TimeOut Abu Dhabi – April 24, 2019

(Wang) #1
timeoutabudhabi.com April 24 – 30 2019 31

Food


WHAT IS IT...


Bar food served out on
the outdoor terrace, or in

the busy bar area


WHY GO...


For the sharing-style
platters, nachos and

lively vibe. The happy
hour deals are good, too

Flavors Grill


O Open daily 9am-midnight. Mina Zayed (050 318 9222).

WE’VE BEEN THERE, done it and wrote


thousands of reviews in the process, but every


now and then a restaurant experience in Abu
Dhabi takes us by surprise.

Flavors Grill is a new spot that stands out
from the more traditional shops and cafés on

the portside Mina Zayed strip, the stripped-
back concrete Áoors and walls creating

a modern environment.


If it sounds inviting, it really
isn’t. In fact, you’re lucky to be

reading this at all, because
we’re told we must make

a reservation through the Flavors
Grill Instagram account, or leave.

We’re already sitting at a table in


the otherwise empty restaurant,
so we’re surprised to say the least.

We oblige, hoping the food leaves
a better taste than the service.

We start with the The Flavors salad. Despite


being a little on the soggy side, it’s fresh with


rocket, orange, strawberries and tomatoes.
Next up is the Superman (a cheeseburger

topped with grilled mushrooms, onions and
peppers). It doesn’t have the usual rich Áavour

you’d expect from wagyu and would beneÀt
from being served with a side and sauce.

The rib-eye steak is too oily


for us, and the salad it sits on is
completely soaked with juices

from the meat. It could do with
being rested before serving. It’s

without the FG potatoes that are
listed on the menu, but after

asking, they arrive and are the


highlight of the meal.
Overall, is the food worth the

grilling we get when we arrive?
At Dhs220, perhaps not.

WHAT IS IT...


A good-looking grill
spot at Mina Zayed port

WHY GO...


To see if you can get


a table without
booking through

Instagram


IT’S HAPPY HOUR when we arrive at Yas
Island’s Y Bar, and the place is packed out.

It’s a nice evening, so we sit out on the


pleasant terrace where there are high tables,
comfortable sofas and even a few second-

hand books to browse. It’s a lovely place to
sit and chill for a few hours, and the menu

contains all the usual pub-grub classics such
as pies, burgers, curries and steak and chips.

We take our time over a few drinks before


ordering a couple of bar bites to share.
The nachos sounds good, but instead of

coming with cheese sauce, we ask for a side
of grated cheese on the side. That doesn’t

quite happen, but the big bowl of cheese
sauce is welcome. All is not lost, though. It’s

saved by the tasty sour cream, guacamole


Y Bar


O Open daily noon-2am. Licensed. Yas Island Rotana, Yas Island (02 656 4155).

and salsa, and we thoroughly enjoy munching
through the very sizeable portion.

We also try the Central Park sharing platter,


which features all the best meat-free fried
foods. It probably didn’t take too much skill to

make, but we’re thrilled by the combination
of stuffed mushrooms, spring rolls, cheese

jalapeño bites and onion rings.
However, the C4 shrimps are a big let down.

Each piece is covered in a huge casing of


mushy batter, and although the shellÀsh itself
is pleasant enough underneath, it’s not really

worth the faff of digging them out.
We certainly wouldn’t order the shrimps

again, but for good-value pub food in a relaxed
environment, Y Bar does most things right,

especially if you have a few hours to spare.


Roberto’s
We’re excited by the prospect of

an all-day breakfast brunch every
Friday afternoon.

O Fri noon-4pm. Rosewood Abu Dhabi,Al
Maryah Island (02 627 9009).

Villa Toscana


The Italian’s seafood festival is
still running for a few more days.

O Frices vary. Until Apr 27, 7pm-11pm.

The St. Regis Abu Dhabi, Nation Towers,
West Corniche (02 694 4553).

FOOD NEWS


What we’ve


learned this week


The Foundry


The steakhouse’s new business


lunch menu for May will have you
in and out in under an hour.

O Dhs67. Daily noon-3pm. Southern Sun
Abu Dhabi, Al Zahiyah (02 818 4888).

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