We sample the La Tavolata Evening Brunch at this gorgeous Italian Ristorante on Saadiyat Island.
The stunning Saadiyat Rotana Resort & Villas is home to some of the best dining venues on Saadiyat Island and one of the highlights is the Si Ristorante Italiano & Bar.
The La Tavolata Evening Brunch at the Si Ristorante on Thursday nights is an extravaganza that simply has to be experienced. A blend of traditional Italian style table service with live stations, carvery, desserts and much more using the freshest ingredients and authentic recipes.
The warm wooden tones of the restaurant compliment the high ceilings with discreet seating along the walls and a lovely outdoor patio offering an extra special place to sit and enjoy the experience.
A huge bar dominates the entrance with an array of welcome drinks ready to grab and on the right are the stunning dessert and cheese displays waiting to be sampled.
We grab a drink and shown to our table in the garden by the lovely Nikita who cheerfully insists we must start with the cheese.
A cheese platter is put together with the finest Italian cheeses with some crackers and is soon at the table followed by Chef Ashish who greets us like long lost friends and takes us on a tour of the buffet.
We stop at the carvery which has massive selection of roast meat and seafood that alone would do a buffet proud, great platter of roast chicken, braised brisket, grilled fish and lamb shank await surrounded by roast veggies and an array of sauces.
Next up is the huge pizza oven where you can order the usual favorites on a thin crust or something completely as you prefer. There is a huge selection of traditional Italian cold cuts and cured meat on the side that we decide we must sample.
The extensive salad section is next heaving with some of the freshest seafood salads mixed with the classics and we were told a selection of the finest would be sent to our table.
We are completely pampered and charmed by the service, they simply want you to just relax and enjoy the food.
On the way back to the table we were offered special mixed drinks by the resident mixologist who suggested we try his Basil Bliss which was perfect with the cheese and salads.
Settled in our seats we sampled the cheese and the salads which were stunning, the chicken salad was outstanding and the fresh octopus and seafood salad was divine.
The Lobster Ravioli was next which was absolutely stunning, minced lobster stuffed ravioli in a fragrant tomato sauce, just awesome. We tried the Mushroom Risotto next which was rich and decadent.
The trip to the BBQ resulted in a slice of beef strip loin grilled medium right in front of us and doused in a delicate beef jus with road potatoes on the side, perfectly executed.
A trip to the carvery was next, the braised brisket and the lamb shank were the stars with the roast chicken and the grilled fish adding their flavors.
We really had to pace ourselves or there would be no place for the desserts which would have been a shame.
The rows of exotic desserts simply had to be sampled, the tiramisu was stunning and the eclairs were just divine. The unique mango sabayon got full points for its complex flavors.
By this point we were about to burst with no place to try anything else or take up the offer for some expresso.
The Verdict
We were impressed by the sheer variety of food and the exceptional taste of each dish, there was no detail that was not perfect and the friendly staff with their attentive service made the evening a complete delight.
Chef Ashish and his team get full marks for making this a memorable experience and we see why this brunch is so popular with the people in the know.
Treasured times were indeed delivered as is the promise of the Rotana Group.
The Packages
Soft Package – AED 275 per person / House Beverage Package – AED 350 per person – Every Thursday 6.30 PM to 10.30 PM.
The Contact
For reservations call + 971 2 697 000 or click here
