Two of their finest venues come together to offer a fantastic brunch with an unmatched vibe.
When two of the best venues at a popular hotel come together to throw a lavish brunch, magic happens, and that is so true of the Duplex Brunch at the Crowne Plaza Abu Dhabi.
In a sense it’s a double duplex brunch actually, two venues one on top of the other, featuring Cho Gao the stylish Pan Asian restaurant and bar and the hugely popular Spaccanapoli, their excellent Italian restaurant that is right above Cho Gao making it two restaurants and two floors, a double duplex! It’s an absolute no-brainer, two venues and two brunches for the price of one.
The Venue
We arrive just after the brunch officially starts, and the place is packed, groups of friends, families and chatting couples giving it a great vibe which is always a delight to be a part of. We are warmly greeted and shown to our table which is in a nice secluded corner offering some privacy.
The intimate, dark wood panelled interior has a long bar with a good-sized dining area at the back which is cosy and inviting, there’s a cute little Hendrick’s cart by the bar that looks so cool.
The Food
Soon we are seated and the drinks orders are placed, or server informs us of the drill, Pan Asian buffet around the corner and up the stairs to Spaccanapoli for the Italian buffet.
Cho Gao
We head on over to the buffet, there is a table with some interesting mocktails in jars to try, we sample Cuddles on the Beach, a tasty blend of pineapple, orange, cranberry and peach and loved the sweet and tangy flavour. We head on over and sable some gorgeous fresh fruit on offer to start our brunch journey.
The soup cauldron looks inviting, it’s a Hot and Sour soup with is nice and rich in flavour and next to it is the salad bar, we loved the Asian beef salad. The decor is funky with, cute little Asian umbrellas on the wall adding colour.
We move over and get find some delightful spring rolls and BBQ chicken wings to nibble, we stop at the sushi bar and the chef puts together a sampler platter for us to try. The sushi is so popular that it just keeps disappearing.
The mains are all classic Pan Asian, we loved the Hakka Noodles with the Massaman curry and the Beef Rendang was simply outstanding with a side of tea jasmine rice. Each dish is a masterpiece with complex flavours and a delicate heat which is perfect for any palate. Cho Gao as always, excelled with its food and ambiance.
Spaccanapoli
We make our way upstairs to Spaccanapoli and find It’s also packed, it’s more of a family vibe with large groups of people and kids having a great time.
We start with the cheese selection, this is one of the most extensive cheese counters we have seen in recent time with a vast array of delightful cheeses form across the world we have to get a sampler platter that we kept nibbling on all through the afternoon., was heavenly.
We stop at the salad bar, the prawn cocktail and the edamame salad are divine drizzled with the decadent lemon butter sauce. There is a good selection of fresh bread and cured meats that are worth stopping by, the crusty farm style bread is a great accompaniment to the cheese and salads.
The Mushroom Risotto in the giant cheese wheel is a must-try, it’s cream, fluffy and delightfully flavoured, we had to go for seconds. We stop for some grilled meat, the flank steak is awesome and there is a delightful Brandy sauce that adds a lovely flavour. We get some grilled veggies and corn bread on the side, which are perfect with the steak.
There are some lovely sausage up next and some very succulent grilled chicken, We loved the spicy beef chorizo and the chicken cheese sausage was a highlight, the flavours are absolutely divine and a little dab of mustard kicked them to a different level.
We are absolutely stuffed by now with barely any space for the desserts, so had to take a short break before we headed over to the dessert section.
We are really impressed, the dessert selection is absolutely amazing, there are tarts, cupcakes, souffle, puddings and cakes delightfully presented just begging to be sampled.
The Crème brûlée is fantastic, we loved the classic cheesecake also the decadent carrot cake, the variety is simply too huge to try, and we are absolutely stuffed so have to reluctantly call it a day.
The Verdict
The Crowne Plaza Abu Dhabi has a winner on its hands here, a great concept with fantastic food and a super cool ambiance, and it’s not surprising that it’s always full. The central location in Abu Dhabi also adds to the appeal.
If you are the party animal type who loves a good bar buzz then you need to ask for a table in Cho Gao and if you are the family type then it’s Spaccanapoli for you but make sure to book in advance.
The food is excellent, the drinks divine, the service is faultless and the packages are so keenly priced, what else would you want? Chef Ludovic is always around dropping in at your table for a chat and making you feel at home.
The Packages
The Duplex Brunch happens every Friday from noon to 4.00 PM, with pricing form AED 195 with soft beverages and AED 265 with mixed beverages. So for the price of one brunch you actually get to enjoy two brunches across these two venues.
The Contact
For reservations please call or WhatsApp +97150 612 3489
