Splash the Brunch at Artisan Kitchen

The Experience Team

3 years ago

A superb brunch with excellent food and a family friendly vibe at the gorgeous Bab Al Qasr Hotel & Residences.

Situated at end of the Abu Dhabi Corniche in a cluster of high-profile hotels in sleek towers, the Bab al Qasr Hotel is one of the great hidden gems of Abu Dhabi with this stunning golden tower, a breathtaking atrium lobby that is simply amazing and some excellent dining options.

We were hearing whispers about the brunch at their Artisan Kitchen and how their new head of F&B had transformed the menu which was reason enough to make the trip, and it was definitely more than just worth the visit.

The Venue

In keeping with the current safety measures the hotel offers self-parking in the basement and there is a lift that deposits you right in front of the Artisan Kitchen that hosts the brunch.

It’s a warm and inviting venue with delightful wood paneling with classic Arabian motifs giving it an old-world charm. The dining area is spacious, light and airy with tables well-spaced apart.

We arrive a little after the brunch officially kicks off and the place was almost full with a good buzz and people moving around between the buffet island and the various food counters.

We are warmly greeted, offered a refreshing Amarula Colada as we are escorted over to our table. The soft buzz of conversations and laughter gives us an intimate feel and we are soon relaxed and ready to try the food.

The Food

There is a wide array of food to choose from spread across the two buffet islands and along the sides of the open kitchen on the right. The cuisine is international with mix of traditional Arabic dishes, some street food and a huge range of fresh seafood, sushi and salads.

We start with a visit to the huge cheese and bread section taking up one side of the first buffet island. There is a vast variety of artisan bread keeping with the name of the restaurant and a good selection of cheese from around the world to pair the bread with. We assemble a small cheese platter to start off the meal.

Next is a visit to the salad bar, there is a nice selection of salads to try, we get some of the fresh Arabic salads and head on over to the seafood bar, there are fresh oysters, calamari, crab legs and buckets full of fresh shrimp that are irresistible and soon our plates are brimming with salads and seafood

The mandatory stop at the sushi bar is next, the selection is again huge and the taste is fresh and spot on. We loved the Tuna Tartare and the California rolls were just awesome.

We head over to the Asian counter; they have some excellent street style noodles served in neat paper boats like you get from a street hawker. We also grab a serving of dynamite Shrimp that is oozing with dynamite sauce which didn’t last for too long. There are some very yummy little beef sliders that we couldn’t resist as well.

We are well on the way to being stuffed but there is still so much to try, wowing to pace ourselves we head off to the carvery station. There’s a delicate roast baby chicken which is almost falling of the bone, soft and juicy.

There is a tray with this delicate and extremely flavorful BBQ beef brisket in a braising jus that is a must try and one of the highlights of the brunch. The taste is delicate and a fine balance between sweet and tart with the brisket fork tender, just amazing.

There is a huge pan with a spicy and fresh Seafood Ajilo that is absolutely divine, the seafood is fresh and the garlic flavored sauce is rich and spicy complimenting the seafood perfectly, we have never had a tastier version before this.

We move on and find the Indian section, there is a fantastic biryani with some excellent butter chicken and a flavorful, slow cooked daal makhana which stole the show, absolutely delicious. We are totaly stuffed with barely space for the desserts so we have to call it a day for the food.

The Desserts

So, we have to take a walk around the delightful outdoor pool to make some space for the desserts, the weather is not too hot and there are people sitting out enjoy a coffee and the pool which looks so inviting but we are on a mission to do justice to the desserts.

There is a whole island devoted to desserts which range form the classic Arabic to the modern single serve western versions with ice cream and churros added to the fix just for fun. There is a wacky displace of chocolate cupcakes in a custom-made stand which is very attractive.

We manage to try a few of the cupcakes and churros along with a serving of the chocolate mousse and the strawberry cheesecake, both just divine. We end with a delightful dessert named Baba Exotic which was a first for us but extremely flavorful.

The Verdict

We are really pleased with the variety and taste of the food; this is definitely a hidden gem of a brunch and we hope they keep up the great work. The venue is charming and the service is perfectly on point without being intrusive.

We will definitely be back as it is such a delightful place with a serene and relaxing ambiance where we would happily spend an entire afternoon eating great food and enjoying the company of friends and family.

The Splash the Bruch also offers you two for one deal on a range of activities and water sports that can be utilized on the same day or even later which is such a nice idea. They also offer a special stay and dine offer combining a night stay with the brunch at an attractive price.