Review : Cafe Arabia

Gosh it has been a while since my last update, hasn't it? But this time I am back reviewing a city favorite. I call it a favorite as it has received positive reviews from several Abu Dhabi sources like TOA and Abu Dhabi Week, but again, I like to form my own opinion as I haven't always had the best experiences at places highly recommended by the aforementioned. So here goes!

The occasion was a school reunion of sorts as several of us happened to converge in Abu Dhabi from different parts of the world around Eid, and a leisurely afternoon and early dinner seemed like the perfect opportunity to catch up. Since we were a large group, we were on the lookout for a place that would be able to accommodate us for several hours without having to turn away other diners. Luckily for us, Cafe Arabia happened to be just that place. I was surprised at how empty it was on a Thursday evening. I was fully expecting it to be at least 60% occupied as the name seems to be on everyone's lips lately. However, when I went there, there were only two diners besides myself although a few others dropped by later in the evening. Anyway, I couldn't complain!

The interior is spacious (three floors including rooftop seating) and very tastefully decorated, giving off a very homely vibe. I loved the arts, lanterns (some of which were on sale), the couches and the interesting pieces dotting the space. There is even a bookshelf stocked with bestsellers which you can plop down with and read at your own pace. A great idea, but as I mentioned to my friend, I'd have to be unemployed to make time for that! There's a sign at the door saying that photography is not allowed, but we couldn't resist sneaking in a few (ok, lots!) and we weren't stopped by the waiter either.

These two pictures are courtesy of my friend Z.S.

Now on to the food. The menu comes in an interesting Emirati fan design, although the pages are printed straight off the computer, not that that matters in the greater scheme of things. We went for different types of coffee and milkshakes (AED 18 - 22) to keep the conversation flowing and were a little surprised to discover that all the drinks looked and tasted pretty much the same, although they had different names on the menu. I guess that's what we get for not trying their signature chai bil hail (cardamom milk tea)! Anyway, the caffeine did see us through for two more hours before we decided to revisit the menu and pick our dishes for the night. Having skimmed through the mains before, the Grilled Kofta (AED 45) had caught my eye and I was intent on having it. What also added to my enthusiasm for the dish was that it came with oven baked potatoes, and any one who knows me knows how much I adore that root vegetable. My friends went for the standard Chicken Fillet sandwich (AED 35), Grilled Chicken (AED 45)and Creamy Alfredo (AED 35).

The food arrived soon enough. I LOVED my Grilled Kofta. It looked great, was juicy and had everyone at the table eying it for a taste. The three grilled koftas came on a bed of whole wheat pita bread, accompanied by a small serving of hummus, THAT grilled potato and some cucumbers. I enjoyed every bite of it. I didn't get to taste the Chicken Fillet sandwich, but I did try my neighbour's Grilled Chicken, and it was pretty good.

Overall my experience was good enough to prompt me to come back the very next day to try their Friday brunch (more on that later). The ambiance was exactly what we wanted, although we were a little on the loud side given our number, and the emptiness made us sound all the louder. The interiors put you in the right mood and I can imagine it feeling so much different if they only had plastic chairs and glass tables. Kudos to the brains behind this venture because I don't think there's a second place in Abu Dhabi like Cafe Arabia.

Now onto the Friday brunch. It was a spontaneous decision as I don't tend to go back to a place the very next day. However, I quite enjoyed my 2 PM brunch there (ends at 3:30 PM). The spread included the standard eggs (something that I don't eat), beef bacon and sausages, and some lunch options like the absolutely divine grilled fish with lemon and lasagna. There was also a selection of cheese, mezzes and dips, sandwiches, saj, mini-pancakes and fresh juices. The dessert selection included Umm Ali, blueberry muffins, fresh fruits, brownies among others. I thought the sizes of all the items was appropriate, so you could try everything without feeling like you're going to burst at the seams. I ended my meal with a strong Americano coffee. The meal saw me through a very exciting day and I wasn't hungry till much, much later, which was a good thing! Brunch is AED 65 per adult.

