This is a true hidden gem of Abu Dhabi serving excellent food in a cozy ambiance.
In the heart of the Al Raha Beach Hotel is this little jewel of a restaurant , the Al Manzil Restaurant & Bar overlooking the stunning pool and beach offering a lavish display of salads, Arabic mezze and delectable desserts complimented with the best selection of traditional Ramadan dishes in a stylish clubhouse style setting.
There were fleeting whispers in the air about their excellent and intimate Iftar Buffet so we just had to head over to give it a try and we were highly impressed.
The Venue
We arrived just in time to be seated before the call to prayer went out and it was time to break the fast. The staff extended a warm greeting at the door and we were offered options of indoor or outdoor seating by the pool.
The tables were set with neat little platters of cold mezze and a tray of dates was offered to break the fast. The ambiance is intimate and delightful with groupings of tables suitably spaced apart. The floor to ceiling windows offer excellent views of the pool and the beach beyond.
The Food
We dig in to the cold mezze, the hummus and the vine leaves are excellent, soon a series of hot mezze are served. The Falafel are delicate and fluffy while the Kibbeh have a nice crunch to them and are perfect. There’s a neat little chicken shawarma wrapped in bits of newspaper that was surprisingly flavorful, loved the presentation.
There are a variety of traditional Arabic drinks, one is a tangy tamarind based drink that was very refreshing and another had hints of Hibiscus. You can also ask for any soft drink or the yoghurt based Laban.
We venture out to try sample some salads, stopping by the soup station we get some of the creamy Broccoli Soup, they have a classic Arabic soup as well that is worth trying. The salad section has a huge variety of Middle Eastern salads mixed with some classics, we loved the Shrimp Salad and the Beetroot Hummus was excellent.
We loved how the food is served to you on a plate and nobody is allowed to go close or serve themselves, the food counters have a little cordon so people stay at a distance and the staff will serve you what you need.
There is a good selection of mains all neatly displayed in gleaming covered dishes that keep the food piping hot. We try the Arabic Mixed Grills, the Lamb Kofta was amazingly soft, the chicken was moist and tender and the grilled veggies were just perfect.
We tried the Kofta Curry and the Salona with some of the Chicken Mandi which was just divine, the rice was delicately spiced and was perfect for soaking up the Salona gravy and the huge piece of chicken on top was grilled to perfection.
There is a delightful King Fish Tikka and a very flavorful Veg Biryani we enjoyed with a bit of the yoghurt dip and pickles. The fish is fresh and grilled just right with a hint of Indian Tikka spices giving it a delightful punch.
We move on and find this delightful platter with a grilled whole Hammour sitting on a bed of delicious Dill Rice, the fish was falling apart tender and the flavor of the rice perfectly complimented the flavors of the fish, this is definitely one of the highlights of this Iftar.
The Desserts
All this delightful food is hard to pass up but we had a look at the desserts and had to save space for them, there is a nice selection of traditional Arabic and international desserts to choose from. The Kunafa was delightfully flavorful and a hint of sugar syrup kicked it to a different level.
The little portions of Coffee Custard and the Cheesecake were delicious and the Chocolate Tart was light and decadent. The little Rice Puddings and the Tiramisu along with the Swiss Rolls were a delight, we just couldn’t resist and ate way more than was good for us.
The Verdict
We must say we are really happy with the food, the taste is excellent with a good variety, the service is attentive and we had a really pleasant conversation with our server, Gautam, who kept an eye on our table, refilling our drinks and making sure we were well looked after.
The manager Mr. Adel came over and had a chat with us, we loved how he was on the floor interacting with all the guests which was very nice, he even mentioned we could order anything that was not on the menu and he would have it sent over which was a really nice touch.
Its a great place for an intimate Iftar with your family, the food is excellent and the staff make you feel at home treating you like family, we really enjoyed our Iftar. The outdoor area is perfect for an after Iftar coffee and they also offer Shisha in a variety of flavors.
The Packages
The Iftar is priced at AED 195 per person all inclusive, AED 110 for kids aged 6 to12 and is available all through the Holy month of Ramada form sundown to 10.00 PM. The also offer an Iftar To-Go that can you can pre order and collect or get delivered to your home.
The Contact
For reservations call +971 2 508 0577 or click here to book.
