One of the longest-running UAE nightlife traditions is the phenomenon that is the ladies’ night – which is all very nice and well for the females of the species, but what about the other half of the population? Stills has a riposte in the form of its new Sunday evening men’s night, based around a suitably “manly” menu.
For Dh199, you get a main course, a dessert, three drinks and an extra three drinks “for your lady”. The three mains choices are suitably bloke-tastic: we don’t get to sample the Philly steak burger with BLT cheese fries, but we do find breakfast the following day is rendered unnecessary by the butcher’s platter and the seafood “stud”.
The former piles on the meat with a significant pile of tasty barbecue-sauce-glazed brisket and chicken wings, plus four veal sausages, a pot of blended beef bacon and potatoes in tarragon mayo and “country” garlic toast. There’s only the merest hint of healthiness, via a portobello mushroom, tomatoes and a stack of rocket leaves.
The seafood selection is similarly stacked, with Texan chilli prawns on country bread, cross-sections of grilled spice-rubbed lobster, two triangles of crab and salmon quesadilla and the same vegetables and bacon/potato/mayo combo as the butcher’s platter.
Desserts also blow metaphorical raspberries in the direction of healthy-living disciples. It’s a straight decision between sticky toffee pudding (presented in an salmon-fillet-esque shape, with butterscotch sauce and vanilla ice cream) or the black and white sundae (a glass filled to the brim with chocolate and vanilla ice cream, whipped cream, chocolate sauce and chocolate buttons).
The timing of the weekly event isn’t accidental, planned to coincide with live sports broadcasts – perfect for fans of the English Premier League and other top European football competitions, who will be pleased to know Stills boasts a big-screen projector and numerous other TVs dotted around the bar.
If you really want to prove your machismo, meanwhile, direct yourself towards the small video camera set up on the bar’s stage area for a chicken wings challenge that involves scoffing uber-hot poultry garnished with ghost chillies. Wise participants will want to order a few pints of water when selecting the drinks that come as part of the deal.
• Men's night at Stills Bar and Brasserie is every Sunday and costs Dh199. For more information, call 02 656 3061 or visit www.ihg.com.
aworkman@thenational.ae
