Zuma Abu Dhabi

Last week I visited the newly opened Zuma Restaurant on Al Maryah Island in Abu Dhabi. Originally a contemporary Japanese restaurant from London, it is now a very popular chain with eight restaurants around the world. One of the most successful of these restaurants is the Zuma at DIFC in Dubai, which has won countless awards since its opening in 2009. 

While it was incredible difficult to get a reservation, the one week wait was definitely worth it. Located in a glass box opposite the Rosewood Hotel, the restaurant stretches over two storeys. Once you enter, you go down a glass elevator and find a large open dining space with a restaurant, bar, lounge, sushi bar and robata grill. Unlike most of the new restaurants in Abu Dhabi, Zuma was PACKED with people and had a very nice vibe with live music from their DJ. Almost every single table was occupied and this was on a Monday!!

The food is beyond yummy and the staff is very friendly and well trained. I highly recommend you try it! I am definitely going back! :)

(www.hoteliermiddleeast.com)

The restaurant follows the Izakaya style of dining where dishes are quite small and made for sharing. Everything is mouth-watering! 

Left to Right: Black Cod (HIGHLY reccomended!), Jumbo Tiger Prawn, Beef Tenderloin

Keep space for this chocolate souffle- OMG! 

The restaurant is quite big, has a nice vibe and was VERY full- you can sit on the dinner tables, at the sushi bar, robata grill, at the bar or in the lounge area

ZUMA is located right opposite the entrance of the Rosewood Hotel in a glass box structure

Visit their Facebook Page HERE for more details 

Have you dined at Zuma Abu Dhabi yet? How did you like it? 

Koi Restaurant at the St Regis Saadiyat - A Review

It's always exciting when a new and Fabulous restaurant opens in Abu Dhabi. The newest one is Koi Restaurant, a Japanese fusion franchise straight from Los Angeles. It is located at the St Regis Hotel in Saadiyat Island and is a definite MUST GO! For once, I found a restaurant with good food that was PACKED and had a very fun and vibrant vibe. In Abu dhabi! There was not one empty seat in the place. Now that's quite impressive :)

The decor of the restaurant is very modern Japanese with wooden walls and floors, a full-grass wall separating the bar area from the restaurant, a sushi bar, and really cool ceilings and columns. While the atmosphere is quite serene, the blaring music gives the restaurant a great ambiance. 

The Lounge area was just as full as the restaurant with a lit bar along one wall and low tables.

Quite a few of the people were having dinner here as well as drinks

Now onto the important part ... THE FOOD!!

The starters are absolutely mouthwatering & are made to share!

Clockwise from top left: Salmon with truffles, Yellowtail with jalapenos, spinach & mushroom salad, seaweed salad (Yum!)

My favourite dishes were the sticky rice with spicy tuna, grilled eggplant & lobster tacos 

The Lobster Tacos are so good you won't want to share! 

Unfortunately, the sushi menu is very basic with the simplest of options

Everything we ordered had no taste - The salmon, tuna, crab & yellowtail all tasted bland

To make up for the bland sushi, we over-ordered dessert!

Clockwise from top left: Ice cream sundae, creme bruler, chocolate sauce & brownies, fresh Mochi ice cream.

Everything was delicious with the Mochi being my favourite!

I absolutely loved KOI and highly recommend that you have dinner there! While the sushi isn't so great, the starters are yummy and the vibe is very Dubai-like. It is nice to find a new restaurant in Abu Dhabi which isn't deserted for a change! 

There is a very extensive main dishes menu which looked appetizing. I am definitely trying it next time! :)

The restaurant is PACKED so make sure you book! 

02- 678 3334 

Have you tried KOI at the St Regis?