This exciting new restaurant has more than what meets the eye.
The Musaffah Shabiya area never ceases to amaze us with the plethora of dining options and the constant changes with new ones opening makes it an exciting place to explore anytime.
We were pleasantly surprised to see National Highway One had opened and the elegant exteriors just made not stopping impossible.
The Venue
The vibrant yellow sign shaped like a highway marker, an exterior neatly done in black tiles with classic Indian style windows makes it stand out and the diffused lighting adds an aura or charm drawing you inside.
The bright interiors were unexpectedly neat and warming with cheerful staff, impeccably dressed, making you feel instantly at home.
We went in expecting a traditional north Indian highway dhaba but turns out its a marriage of four distinct dining concepts seamlessly integrated into one.
A classic style chaat bazaar, a full-blown Punjabi dhaba, an Italian kitchen and a Lavazza coffee shop have been seamlessly melded together to create a unique dining venue unlike any we have ever seen in Abu Dhabi.
There is a full floor upstairs with family dining and the Lavazza Café Highway has its own area reminiscent of an old-world club with bookcases on the wall, deep armchairs to lounge in and a fully stocked coffee bar, this is going to be a regular hangout for coffee lovers once discovered.
The Order
With so much to choose form we had to try something from each section but as time was short, we settled on a takeaway to enjoy leisurely at home, here’s what we tried.
Special Katori Chaat – A huge serving of a classic chaat topped with pomegranate that was sweet, spicy and tart perfectly combining to give you an explosion of flavors in each bite, we must say the presentation and taste were both exceptional.
Murgh Tikka – Classic tandoori style cubes of chicken char grilled to perfection, moist, succulent and fall apart tender, outstanding flavors, very impressive
Dhaba Murg – A delicious, spicy and fragrant curry exactly like one would get from a dhaba along the NH1 in north India, perfectly spiced with great flavors, the laccha paratha is the ideal bread for this.
Palak Paneer – Delicate morsels of cottage cheese in a thick spinach gravy topped with fresh cream will leave you licking your fingers, a Punjabi classic perfectly executed and with the butter naan to mop up the gravy was heavenly.
Chicken Penne – Perfectly executed pasta dish, slivers of chicken in a hearty pink sauce, a meal by itself oozing flavors.
Seafood Risotto – This dish had us salivating all the way home, the fresh aroma of seafood filled the car driving us crazy and we just had dig in on the way the rice was perfect and the seafood fresh, just delightful.
Tiramisu – We were informed that the Tiramisu is a Chefs specialty so we had to try it and we were not disappointed, not overly sweet, great texture and a perfect way to end a meal.
Café Highway – We tried the Highway Blast and the Highway Frappe and both were excellent making us want to go back for more on the Lavazza menu.
The Verdict
We were pleasantly surprised by how effortlessly the various cuisines were put together and superbly executed, hats off to the chefs who are experts in what they do, it is hard to find a place where all items are perfect.
The food was packaged expertly and arrived looking immaculate which is a big plus adding to the experience, they definitely know what they are doing.
Great food, exceptional taste, excellent portion sizes, all at a super budget friendly price is a combination hard to achieve, we are very impressed.
The Suri Brothers who brought us Punjab Highway in Abu Dhabi have outdid themselves with this unique concept and their great food. We are sure this place is set to do wonders.
Contact
Phone – +971 2 551 9119
