4 of the best dishes to try in Abu Dhabi this week: July 14 to 17
99 Katsusando
A katsusando made in heaven. This best-selling dish at the one Michelin-starred restaurant and 1-toque Gault&Millau 2024-awarded 99 Sushi Bar & Restaurant is a must-try. Choose between two ultra-luxe options: the Wagyu Marbling 9 (Dhs169) or the premium Kobe A5 (Dhs390). Either way, expect crisp, golden breading, melt-in-your-mouth beef, and a perfectly balanced umami-rich bite.
Location: 99 Sushi Bar & Restaurant, Four Seasons, Al Maryah Island
Times: Open daily, 12pm to 3:30pm and 7pm to 11:30pm
Cost: Dhs169 (Wagyu M9), Dhs390 (Kobe A5)
Contact: 02 672 3333 Antonia Amatriciana
A hearty Roman classic done right, rich tomato sauce, crispy beef pancetta, sautéed onion, and sharp Pecorino cheese come together for an indulgent, comforting dish. Customize it your way by choosing from Bucatini, Spaghettoni, Rigatoni, or Tonnarelli. Perfect for solo cravings or sharing with friends.
Location: Antonia Restaurant, Mamsha Al Saadiyat, Abu Dhabi
Times: Daily, 12pm to 11pm
Cost: Dhs85 (Single), Dhs150 (Sharing)
Contact: 02 667 2500 La Petite Maison
Grosses Crevettes Grillées
Juicy tiger prawns marinated with green chilli and coriander, then grilled to perfection. This signature dish from La Petite Maison packs bold flavour with a fresh, zesty twist, ideal for seafood lovers seeking something elevated yet vibrant.
Location: La Petite Maison, The Galleria, Al Maryah Island, Abu Dhabi
Times: Daily, 12pm to 3:30pm; 6pm to 11:30pm
Cost: Dhs236
Contact: 02 692 9600 Barbossa
Signature Fajitas
Sizzling and served hot off the grill, these fajitas are a crowd-pleaser. Each plate comes with creamy guacamole, chili crema, sour cream, and soft flour tortillas—perfect for building your own bite. Pick your protein and dig in: Carne Asada: Dhs185
Achiote Chicken: Dhs1165
Shrimp: Dhs175
Mushroom: Dhs140
Location: Barbossa, Yas Bay Waterfront, Yas Island, Abu Dhabi
Times: Daily, 12pm to 2am
Contact: 050 185 8068
Images: Instagram
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What's On
a day ago
- What's On
4 of the best dishes to try in Abu Dhabi this week: July 14 to 17
From sizzling fajitas to Michelin-starred bites, this week's Abu Dhabi food picks are all about bold flavours and elevated comfort. Whether you're in the mood for freshly grilled prawns, a luxe wagyu sandwich, or a comforting plate of pasta, here are the standout dishes worth seeking out across the capital. 99 Sushi Bar 99 Katsusando A katsusando made in heaven. This best-selling dish at the one Michelin-starred restaurant and 1-toque Gault&Millau 2024-awarded 99 Sushi Bar & Restaurant is a must-try. Choose between two ultra-luxe options: the Wagyu Marbling 9 (Dhs169) or the premium Kobe A5 (Dhs390). Either way, expect crisp, golden breading, melt-in-your-mouth beef, and a perfectly balanced umami-rich bite. Location: 99 Sushi Bar & Restaurant, Four Seasons, Al Maryah Island Times: Open daily, 12pm to 3:30pm and 7pm to 11:30pm Cost: Dhs169 (Wagyu M9), Dhs390 (Kobe A5) Contact: 02 672 3333 Antonia Amatriciana A hearty Roman classic done right, rich tomato sauce, crispy beef pancetta, sautéed onion, and sharp Pecorino cheese come together for an indulgent, comforting dish. Customize it your way by choosing from Bucatini, Spaghettoni, Rigatoni, or Tonnarelli. Perfect for solo cravings or sharing with friends. Location: Antonia Restaurant, Mamsha Al Saadiyat, Abu Dhabi Times: Daily, 12pm to 11pm Cost: Dhs85 (Single), Dhs150 (Sharing) Contact: 02 667 2500 La Petite Maison Grosses Crevettes Grillées Juicy tiger prawns marinated with green chilli and coriander, then grilled to perfection. This signature dish from La Petite Maison packs bold flavour with a fresh, zesty twist, ideal for seafood lovers seeking something elevated yet vibrant. Location: La Petite Maison, The Galleria, Al Maryah Island, Abu Dhabi Times: Daily, 12pm to 3:30pm; 6pm to 11:30pm Cost: Dhs236 Contact: 02 692 9600 Barbossa Signature Fajitas Sizzling and served hot off the grill, these fajitas are a crowd-pleaser. Each plate comes with creamy guacamole, chili crema, sour cream, and soft flour tortillas—perfect for building your own bite. Pick your protein and dig in: Carne Asada: Dhs185 Achiote Chicken: Dhs1165 Shrimp: Dhs175 Mushroom: Dhs140 Location: Barbossa, Yas Bay Waterfront, Yas Island, Abu Dhabi Times: Daily, 12pm to 2am Contact: 050 185 8068 Images: Instagram > Sign up for FREE to get exclusive updates that you are interested in
