night, you will find a caviar ice bar, cheese and dessert room, roaming chef stations and a candy-filled cinema. Mixologists perform on demand in the private bar. For a break between courses, retire to the suite’s private spa for a shoulder massage or manicure. Only 50 people are allowed on this exclusive tour of the suite on the final Friday of the month. The champagne option is $250 per person restaurants.abudhabi@stregis.com, +971 2 694 4553, stregisabudhabi. com/brunch-in-the-clouds Alternatively, sit inside or out and watch the chef-driven brunch trolleys roll by at the Four Seasons’ Crust Restaurant. Among the delicacies, there is a dedicated fois gras station, oysters and top-rate sushi. The special children’s brunch also features access to a play area with huge screens and entertaining staff to keep little people happy. The champagne package is $195 per person fourseasons.com/abudhabi/dining/ restaurants/crust/

If you sleep past the famous St. Regis Abu Dhabi Brunch in the Clouds, wake up for an exclusive Helipad Sunset Supper and enjoy views from the Middle East’s highest active helipad, at 837 ft. The St. Regis limits this experience to 20 people, on the second Friday of winter months only. Expect cool jazz and the best champagne. Champagne option, $180 per person stregisabudhabi.com