Want a quieter, more relaxed brunch? Then head to the Dusit Thani Abu Dhabi and try the Wok With Me brunch at Urban Kitchen.
The set-up at Urban Kitchen is spacious and there is plenty of space to walk around tables without feeling uncomfortably close to fellow diners as you pass by. A musician sets the mood with soothing jazz music, alternating from saxophone to piano all afternoon. It’s a perfect accompaniment to the stress-free vibe. The star of any brunch, as we all know, is the food and this one ranks well. At the live rice-cooking station, you can choose from garlic rice, egg-fried rice or chilli rice and then a chef will make a bespoke rice dish for you with a variety of mix-ins including beef, chicken, seafood, red and green onions, broccoli, cauliflower and carrots.
My favourite station was the tom yum soup station where the chef adds mix-ins to the already-made broth. Start with seafood, tofu or chicken and ask the chef to add any combination of fresh coriander, mushrooms, broccoli, cauliflower, chilli paste, tomatoes, lemongrass and lime (let the chef know if you want it spicy). I loved this soup. It was fragrant and sour, and an excellent version of this classic dish.
Other standouts at this Asian-inspired brunch are the sweet and sour fish, the cashew nut chicken, the Indonesian ayam percik, the Indian dal tadka and the coconut sago pudding.
The cheese selection is small, but what is there is handmade. There’s a selection of tasty Indian cuisine tucked in the back of the restaurant (I missed it my first time around) and the ample dessert section includes a chocolate fountain.
This brunch is probably best done without kids. It claims it’s kid-friendly and there is a section of small tables and chairs with a kids’ buffet. But the only entertainment is a TV with a choice of three movies. It was not supervised the day we were there and there was nothing for the kids to do other than watch movies. If nothing else, adding a few colouring books and crayons would serve them well.
The Wok With Me brunch at Urban Kitchen runs every Friday from 12:30pm to 4pm at the Dusit Thani Abu Dhabi. Dh255+. For reservations, call 02 698 8137.
