THE signature dishes on offer at Caramel, a darkly beguiling and compact restaurant that sits in The Collection at the St Regis Saadiyat Island Resort, are universally spectacular, and deserve their status as must-have items on any visit here.
The restaurant offers an opulent, sophisticated twist on American cuisine and the signature dishes showcase this to perfection. No visit here would be complete without trying these, so on our visit to the Saadiyat-situated restaurant, we made a beeline for some of these treats.
For appetisers we ordered the TNT Shrimp and the crab tacos. The shrimp came served in a tall mocktail glass, tangy, crunchy, spicy and succulent all at once, while the tacos were finger-food sized mini-shells of contrasting flavours and textures. Both kicked off
the meal in epic style, with the shrimp especially a dynamite starter.
The main courses were next; sea bass with risotto, and kobe beef sliders. The sea bass, sitting atop its creamy rice base was declared delicious, with the kobe beef sliders, three mini-burgers lined up along an elongated plate, cooked to perfection. The meat was juicy and succulent, the accompanying salad adding context, the buns tight and toned. A terrific triple-play.
The desserts were also variations on American staples, the chocolate brownie and the apple cobbler.
The brownie a dense, cocoa-infused cube topped with ice cream and bracketed by whipped cream, the cobbler a fantastic iron-clad hotplate of sugared fruit and pastry, which finally defeated our dining companion.
Caramel represents a gorgeous ‘filling’ within The Collection; the chef’s have clearly earned their stripes, with the menu a star-spangled triumph.
Details
What: Caramel
Where? The Collection at the St Regis Saadiyat Island Resort
We Say: Sensational and superior stuff from Stateside
Cost: Shared appetisers from AED 75, salads from AED 45, mains from AED 90
Contact: 02 678 3344
Matt Ross