A bit of this and that

A bit of this thing I avoid, and a bit of that which coaxes me out of bed every morning and helps me survive my 5:30 PM classes.

Chicken has not been among my favourite food items for as long as I can remember, and this fact has shocked some of my friends who are self-confessed chicken addicts and try to integrate it into as mean meals as possible. I appreciate the health benefits of opting for chicken as opposed to red meat, but I've come across very few chicken preparations that do not smell or taste foul at some point. But like everything in life, there are always exceptions, and these days I've also been more adventerous when it comes to what I eat for the sake of not clogging up this blog with too many reviews of the high-in-cholesterol-albeit-tastier meat that is beef.

Chicken Malai Kebab @ Zaika

A while ago, my friends and I had dinner at the Khaldiyah Mall food court where one of us ordered the Chicken Malai Kebab from Zaika. Since we usually sample each other's food, I had the chance to taste quite a few pieces and surprisingly, I liked it! The texture was smooth and creamy (Malai kebab afterall) and the kebab had subtle spicy undertones. Best of all, the chicken didn't smell or taste like poultry. My friend was in the mood for something hotter, so it didn't go down too well with her. The kebabs were accompanied by two naans and raita. I've heard glowing comments on their Dum Biryani from one of my friends, so I plan to sample that some other day.
Price: AED 32 with a drink
Available at: Khaldiyah Mall Food Court
Worth the money? I thought the price was too high for a plate of kebabs that only came with naan and raita. On top of that, this was food court fare, not something from a proper restaurant, so even thought it tasted pretty good, I remember raising an eyebrow when the lady at the counter read out the bill.

Shish Tawook @ Dolce Cafe

I know the menu of each food outlet in my university cafeteria like the back of my hand, and I can't say I look forward to eating there unless I had to rush out of my home at 8 in the morning after stuffing two slices of brown bread down my throat and know that I wouldn't be leaving the place before 8:30 at night (because that's when my classes usually end - not because I stick around out of choice!). From the start of this semester, almost all the outlets increased their prices considerably while the quality of their meals continued to slip down a steep slope. Anyway, there's always that rare gem which is tasty, filling and true value for money, and one of those is feaured above. Sheesh Tawook (pictured) and Sheesh Kebab from Dolce Cafe are what I opt for when I have long days. The tawook (chicken) sandwich comes with fries, hummus, fresh khubz straight from the oven (still warm and fluffy when served) and a drink from the fountain. I'm usually full after having the sandwich and fries, which I like to dip into their freshly-prepared and great-tasting hummus. The chicken pieces have a slight tinge of garlic which make them taste divine to me.
Price: AED 15
Available at: Dolce Cafe, ADU - Abu Dhabi Campus
Worth the money? Only thing worth its price tag in the entire cafeteria, along with its red-meat counterpart, Sheesh Kebab.

Coffee @ Dallmayr Kaffee

My love affair with coffee started when I was about 7. While other kids had Ovaltine or cocoa with their milk, all I wanted was coffee. A heaped tea-spoon of coffee dissolved in a mug of milk was my breakfast staple during my school days. That changed to a heaped tea-spoon of coffee in a mug of water when the former started to make me feel a little queasy. It's the one thing that injects me with instant energy and gives me the boost that I so need in the mornings and sometimes even late afternoons. There's nothing more inviting than the smell of freshly-ground coffee, but I've often discovered that the drink doesn't taste as good as it smells. I've had coffee from Starbucks, Dunkin Donuts, and all those places that are renowned for their coffee...but I found them to be quite disappointing. It's funny how one of the tastiest coffees I've had so far is from a vending machine. It not only smells good, but tastes great too. There's a long selection of caffeinated drinks on the machine, but I always go for the tried, tested and loved 'Long, white coffee with sugar' (pictured). Next time you see a Dallmayr vending machine, do give it a try.
Price: AED 2
Available at: I get mine from the vending machines at ADU.
Worth the money? Do you even need to ask :)