As Abu Dhabi restaurants reopen and things slowly return to normal, a trip down to your local cafe for eggs and a coffee on a Friday morning is once again a regular option.
So, if you're looking for somewhere new to get your eggs Benedict and flat white fix, here are a few of our favourite dishes to choose from ...
Cafe 302: blueberry rice pancakes
These blueberry rice pancakes are just one option on Cafe 302’s vegan menu – and not many cafes in Abu Dhabi offer whole vegan sections. Incredibly moreish and fluffy, you get a stack of four large pancakes topped with tangy wild berry sauce and served with a jug of maple syrup and a pot of vegan cream. A sprinkling of pistachio nuts and a few fresh berries seal the deal. It's available to order until 2pm any day of the week.
Price: Dh42
Cafe 302, Al Maha Arjaan by Rotana, Fatima Bint Mubarak Street, Abu Dhabi; open daily 8am-9pm; 02 610 6666; cafe302.almaha@rotana.com
Sangeetha Vegetarian Restaurant: the mini tiffin
There is nothing mini about this dish, and isn't served in a tiffin, either. It's a platter featuring the best South Indian breakfast dishes in slightly smaller portion sizes.
You get a masala dosa, vada, button idlis dunked in sambhar, upma and a sweet dish. It all comes piping hot, jam-packed full of flavour, is very satisfying and you can wash it all down with a complimentary tea or filter coffee. It's a very humble and pocket-friendly breakfast option, and if you indulge late in the morning, there will be no need for lunch.
Price: Dh18.50
Sangeetha Vegetarian Restaurant, various locations across Abu Dhabi and Dubai; www.sangeethaveg.com
Tashas: brioche French toast
Pretty much everything on the breakfast menu at one of the UAE’s many Tashas restaurants is a guaranteed win, but we always come back to the classic French toast. Served with a side of mixed berries or Italian cherry preserve and creme anglaise, the doorstop slices of fluffy brioche bread are deliciously indulgent, but worth every calorie.
What’s a weekend without a treat anyway?
Price: Dh58
Tashas, various locations including Al Barsha, Al Jalila, Galleria, and Marina Mall in Dubai, and Al Bateen in Abu Dhabi; breakfast is served between 9am and 6pm; www.tashascafe.com
Al Farah Grill and Pastries: manakeesh
Manakeesh are a sandwich-type snack popular in Lebanon that mostly come topped with zaatar or cheese, or sometimes a mix of both. The mankoushe (singular of manakeesh) is made with toppings including labneh, spinach and minced beef.
Nothing beats a good zaatar mankoushe with a plate of fresh vegetables – and this is where to find the best. Al Farah's manakeesh are always made fresh and the dough is so soft.
Price: Dh8.50 for one cheese mankoushe, Dh5 for zaatar mankoushe.
Behind Crowne Plaza, Hamdan Street, Al Markaziyah area, Abu Dhabi; 02 633 3777; open from 8am until 1am
Cafe Otantik: the Otantik Breakfast
A true taste of Istanbul – and anyone who has visited Turkey knows how serious the people are about breakfast. Cafe Otantik captures that authenticity and generosity of a Turkish breakfast with an eye-popping spread that features eggs of your choice (we recommend the shakshuka), freshly baked bread and a range of small dishes ranging from grilled halloumi to pastrami, olives, different butters, cheese and jam.
Served with a strong Turkish tea, this is an epic way to start the day. The breakfast menu is available until 1pm daily.
Price: Dh45 for one person and Dh85 for two.
10th St - Al Zahiyah, Abu Dhabi (Opposite Abu Dhabi Mall); 02 681 2294; 9am to 2am daily; otantik.ae
Saravanaa Bhavan: masala dosa
This Indian vegetarian restaurant has branches around the world, and there’s a reason why it’s so famous: the food is simply that good.
Saravanaa Bhavan has a "dosa corner" section of the menu with everything ranging from a plain dosa (a crispy, savoury rice crepe) to a baby corn masala dosa. It's honestly difficult to choose just one but start with a masala dosa, which will arrive on your table looking bigger than the plate.
Served piping hot, with potato in the centre and helpings of chutney and sambar that you can dunk your crispy dosa into, this is a winner. Classic dosas are gluten-free and dairy free, and a wonderful way to start the day.
Price: Dh12 for a masala dosa; most of the dosas are priced below Dh20.
Multiple branches in Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Sharjah; www.saravanabhavan.com
The Kettle Corner: Bombay breakfast
It’s hard to create a relaxed ambiance in the middle of a shopping mall, but this delightful little cafe achieves it with a colourful menu full of Indian street food. Consisting of a two-egg omelette, small buns and salad (upon request), the Bombay breakfast is perfect if you are on the run.
But, it's only an omelette we hear you say?
Well, what makes this one stand out is the variety of Indian spices (we pick up cumin, paprika and green pepper) infused in the egg mix. The accompanying pav (the small buns) are slightly buttered and toasted to give it a lovely crunch. Served with a small orange juice and a tea/coffee of your choice, the meal is filling and relatively affordable. The breakfast menu is available all day.
Price: Dh30.
Level 1, Boutik Mall, Al Reem Island; 02 884 4560; 10am to 10pm, Sunday to Wednesday, 10am to 11pm Thursday to Saturday; thekettlecorner.ae
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