Macaroon Mania

At Abu Dhabi Mall - AED 9 per macaroon.

The week that was

I think it's the season of re-visiting old favourites 'cause I spent the last week eating at places I haven't been to in a year. There's something comforting about spotting your usual order in the sea of unfamiliar items crowding the updated menu. And it's a little funny when you can't quite recall why you stopped eating there in the first place!

Duo Delight @ Pizza Hut

Anyway, I started my trip down memory lane by trying to make peace with Pizza Hut. Usually, I'm the one dissuading others from going there, but this time, I was the one to suggest we have dinner there.

Since it was just my mother and me, we opted for the 'Duo Delight' - a combo meal that included a regular salad, four garlic breads, chicken BBQ roll (not pictured), a medium pizza and two drinks. I had almost forgotten all about the sweet, tangy goodness of the creamy salad, so I was glad to be eating there that night. The garlic bread was just right, and by the time we finished the rolls, we had room for only one pizza slice each. The remaining slices were duly packed by the attentive waitress for us to take home. I had a pretty nice time at Pizza Hut and the experience sort of made me ponder over why I had been avoiding the place for so long. I guess the menu can become boring if you eat there regularly, but it's not so bad that you avoid it like the plague (like I had been doing!).
Price: AED 50 for the meal, excluding service charge
Available at: Pizza Hut outlets on Hamdan Street, Khalifa Street and Airport Road.
Worth the money? On this occasion, yes!

Dinner buffet @ Caravan

Next stop was Caravan. My friend, Sana, took us to dinner there on the occasion of passing her driving test. I don't remember the last time I ate there, but I did have their buffet a few times so I was able to recognise some of the items that had survived the test of time. There was the Chicken Cashew Stir-fry and Aloo Chaana. Besides those two, the buffet was a mix of Indian, Chinese and Thai dishes. My friends and I were so hungry after the long, meal-less day we had at university that we went straight for the main course without pausing at the salad bar. My favourite item was the Chicken Lollypop (top left of the plate in the second picture), and coming from a non-chicken eater, that's a huge compliment. I apologise for the rather messy appearance of my plate, but I had basically dumped everything on it without caring much about what went where. I loved the variety of the main courses, but the desserts were a huge disappointment. My friends and I were excited at the sight of Rasmalai, but they turned out to be a pale imitation of the real deal. They tasted like they had been sweetened using some cheap artificial sweetner. The Umm Ali and Gulab Jamun were alright, but the initial disappointment of the Rasmalai made the whole dessert experience rather bitter.
Price: AED 49 per head
Available at: Caravan Restaurant, Electra Street
Worth the money? If you fill up on the main courses.

Shish Kofta, Fried Hamour and dessert @ Golden Fork

Every time I'd pass Golden Fork, it'd be packed with people. There was a time when I would eat there often because there are two branches near my house, but for some reason they had fallen out of favour with me the last few years. I was actually headed to KFC when I decided to make a detour and find out why the place is always teeming with people. And I think I found out why. Their new menu is extensive and covers a wide variety of cuisines, and the prices are very reasonable. To top it off, they provide complementary soup and bread. My mom opted for the Fried Hamour while I went for the Shish Kofta. Now I'm not a fan of sea-food, and there are only a few selected types of fish that I eat when they're cooked a certain way (deep-fried), but the Fried Hamour was one of the best fish dish I ever tasted. The Shish Kofta wasn't bad either, and it came with fries and two puri breads. For dessert, I went for the 'Watermelon Fantasy' - little scoops of watermelon drizzled with strawberry sauce. All in all, it was a very enjoyable meal even though the interiors and furniture weren't the best.
Price: Shish Kofta AED 16, Fried Hamour AED 15, Watermelon Fantasy AED 10
Available at: Golden Fork outlets on Hamdan Street, Khalifa Street and Khalidiyah Street.
Worth the money? An emphatic yes.

My Favourite Things

BBQ Ranch Burger @ Chili's

Chili's is one of my favourite haunts, and even though I go there regularly, I haven't really had the chance to explore their menu as I almost always order the same thing since I start craving it the minute I step into the restaurant.


My Chili's staple: well-done BBQ Ranch Burger. The portion size is huge, and what you see in this ill-captured picture above is only a part of the entire meal since the lettuce is obscuring the pattie, while the generous portion of fries is hiding behind the burger. I am never able to finish this meal by myself, and I usually ask them to pack the fries. Eating this is a pretty messy affair, so I'd advise girls to avoid ordering this when they're trying to make a good impression on a date. I usually tackle it with a knife and fork since I can't open my mouth wide enough for this burger!
Price: AED 31
Available at: Mariah Mall, Khalidiyah Mall food court, Abu Dhabi

Worth the money? Hell yeah. But they should have an option of ordering a smaller portion that costs less.

Molten Chocolate Cake @ Chili's

Chili's famous Molten Chocolate Cake is something we always plan to have but never have the room for after the main course! My friends and I have dubbed it 'heaven on a plate' because it's exactly that. I love how this dessert combines cold, vanilla ice cream with steaming hot, moist chocolate cake. We usually have to plan ahead in order to incorporate this into our meal.
Price: AED 29
Available at: Mariah Mall, Khalidiyah Mall food court, Abu Dhabi
Worth the money? I would say so! But the price has risen steeply over the last few months.

Chilli Cheese Fries @ Fudruckers

I personally think Fudruckers pales in comparison to Chili's. I don't usually eat there, but when I do, I go for the Chilli Cheese Fries (pictured) or the California Roll. Although the Chilli Cheese Fries doesn't look too appetising in this picture, it tastes pretty good, and the cold ranch sauce accompanying it complements the very mildly spicy fries well. I have this as a main course although it is listed as an appetizer. The bacon (halal version made from beef) in the picture actually came with my friend's burger, but since she doesn't like it, I thought I'd give it a go. Their bacon is another item which is inferior to Chili's. You can actually see and taste the fat in this, while the Chili's version has less fat and more meat.
Price: AED 19
Available at: Wahda Mall food court, Marina Mall
Worth the money? Yes. It's one of the cheaper meals on the menu.