The location
Ever since its previous incarnation Pearls & Caviar opened, the site of P&C by Sergi Arola has been one of the most picturesque locations in this part of Abu Dhabi, with views out of its airy windows across the waters of the Grand Canal to the Sheikh Zayed Mosque. While for dinner, P&C is lit pleasingly sparingly, in the early afternoon, it’s awash with sun rays. The circular set-up of the main dining area lends itself nicely to brunch stations in all four corners.
The atmosphere
There was an intimate feel, with plenty of couples enjoying the brunch’s three-hour duration alongside larger mixed groups, with a broad spread of ages. The real boon to the ambience, however, was the smooth sounds from P&C’s in-house DJ from the radio station JazzArabia – the woman behind the mini-studio’s glass when we visited was a personable young Polish-born former Berlin resident called Julita, who made the effort to come around and converse with all the tables throughout the course of the brunch. Coupled with genuine, chatty staff, it popped any sense of formality that you might experience at dinner in a five-star hotel.
The food
Inspired by the restaurant’s à la carte menu, the focus is on seafood and Spanish selections. Most of the dishes are presented in buffet form, but there’s a strong showing of Sergi Arola’s “pica-pica” tapas, which is delivered direct to your table – including kimchi chicken wings and patatas bravas. Quality ruled over quantity when it came to the food stations, thankfully, particularly on the ceviche and fresh shellfish section, as well as the innovative takes on paella (beetroot and squid ink make notable appearances in a colourful display). There’s a small oyster bar on a chunky ice block, while the pick of the mains was a tenderloin with complementary options of rock salt, mushroom gravy and several sauces. One of the chefs told us that the majority of the desserts (chocolate fountain, an array of cake-based treats) are lifted from the Shangri-La’s Sofra Bld restaurant, but the live dishes were more memorable: crabapples on sticks, chocolate-and-cranberry-covered doughnuts, and a rather magical chocolate concoction that came decorated with petals, atop a coffee-ish “soil”.
Who’s it best for?
Couples and anybody who wants the full five-star brunch experience without getting the sensation of dining in a room big enough to act as an army mess.
The verdict
P&C continues Pearls & Caviar’s lineage, with lovely views and a relaxed atmosphere that all adds up to one of the classiest brunches in town.
The National was a guest of the restaurant.
• Fridays 1pm to 4pm. From Dh342. Shangri-La Hotel, Qaryat Al Beri, Abu Dhabi, reservations 02 509 8777.
aworkman@thenational.ae
