Banish the mid-week doldrums and treat yourself to a wonderful splurge at Teatro at Park Rotana. The beloved restaurant offers a sumptuous platter of favourite Teatro appetizers along with unlimited selected beverages in a chic and inspiring atmosphere, which blends various Asian cuisines in a warm, elegant and relaxed Venetian setting.
Following an amuse-bouche of a tomato-flavoured clear soup and a dish of prawn crackers with dip, the initial platter consists of prawn and coriander money bags, crab cakes, chicken pandan, vegetable samosas, chicken and prawn sui mai, fried breaded prawns, chicken wings, crispy calamari, green bean tempura and vegetable spring rolls along with a California roll on the side. The dipping sauces are sweet chilli, spicy mayo (highly recommended), and tartar sauce. Once you’ve had your fill of the delights, you can choose another round made up of just your favourites.
I chose another go-round of the fried breaded prawns and the California roll, but smartly saved room for the dessert round. The menu featured eight items, plus the waitress mentioned two others, and it included some of the most creative desserts I’ve seen. The lemongrass crème brûlée with Thai coconut gelato, was presented on a plate with a covered dish, which the waitress uncovered, revealing two bowls: the crème brûlée on top of the gelato. My dining partner chose the dulce de leche and banana wontons. I couldn’t begin to imagine what this could look like, but it came in a basket with long, fried wontons with a perfectly not-too-sweet banana filling and a small glass bowl full of creamy dulce de leche for dipping (and maybe taking a teaspoon to rescue whatever scrids may be left over). Creative and delicious.
This special is ideal for afterwork get togethers, catching up with friends, and those early- and mid-week evenings you just don’t feel like cooking but don’t feel like ordering in, either. Treat yourself tonight.
The National was a guest of the venue.
• The Wined Down special is available Sundays, Mondays and Tuesdays, from 6pm to 8pm, from Dh175 per person, Teatro, Park Rotana, reservations at 02 657 3333, www.rotana.com
