Brace yourself: more eateries are coming to the capital. Here’s our pick of the ones just opened and others that are launching in the next few weeks

Turtle Bay Bar & Grill

Surf and turf and grilled dishes will be on the menu at this two-storey location at the new Saadiyat Rotana – it has a rooftop terrace and will serve a more high-end menu during evenings, with a focus on locally caught fish and grilled meats.
Saadiyat Rotana Resort & Villas, Saadiyat Island, Abu Dhabi, daily noon to midnight. Tel: (02) 6970000. Taxi: Saadiyat Rotana. rotana.com

Buddha-Bar Beach

The wait, we’re told, is almost over – Buddha-Bar Beach, situated next to the St Regis on Saadiyat Island, is finally set to open this month, our spies tell us. We’re still waiting for the big reveal on what will actually be inside this high-end beach club, but we’re told it will serve food. Keep an eye on this website for more details – we’ll let you know as soon as we do.
buddhabarbeachabudhabi.com

The Warehouse Wine & Tapas Bar

An outlet at the recently opened Pearl Rotana, the Warehouse is opening soon and will serve Mediterranean tapas – the focus here is on sharing, and small plates. As the name suggests, this venue is also a wine bar, so expect glasses of vino that will pair with the dishes on offer.
Pearl Rotana, Adnec, Abu Dhabi, daily 4pm to 1am. Tel: (02) 3075555. Taxi: next to Adnec. rotana.com

Ola Brazil

A new Brazilian churrascaria is opening in the capital – Ola Brazil will feature lots of meats and plenty of barbecue. It opened at the end of March.
Al Ghazal Golf Club, Masdar City, Abu Dhabi. Tel: (02) 5758040. Taxi: Al Ghazal Golf Club. alghazalgolf.ae

Level Lounge

The rooftop pool bar in Crowne Plaza Abu Dhabi reopened last month, with a new minimalist design and menu. The dishes here hint
at fusion – you can try waffles with guacamole, and sushi combined with falafel. The venue has glass partitions, meaning you can visit here 365 days a year – the impending summer heat won’t be an issue.
Crowne Plaza Abu Dhabi, Al Markaziyah, Abu Dhabi, daily 5pm to 2am. Tel: (02) 6166261. Taxi: Crowne Plaza. ichotelsgroup.com

Si Ristorante Italiano & Bar

The Rotana group, it seems, loves Italian restaurants – they’re opening two this quarter. This one is on Saadiyat and Si is set to be one of its signature outlets. Details of the menu weren’t available as we went to print, but expect a review in a forthcoming issue of What’s On. It’s due to open late April.
Saadiyat Rotana Resort & Villas, Saadiyat Island, Abu Dhabi, daily 6pm to 11pm. Tel: (02) 6970000. Taxi: Saadiyat Rotana. rotana.com

The Library

There’s a new place in town to go for lunch, a coffee and a natter – The Library, near Mina Port, has a curious menu featuring small dishes such as Japanese breaded chicken strips, plus beef satay and bigger meals including Philly steak and a Mongolian crispy lamb pan, and some unique desserts such as banana walnut wontons.
Jannah Burj Al Sarab, Al Zahiyah, Abu Dhabi, daily 6am to 11pm. Tel: (02) 3076307. Taxi: Jannah Burj Al Sarab, near Mina Port. jannah.ae

Backyard Bistro

Recently opened in The Hub at WTC Mall, Backyard Bistro wins points for its unique décor. Classic cars, old bikes and metal panelled walls will have you thinking you’re in a petrol station in America’s south as opposed to a restaurant. Every piece of furniture in the outlet is recycled, but that’s not the case with the food – the menu is full of American classics such as burgers and steaks.
World Trade Center Mall, Al Markaziyah, Abu Dhabi, daily noon to 3am. Tel: (050) 1143666. Taxi: WTC Mall. facebook.com/BYBabudhabi/

Hamilton’s Gastropub

Saadiyat gets its first gastropub – Hamilton’s will serve classic American and British dishes (the menu’s not been revealed yet, but you can expect grub such as burgers and fish and chips) and the venue will feature live music, plus décor that will remind you of a thoroughly modern pub. Early renderings give off a little speakeasy vibe.
Saadiyat Rotana Resort & Villas, Saadiyat Island, Abu Dhabi, daily noon to 2am. Tel: (02) 6970000. Taxi: Saadiyat Rotana. rotana.com

Dino’s Bistro Italiano

The Pearl Rotana only just opened opposite Adnec late last month, and one of its signature outlets will be Dino’s, an Italian that will focus on classic dishes and will open its doors to Abu Dhabi’s diners later this month. The above image is an early rendering of the decor – we’re told to expect a few changes when the final design is revealed in the next couple of weeks.
Pearl Rotana, Adnec, Abu Dhabi, daily noon to 3.30pm, 6pm to 11pm. Tel: (02) 3075555. Taxi: next to Adnec. rotana.com

Coming soon

The Grand Hyatt

The new Hyatt, situated near Emirates Palace, will feature seven restaurants including a Latin grill, when it opens in the summer (we’re hearing late June). Italian and Japanese outlets are also in the pipeline.
abudhabi.grand.hyatt.com


Black Tap

A very special kind of freakshake is coming to the capital. Black Tap is a massively popular outlet up the road in Dubai, thanks to its mammoth shakes. Originally from New York (where people queue outside just to get a photo with one of the colossal shakes), it is set to open this year in Yas Mall. Flavours such as a pear bacon jam burger and sour power black cherry shake means it should be an instant hit with the capital’s foodies, but the rest of the menu is also full of intrigue – they’re known for their craft burgers, tacos and fried chicken platters.
blacktapme.com

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