The location
The “Eat. Play. Laugh” brunch is at Kuzbara Restaurant, in the newly opened Marriott Downtown Abu Dhabi on Airport Road. The hotel is centrally located in the city, close to Al Wahda Mall. While the entrance of the hotel can appear a little confusing, since it is on the side of the building, it is quite accessible and easy to find.
The atmosphere
The concept is simple: a “fun-filled brunch grown-ups”. Once you reach the mezzanine floor, one of the first things you see is a big-screen TV with a video game on it, and a giant Connect 4 board that really reinforces the “play” part of the brunch.
Walking into the next room, we were greeted by the beats of a DJ (albeit a little too loud) and a large open space for dining. We were impressed with the decor of the restaurant and how brightly lit the area was.
The food was beautifully laid out. Towards the back of the room there were more games available for guests to play, including a giant Jenga set and a foosball table.
However, one of our favourite aspects of the brunch was the resident magician, James Harrington. The illusionist went from table to table performing tricks in front of diners that made for a lot of laughs from everyone involved.
The food
The brunch offers an impressive combination of food from the restaurants within the Marriott, including JW Steakhouse, Velocity and Kuzbara.
We really loved the variety. From Arab and Indian to oysters and sushi, plus loads of options for desserts, you really cannot go wrong. At times, it kind of felt like being a kid in a sweet shop.
Our highlights from the buffet-style brunch included the cheesecake, the prime rib and burgers.
There was also a decent selection for vegetarians, including a nice set-up of salads, as well as vegetarian Indian options.
Who is it best for?
People who want to forget about being a grown-up for a few hours and return to simpler days.
The verdict
Overall I was very happy with our experience and would definitely go again, as a fun way to kick-start my weekend. The food was amazing and the atmosphere was lighthearted and fun.
• Eat. Play. Laugh brunch at Kuzbara at Marriott Downtoan Abu Dhabi; every Friday from 12.30pm to 4pm. The eat package (which includes soft drinks) costs Dh275, the play package (with house beverages and cocktails) is Dh380, and the laugh package (with sparkling beverages) is Dh450 (all prices exclude taxes). Call 02 304 7777 or visit www.eatplaylaughbrunch.com for more details
The National was a guest of the venue
elau@thenational.ae