Khaleej Times
4 days ago
- Khaleej Times
Kira at Marsa Al Arab has mastered the balance of lively yet relaxing
If there was ever a restaurant that felt like it was 'drawn up by a woman', it's Kira at Marsa Al Arab. Every morsel, every mixed drink, and every motif feels as though it was created with the female gaze in mind. The warm welcome, pearlescent walls, and comfortable seating instantly excited me — I felt like I sat in a Lana Del Rey song. That initial happiness grew tenfold when I ordered my first drink: a Parmesan Sour. Whilst my role in writing this article is to put my experience into words, I genuinely find it tough to describe this beverage. It was creamy, sour, light — a playful balance of true decadence and tableside theatre, making for the perfect girlie tipple. The chef sent over some nibbles for us to enjoy, one of which was a cucumber salad. A seemingly boring start — but it was anything but. The chunks of baby cucumber were dressed in a chilli oil vinaigrette that was delicious, but what truly elevated the dish was the texture. Each perfectly plated sliver was topped with an array of crunchy garnishes: fried garlic chips, black and white sesame, and crunchy green onions, among others. Another highlight was the bread. Again, sounds simple, right? But this was no ordinary loaf. The French baguettes are baked in-house by an expert pastry chef, whose talents could rival some of my favourite bakers in Paris. Our full starters were equally exciting, my favourite being the delicate, melt-in-the-mouth beef tartare served with tiny fried buns — the perfect mini mouthful. Again, very girl dinner coded. Coinciding with our starters, a beautiful woman emerged in a floor-length white dress and began to sing. Usually, entertainment at a long lunch isn't my thing, but this elevated the experience seamlessly, with her performing fan favourites from Dua Lipa to Fleetwood Mac. For the mains, we shared a whole lobster in yuzu butter. It was fresh yet decadent, served alongside charred corn dressed in desiccated coconut and black sesame. It was fabulous — as lobster always is — but if I were to go back (which I definitely will), I'd opt to try more of the delicious, playfully composed small plates. They were utter perfection. Overall, I can't urge people to visit this restaurant enough. It's mastered the balance of lively yet relaxing — with modern dishes and an experimental approach to mixology, paired with welcome entertainment, and a vibe that seems to stop time entirely. Hero dish: The perfectly balanced, deliciously textural cucumber salad — 9/10 Senses: All five senses were perfectly engaged while seamlessly being put at ease — 8/10 Service: The service was great, a little slow at the start but once in the swing of things, flawless! — 7/10
The National
5 days ago
- The National
3Fils Abu Dhabi review: Six dishes to try at acclaimed Dubai restaurant's new outpost
Chef Jovani Manalo is surprised that my dining partner and I have never been to 3Fils. His reaction is fully justified, as the homegrown Dubai restaurant's evolution from hidden gem to culinary hotspot has been remarkable. The Emirati-owned, Japanese-inspired eatery founded in 2016 has, since clinching the No 1 spot on the inaugural Mena's 50 Best Restaurants list three years ago, been consistently rated as one of the best in the region. It has also featured on the Michelin Guide Dubai's annual Bib Gourmand list since 2023. For the past year, executive chef Manalo and his team have been working on perfecting 3Fils' first outpost in Abu Dhabi. It opened this week within The Abu Dhabi Edition, on the waterfront of the Al Bateen Marina area. The National was the first publication invited to experience what this Dubai gem has in store for the capital. Where to sit and what to expect Taking over the building that was previously Annex Abu Dhabi, the three-storey dining and bar concept in the grounds of The Abu Dhabi Edition, 3Fils is hard to miss as you drive up to the hotel. Giant double doors lead to a narrow reception area which then expands into the main dining area – a brightly lit space offering sweeping views of the marina and the city's towers beyond. The friendly and casually dressed staff give the restaurant its relaxed atmosphere, while the open kitchen and bar are already a hive of activity when we arrive at 5.30pm. The Abu Dhabi follow-up is double the size of the Jumeirah Fishing Harbour branch, but only the ground floor is currently operational. Service is set to expand to the other floors in the coming weeks. Fans of the restaurant will appreciate the familiarity, says Ahmed Abdul Hakim, founder of The Lab Holding, which owns 3Fils. 