Truly a hidden gem of Abu Dhabi, serving some of the best slow smoked meats in town.
The Smoke and Grill Nook, situated in a hidden corner of the Al Reef Villas Food Court, is a new addition to the culinary pleasures of Abu Dhabi and oh boy, does it pack a punch.
As you walk towards the entrance, smack in the middle of the courtyard is this huge, custom-built wood smoker that sits in a shaded gazebo, and immediately you can tell this restaurant takes it smoking extremely seriously, very impressive.
It’s a small little place at the back of the food court but don’t let the location fool you. Its hardly 5.30 PM and the place is a hive of activity, the staff is busy carving meats and preparing orders for the waiting delivery drivers which is a great sign for a new venue.
As we get close, the aromas of smoked meat and fresh baked bread make our senses tingle in anticipation. The place has a nice wood panelled look with the staff is neatly attired in black outfits who greet you with a huge smile.
The Background
The brainchild of a widely travelled and highly experienced Chef entrepreneur, Chef Alaa Riad, a long-term resident of Abu Dhabi who has one of the most colourful resumes ever, from serving two Presidents to working across the US and Europe along with a long stint at Etihad Airways, Chef Alaa has done it all.
Chef Alaa, a seasoned pit master, saw a gap in the market for an authentic smoke house that did real justice to the meats and took the plunge to open this place as a retirement plan for his wife and himself.
We were greeted by the Chef and given a tour of the place and listening to his passion we learned everything in here has a story, form his young chef program to the meat itself, his custom rubs and the wood everything has been carefully chosen regardless of the costs.
Outside there is a small retail area where you can buy different smoking wood, rubs and condiments specially imported from the US and only available here, so if you like to smoke this is the place to buy your supplies of post oak, cherry or the classic hickory wood.
On one side is a barrel with refreshing infused water waiting for the diners to sample, and another barrel has a range of pickled veg that the Chef creates to his own recipe to compliment the food.
On the wall by the top is a little set of traffic lights that is their fresh bread signal, it’s hooked up to the bread oven and the red light indicates the dough is being mixed, amber lights up when the bread is baking, and it turns green when the bread is ready, so you always know when the bread is fresh, a very neat idea we have never seen before.
We are shown the full smoked briskets that are ready to be carved and served, there are short ribs getting flame grilled and there is a nice dessert counter with a myriad of single serve desserts that look ravishing.
The Food
Let’s get to the food, all this looking around and talk is making our stomachs growl in anticipation, and it turned out to be definitely worth the wait. We are served chilled water which happens to be the same brand that is served to HM Queen Elizabeth II and has her Royal Warrant on it, have you seen this anywhere else?
The menu is extensive with choices of soup, salads, starters, burgers, some very interesting hotdogs, then you have the real deal, the grilled and smoked meats. There are family sharing platters and of course desserts.
Charcoal Grilled Vietnamese Chicken Wings
We start with these killer wings, the presentation is pure fine dining and the taste is simply divine, you can taste the flavour of charcoal, there is a perfect balance of sweet and spice, and they are cooked to perfection, moist and juicy. With a dab of the lime chipotle soy, they are heavenly.
12 Hour Slow Smoked Brisket
The signature item on the menu is the 12-hour hickory and oak smoked Angus brisket that comes with two sides, fries, fresh baked bread and a choice of sauces. The brisket is perfect, the bark is amazing, the smoke ring is prominent, and it jiggles like jelly. The flavour is smokey with a little hint of spice at the end that is simply outstanding, there is no BBQ sauce smothered brisket out here.
We try the baked beans which were subtly, smokey with bits of the brisket burnt ends adding flavour, the mashed potatoes are fresh from local crop and are creamy, light and delicious. That fresh baked bread is absolutely perfection, not to mention the decadent sweet potato fries.
Charcoal Grilled Beef Sliders
A trio of neat little charcoal grilled beef sliders is served next, the buns are house made, and the meat is perfectly flavoured, juicy and irresistible. The Chef says this is a recipe perfected over 30 years, and we can’t fault him on this at all.
Juicy Jamaican Jerk Ribs
This slab of short rib is impressive, the meat is charred on the outside and is falling off the bone, just a jab with a fork is enough to break out a bite. The complex flavours of the jerk rub hit you immediately, the combination of fat and the rib meat is like a symphony of flavour in your mouth. The grilled mushrooms are the perfect sides to this dish.
Hickory and Oak Smoked Chicken
Next up is this stunning chicken, the presentation is again top-notch, the outside is charred and smoky while the inside soft white and dripping juice, the flavours are insane. We tried the mac n cheese and the creamed spinach with this and loved the combination.
The food is presented to perfection on delightful wooden boards and the takeaway boxes are specially ordered made from recycled paper that is completely odorless so the food travels well, another thoughtful feature.
The Desserts
We are absolutely stuffed, but the Chef insists we try some of his signature desserts, soon a huge butcher’s block arrives with and assortment of single serve cups that again are specially ordered from Italy and feel like glass but are actually high-grade food plastic.
The red velvet cake was simply decadent, the tiramisu tasted like it was from an Italian family restaurant. The lotus cheesecake set new standards and the lemon pie what the perfect ending with its sweet and tart flavours. There was not one dessert that was not perfect.
The Verdict
Well, what can we say, we are simply blown away by the taste and quality of the food, the presentation and the attention to detail that has gone into all aspects of the restaurant. Chef Alaa has a masterpiece on his hands and given all the stuff he imports the pricing is still affordable.
The portions are gigantic, the taste is way better than any fine dining smoke house we have been to. The sides, the sauces and the desserts all combine to make this a memorable culinary experience.
The staff is super friendly and knowledgeable and the food comes to you piping hot, bursting with flavour. We can’t find anything to fault out here, great work Chef, you have given Abu Dhabi its very own gourmet smoke house, we hope the quality will remain outstanding as ever.
The Contact
For more information or to pace your order, call +971 2 558 8244 or order via your favourite delivery apps.
