The location
Brasserie 2.0 itself is a fairly typical, brightly lit, sparkly, large lobby restaurant, but the venue is really all about the huge seafront terrace, especially for the new Thursday night BBQ since, unsurprisingly, the BBQ also lives outside.
The atmosphere
Western. Sort of. A band and a bucking bronco had been brought in to add to the Texas BBQ feel, while the waiters were appropriately dressed as cowboys. We must admit when we were promised a “genuine band from Texas,” we’d expected duelling banjos and line dancing, so we were a little surprised to encounter surprisingly melancholy acoustic versions of pub rock standards instead (one friend who had a go on the bronco noted that the music gave the experience a strangely, hypnotic slow motion feel, though she may have been nodding off due to excess meat consumption), but most people just seemed pleased the working week was over.
The food
It’s all about char-grilled meat, and the venue has installed a smoker where the chefs smoke each week’s choice cuts in preparation. Various cuts of lamb, chicken and beef from chops to kebabs, as well as steaks and homemade burgers are available and cooked fresh on the charcoals while you wait. We particularly recommend the smoked beef brisket – smokey and crispy on the outside, then melt in your mouth soft on the inside. If all the meat gets a bit too much, there’s also a fresh nacho station and a selection of fresh seafood. I’m fairly certain I caught sight of some salad too, but this evening was all about the meat for me. I did manage a crepe and a sample of the ice cream station for desert though.
Who is it best for?
Anyone looking to eat, drink and unwind at the end of the week. We’d expected it to be relatively child-free due to the late hour, but in fact there were plenty of families in attendance, and why not with plenty of space to run around and no school in the morning?
The verdict
Yee-haw, pardner. Apologies - that was the best Western themed approval I could come up with. Definitely one to try.
* BBQ 2.0 is at Brasserie 2.0, Le Royal Meridien Beach Resort and Spa, Dubai, Thursday evenings from 7pm-11pm. Packages cost from AED290 – AED415. For reservations call +971 4 316 5550, or visit www.leroyalmeridien-dubai.com
The National was a guest of the venue.