'There will be a few items that are different, but everything else stays the same,' he tells me. 'The core, the values, the unfiltered way of doing things, that never changes. The design might feel different, reflecting the natural growth of the brand, but it still uses the same honest materials, cement, rustic finishes, simple plates and the same uniform. It's still 3Fils. Nothing changed.' Like Dubai, 3Fils Abu Dhabi does not serve alcohol. It's tempting but too hot to sit on the balcony, so we choose a table indoors that's closest to the water, the bright evening sun making us question if it's still too early for dinner. But by 6pm, the restaurant is full and even before the sun fully sets, guests are waiting to be seated. By then, we are halfway through our exploration of the menu, a combination of Jovani's top picks and specials exclusive to Abu Dhabi. Six dishes to try The 3Fils template of employing Japanese cooking techniques and flavours to fuse Emirati and other Asian culinary influences has been a huge success, and the menu in Abu Dhabi stays true to that style. Here are six dishes you should not miss from their meant-to-share menu. Wagyu maki + truffle (Dh197) A signature dish, this sushi roll is at the top of the list for a reason. A glorious mix of A5 Wagyu, foie gras and truffles, it's a burst of flavours that's hard to describe. Rich and savoury with a tinge of sweetness and a hint of wasabi bite, you'll find yourself reaching for a second piece even before you've properly swallowed the first. Gyu grab (Dh96) A fairly new addition to the menu, this gyu, or beef, creation is meant to be eaten by hand – a nod to 3Fils's Emirati lineage. A thin slice of braised A5 Wagyu is served with spiced crispy nori on the side. You're meant to 'grab' the dish by the crispy nori with one fell swoop – it's creative, fun and tasty. Gyu grab was inspired by the menu at Slrp, the ramen restaurant born in Abu Dhabi and now also in Dubai, a sister of 3Fils. Mean leaf (Dh145) Another signature dish, this one features shiso or perilla leaf fried into a tempura, topped with Akami tuna, sweet mango tartare, yuzu kosho – a zesty Japanese condiment – and beluga caviar. Visually striking but also bursting with flavours, add this dish to your order for some tangy balance. Emo fries (Dh126) Fries, but make it fancy. Fried potatoes are layered with bluefin tuna, truffle oil and truffle shavings for this original dish that melts in your mouth. Rich and savoury, it's easy to love. A5 Wagyu claypot (Dh187) Exclusive to Abu Dhabi, this Chinese-inspired Wagyu creation is the perfect main ending to all the sharing dishes. Cooked in the slow-braised chashu (or char siu in Chinese) style with a soy-based sauce and dressed with smoked shiitake mushrooms, this is a must-try for rice enthusiasts. Another Abu Dhabi special, baby chicken grilled with black lime sauce and rubbed with ponzu-shiso butter (Dh94) was tender and flavourful, but the other dishes largely outshine it. Karak ice cream (Dh48) Embracing the UAE's obsession with the flavoured milk tea from India, this dessert is a must not only for its taste, but also the presentation. A server introduces the dish as he mixes a concoction of spices into a cone, topping it with three scoops of karak chai -flavoured ice cream. Placing it all on to a plate, he breaks the cone and then tops it with cream. 'Don't eat the label,' he warns as he finishes his presentation by adding a tag that reads: 'Karak ice cream'. Within minutes, the label is the only thing left on the plate. Save or splurge Dishes at 3Fils are meant to be shared. They come with a range of prices, starting from a seaweed salad for Dh35 to a truffle burger for Dh98 and a Wagyu signature steak for Dh295. Desserts are priced between Dh41 for ananas, a pastry cream and caramelised pineapple concoction, and the aforementioned karak ice cream for Dh48. Contact information 3Fils Abu Dhabi, at The Abu Dhabi Edition in Al Bateen Marina, is open daily from 6pm to 11.30pm. The restaurant employs a walk-in-only policy and does not accept reservations.
