The Iftar Buffet at Layali Al Baraka offers traditional Middle Eastern cuisine in a stylish and flamboyant ambiance.
One of the finest luxury hotels in Abu Dhabi, The Conrad Abu Dhabi Etihad Towers, is home to some of the finest dining venues in Abu Dhabi, from the stunning Rays, Grill to the delightful pan Latin Vakava and the stylish Moksh this hotel has something for every taste.
We were over to try the Iftar Buffet at their pop up concept, Layali Al Baraka over the weekend and we must say we were delighted with the venue and the food.
Its a massive space with rows and rows of elegantly laid out tables perfectly spaced apart with a central area featuring all the food stations. The feel is decidedly Arabic with the staff in flowing gowns and cute little lanterns on each table giving a festive look.
We are shown to our table just in time to break out fast, there is a tray of dates waiting and the staff instantly bring over a selection of traditional juices, the rose flavored Jalab was amazing and we also loved the tamarind juice which was a perfect blend of sweet and tart, very refreshing.
The Food
The food is spread across the cental area with neat little stations, the first has freshly baked Mankeesh and delicately wrapped Shawarmas, we try the beef Shawarma and a cheese Manakeesh which were excellent, fresh and flavorful.
We move on to the salad section which has a huge variety, there are the classic Hummus, Mutabbal and other Arabic salads along with some fresh seafood and beef salad, the shrimp salad was simply outstanding. The Vine Leaves and the Tabbouleh are excellent as well.
Right next to this is the classic hot mezze selection, there are dainty little Spring Rolls, fresh Falafel some nice and crisp Kibbeh and the most unique thing is their Tahini Fountain where you can get your Falafel dipped for you which was a first for us.
There is a huge variety of Arabic dishes with a smattering of International and Indian favorites as well, the traditional mixed grill has some very succulent kebabs worth trying. There is an excellent Lamb Harees and a very tasty Cajun Dusted Baked Lemon Sole.
We tries the Indian section there was a very unique cauliflower dish, Gobi Musallam, tender chunks of cauliflower florets a fragrant sauce and Tandoori Chicken drumsticks that were perfectly grilled and tasted divine.
There is live pasta station taking orders for any kind of pasta you would fancy and alongside you can get some Lamb Ouzi or if you are a seafood person there is an excellent Fish Sayadieh, a classic Lebanese dish fragrant with spices and delicious little morsels of fresh fried fish.
The Desserts
In the middle of the buffet are three carts completely full of brightly colored desserts in single serve dishes that keep attracting us. There is a Date Section with trays overflowing with different variety of dates, some we have never tried before. There is a Arabic Desert Cart and then there is the International Cart.
The Arabic Cart has a neat array of delicious Arabic treats, the Baklava and and the Um Ali are outstanding and there is a very interesting dessert we loved called Halawet El Jeben. There are two versions of the Kataif Ashta, one with nuts and one plain which are both excellent.
We head on over to try the International Dessert Cart and we are in for a treat, there is creamy Banana Cheesecake, a tangy Lemon Meringue Tart and the Crème Brulee which was fantastic. The Tiramisu is spot on and all the desserts are just perfect, not too sweet not to tart which was a delight after a heavy meal.
The Verdict
Its a great Iftar Buffet with some really interesting dishes, the flavors are excellent and the desserts are just decadent. The service is excellent and the ambiance is very classy. We loved the Tahini Fountain which was the most unique item and the Fish Sayadieh was simply awesome. Its a nice Iftar to enjoy with your family or a few good friends.
The Packages
The Iftar at Layali Al Barakah is priced at AED 210 per person including the drinks and is available all thru the Holy month of Ramadan form 6.00 PM to 9.00 PM.
The Contact
For reservations please call +971 2 811 5555 or +971 2 811 5666.
