Brunch at: Feast, Sheraton Grand Hotel

Roasted duck congee with sous vide poached egg, one of the offerings during Feast at the Sheraton Grand Hotel, Dubai. Photo credit Ann Marie McQueen

The location

The Sheraton Grand Hotel is close to the Trade Centre roundabout and easily accessible from Sheikh Zayed Road. Feast is on the sixth floor of the hotel.

The atmosphere

While there isn’t anything standout about the dining room, it is bright and airy. We managed to snag a secluded table for two out on the small-ish balcony and were pleased, although I was briefly and needlessly worried we might be forgotten about out there. Things got a little more lively towards the end of brunch as progressively larger groups of people ventured outside for cigarettes. The staff were absolutely lovely – full of personality and eager to explain the moment a patron lingered on an item they might not fully understand – and the service was outstanding. There wasn’t a thing we wanted for.

The food

Feast has some of my favourite things in a midday buffet: it is thoughtfully put together, lavish without being overwhelming and mindful of food waste.

This brunch is big on individual portioning, including spoons bearing a single, juicy cold-cooked shrimp and small bowls of roasted duck congee with sous vide poached egg. There are a variety of fun cooking stations, each clearly signed and paired with an appropriate beverage.

Regional fare is often given a clever twist. The tender pomegranate and tamarind chicken, for example, is a play on the traditional tandoor variety, and was served with suggested shots of salted caramel-flavoured mango lassi.

Highlights included grill-to-order burgers, steak, salmon and foie gras, and an impressive cheese counter. I loved Abondance and Comte, both from France. Malaysian beef redang braised coconut curry, which was tender and infused with a delicate combination of lemongrass, galangal, chilli and cinnamon, also stood out.

I was very happy to be able to try, for the first time, a Chinese-style BBQ chicken steam bun, served with Asian slaw – and it was delicious.

Feast staff were very excited about Lamb 26, although we were less so. This is essentially three cuts of very tender grass-fed lamb presented with different sides – think tiny portions of dehydrated olive and feta, greens and pomegranate – served tableside on a chic tiered, glass platter. It was good, and perhaps for a lamb enthusiast, could be great.

Who’s it best for?

While there were some children at the brunch, there are more kid-friendly options around. Mostly the crowd was composed of 30 and 40-somethings – a mix of big tables, two and four-tops – celebrating the start of the holidays.

The verdict

This is an accessible, relaxed and varied brunch with lots of options. Even though the hotel has only been open for a year, I’m not surprised that people have taken to it so quickly.

The Feast brunch is served from 1pm to 4pm at the Sheraton Grand Hotel in Dubai, by the Trade Centre roundabout, and is priced from Dh395. For more information or to book, call 04 503 4444 or email [e-mail].

The National was a guest of the venue.