Eating out can be expensive, even if it’s just you and your partner. But a group of friends or a family of four – or more – can really rack up the bill.
Throughout the week, Holiday Inn Abu Dhabi offers an affordable night out. Each night sees a themed menu to cater for every cuisine you crave. Sunday is Mediterranean night, Monday Indian, Tuesday Arabic, Wednesday barbeque and Thursday seafood.
It’s easy to be forgotten about at a buffet while a la carte dining almost guarantees attention. But this buffet maintains swift service; we are well attended to throughout the night.
We start our week with the Mediterranean buffet. There is a selection of hot and cold starters including Niçoise salad and tomato soup. All dishes are clearly labelled which makes life easier when choosing from the buffet. We create an Italian buffet for the evening, and without throwing our hands around, fill a plate with pasta salad and a generous helping of mixed-leaf salad – that’s us sticking to our New Year’s resolution of more greens in our diet. Our guest delves into sliced chicken breast and a spinach salad with onion, cucumber, tomato and a balsamic dressing.
Refusing the temptation to get a second starter, we head towards the mains section. There’s a simple selection featuring mussels with Provençal sauce and salmon freekeh, a green wheat commonly used in Arabic cooking. We opt for lasagne with a crusty bread roll – that’s us breaking our New Year’s resolution. The hearty layered pasta oozes mozzarella, tender minced beef and a rich tomato ragu.
Our guest deviates from the Italian theme and instead opts for a bowl of Spanish paella, a healthy portion of saffron-infused rice mixed with peas, onion, courgette, peppers and prawns. Grains of rice are mopped up with a petite brown roll, leaving the plate clean.
Bite-sized desserts including cheesecake and panna cotta sit alongside a selection of cheese and crackers and platters of fresh fruit at the dessert buffet. The crème caramel caught our eye when we first arrived, so this is a must for dessert: our New Year’s resolution is now firmly out the window. Our guest samples the thick chocolate cake, a highlight of the meal.
Overall the meal is great value for money at AED 115 including soft drinks.
Jack Dignum
details
What: Mediterranean buffet, 6.30pm-10pm
Where: Holiday Inn Abu Dhabi, 31st Street between Airport (2nd) and Muroor (4th) Roads
We say: Hearty meal that won’t break the bank
Cost: Buffet from AED 115 including soft drinks
Contact: 02 657 4888 www.holidayinn.com
