The location:
Held in the Lemon & Lime bar, the Westin’s Saturday summer brunch is a comfortable atmospheric experience. The room the brunch is held in is just a short walk from the main entrance and upon walking in it has an intimate, sophisticated yet relaxing feel. This brunch is an indoor food fest, and while the space is not big, there is enough tables and chairs to cater to everyone who has opted to treat themselves on a Saturday as opposed to a Friday.
The atmosphere:
Lemon&Lime is filled with lounge chairs, single and double or three-seat, which provide for a cosy, relaxed space to enjoy good food and good company. There aren’t any children allowed at this particular Abu Dhabi-hotel brunch, which I welcome, and it’s on a Saturday which makes for a less rowdy crowd. I am impressed by the fact that there are not masses of food, in fact it’s quite the opposite. In the centre of the room there’s a rectangular food station where chefs are on hand to tailor their offerings to the specific needs of the customer. This adds to the feeling of intimacy and makes the food fresher and more enticing for the paying customer. There were lots of small groups present and even some people on their own, which I thought was very civilised. Unfortunately, the establishment allows smoking inside, and the smell managed to ruin the perfectly fresh food set-up for me.
The food:
If you like your seafood you’ll enjoy the fresh oysters, lobster, prawns and crab on offer. If you like your oysters shucked for you, there’s even a waitress on hand to do that for you. There was a creative ceviche station — a-mazing — a selection of sushi to choose from (although not with enough variety for me), a tempura deep frying station, beef wellington options and a live risotto cooking area, where two varieties of the rice-based dish are being whipped up and served fresh on your plate. I think my favourite part of the afternoon was the dessert spread. The pannacotta with pineapple, hazelnut coffee and chocolate pudding and chocolate cheesecake with fruit had me excited from the minute we walked in, yet that was just a selection of the sweets available to finish your day the right way.
Who is it best for?
Couples or groups of friends. As mentioned it’s an adults-only offering, and being a Saturday brunch, I’d say more enticing for those looking for a lazy relaxed afternoon as opposed to a drink and stuff yourself silly kind of Friday offering.
The verdict:
Price-wise this brunch, while smaller, is not much different from the popular Westin Friday brunch. But, if you’re after good fresh food, prefer to relax and chat in a comfortable atmosphere, and don’t mind a short drive out of the capital, this is for you. Great for couples and groups of friends.
• The Westin Westin Abu Dhabi Golf Club's summer brunch runs from 1pm to 5pm. Packages are priced from Dh285 for soft drinks, Dh305 for house-beverages (prices exclude taxes). Call 02 616 9999 or visit www.westinabudhabigolfresort.com/
The National was a guest of the Westin Abu Dhabi.
