At the roots of good food.
With so many iftars on offer during the Holy month in the capital, how do you find an authentic, well priced and thoroughly hunger-satisfying iftar to share with friends and family? Simple: you head to Cedar Lounge.
The mellow sounds of Arabic music signal the end of the daily fast, and welcoming staff swoop in to assist. The iftar set up is a sumptuous buffet selection – the skilled chefs whipping up fresh cuisines from their just visible open-ended kitchen.
The restaurant offers stunning views of the sea by day, but during iftar it’s dark outside, and quite honestly, the focus is solely on the food. And with good reason: from starters through to desserts, the choice is ample – a refreshing change from standard buffet choices often on offer in eateries.
Fattouch, tabbouleh and rocco zataar starter options accompany a mix of hot and cold mezzeh choices – the fried eggplant with tarator an unexpected winner in the mix. An endless supply of warm Arabic bread begs to be dipped in an assortment of hummus choices – the pomegranate a firm favourite with Abu Dhabi Week.
Hunt out the bigger plates as you move on to the main courses. King size prawns dominate a bed of slightly spiced rice – extremely filling – but we reckon it’s worth perhaps sacrificing one of the many desserts on offer.
Before sampling dessert though, oriental rice and chicken, sayedieh and mixed grill all deserve a try.
And then it’s down to willpower on which dessert you sacrifice from the selection including um ali, halawet eljeben, katayef walnut, kenafa and a selection of fresh fruits. From seriously sweet to light and tangy – wash dessert down with a Turkish or Arabic coffee.
Cedar Lounge offers an intimate and authentic iftar experience for Ramadan, minus the tent. Just remember to invite all your friends and family; your plate will most definitely be bigger than your stomach.
What? Ramadan iftar
Where? Cedar Lounge, Fairmont Bab al Bahr
Cost: AED 175 per person, excluding taxes.
Why? A more than appetising selection of dishes, mixing traditional with small modern twists.
Why not? A little quiet, but we suspect the later à la carte suhour and dinner (8pm until 3am) will bring out those wanting to extend the experience.
We say: Affordable Arabic and Lebanese cuisine at its best.
Contact: 02 654 3223
