It’s safe to say that Abu Dhabi is having a gastronomic moment, as it was announced in August that Middle East & North Africa’s 50 Best Restaurants will descend on the city in February 2022 to highlight the region’s food scene. The emirate has seen a slew of new openings, who join an already varied and vibrant culinary landscape comprising high-class imports, casual cafés and homegrown concepts brought to life by emerging local talent. Here are just some of the restaurants you should add to your hit list when dining out in the UAE capital
The stand-out steakhouse: Butcher & Still
Inspired by prohibition-era Chicago steak restaurants, Butcher & Still is an ode to understated, rustic indulgence. Here, quality ingredients are skilfully prepared and simply presented in a dining space that allows guests to watch the theatre of the open kitchen as chefs pull sizzling meat from the Josper charcoal oven. World-leading USDA Prime Black Angus beef flown in from Kansas-based Creekstone Farms is served against a backdrop of dark unfinished wood floors and worn leather-clad banquets that you’ll find chock-full on most nights of the week. The dishes are complemented by a comprehensive beverage programme featuring classic cocktails. As such, the bar is dominated by an oversize vintage cocktail shaker, a reproduction of an antique; one of five in the world and the only one in the Middle East. Eclectic details continue into the bathrooms, where bullet casings accent the tilework and for the ultimate underground (and socially distanced) experience, a private elevator takes guests down two levels to a hidden private dining room called The Hideaway.
Butcher & Still is located in the Four Seasons Abu Dhabi, Al Maryah Island
The dim sum dream: Dai Pai Dong
Specialising wholeheartedly in Cantonese cuisine, Dai Pai Dong is set in a dark, atmospheric wood-clad space where the Rosewood Abu Dhabi meets The Galleria on Al Maryah Island. The street-food-inspired menu features fresh house-made noodles, Cantonese-style roast duck and various wok-fried and braised dishes that are among the best in the UAE. However, guests flock here for the legendary dim sum. Ordered from a daily changing menu or directly from the trolley that weaves its way through the restaurant, the braised chicken buns, xiao long bao and truffle- and vegetable-stuffed dumplings are standout. The restaurant’s Yum Cha brunch held every Saturday provides diners with to opportunity to sample the full spectrum at a fair set price.
Dai Pai Dong is in the Rosewood Hotel, Abu Dhabi, Al Maryah Island
The local favourite: Fa’e Café
Light-filled, laid-back and located at the Abu Dhabi Youth Hub, Fa’e Café was founded by Khaled Alsaadi and Alia Al Mazrouei in January 2020. Inspired by the spirit of the Ghaf Tree (the national tree of the UAE and a symbol of tolerance), the name Fa’e comes from the Arabic word for shade. The menu is the brainchild of Alsaadi, a young Emirati chef whose star is undoubtedly on the rise. A finance graduate, he eschewed his expected path, pivoted to a career in food and is now a role model to a new generation of aspiring Emirati cooks. Guests can expect inventive interpretations of familiar dishes made with locally sourced seasonal ingredients. A popular breakfast spot, it’s not unusual to see serious foodies alongside business meetings and families setting themselves up for the day. Crowd favourites include the Emirati scrambled eggs, za'atar babka and a seriously original falafel and cauliflower croissant.
Gyozas at Fa'e Cafe
The finest French-Middle Eastern fusion: Fouquet’s
Tucked away under Louvre Abu Dhabi’s iconic canopy in the heart of Saadiyat Island’s cultural district, Fouquet’s pays homage to Gallic gastronomy fused with decidedly Middle Eastern flair. After perusing the world-class works on display at the museum, diners here can indulge in art of the edible variety from a menu conceived in collaboration with renowned chef Pierre Gagnaire. Working with local ingredients and Emirati flavours, the French master’s touch is evident in the creative combinations and presentation applied to the brasserie classics on offer. Must-try creations include crevettes roses, escargots de Bourgogne, dover sole and nostalgic crêpes suzette prepared tableside. With locations in Paris, Cannes, Toulouse, Marrakech, La Baule, Enghien-les-Bains, Courchevel and Montreux, the brand’s ninth outpost occupies a classic yet modern space where crisp white tablecloths contrast with the cherry red leather seats that have become the brand signature.
Fouquet's is located at the Louvre Abu Dhabi, Saadiyat Cultural District
The essential Japanese: NIRI Restaurant and Bar
A newcomer to Abu Dhabi’s roster of restaurants, homegrown Japanese concept NIRI Restaurant and Bar opened its permanent location last month following a successful pop-up at Yas Mall earlier in 2021. Set in Mamsha Al Saadiyat, one of the UAE capital’s most picturesque locations and with ex-Zuma and LPM management running the dining room, the intimate restaurant subscribes to quality and simplicity when it comes to both the design and food. Offering intuitive service and authentic Japanese cuisine at a reasonable price point, NIRI models itself on a traditional Osaka-style izakaya. Highlights from the minimalist menu include spinach and aubergine salad, hamachi usuzukuri [yellowtail sashimi] and sesame soy beef. 
Sesame soy beef at NIRI, Mamsha Al Saadiyat in Abu Dhabi
The authentic Afghani: Nolu’s
Serving light, health-focused cuisine with an Afghani twist, homegrown concept Nolu’s opened its doors a decade ago and has been drawing a loyal crowd ever since. Founded by Marjon Andesha who learnt her craft in the US, the name Nolu's is an abbreviation of her children’s names – Noah and Lujayn. Deeply personal and an extension of the food she prepares for her family, Andesha grew up in restaurants learning from her mother as she introduced her Afghani dishes to diners in the US. Her approach to the menu at Nolu's is to present complex yet approachable flavours in a wholesome, modern way. A social space where laid-back California cool is warmed with Afghani accents, dining at Nolu’s is akin to stepping into a family home and the cuisine is perhaps best described as comfort food without the food coma. From healthy bowls to more traditional options, popular dishes from the eclectic menu include the qabili pallow [pilaf with lamb and raisins], mantoo dumpling [meat and onion dumplings] and koobideh kabob [traditional ground meat kebab].
Nolu's is located in The Galleria, Al Maryah Island
The globetrotting Indian: Tamba
A stellar stalwart in the city when it comes to Indian food, Tamba doesn’t claim to offer authentic cuisine, rather the menu takes on a magpie quality for an ingenious reinterpretation of familiar flavours of the subcontinent, with unimpeachable ingredients from around the world. The copper-clad, dimly lit, loft-style interiors are reminiscent of a swanky nightclub, creating a setting ideal for socialising over nibbles at the bar or celebrating an occasion over a meal with a group of friends. The quinoa and corn bhajis, three-layered keema lasagna and the biryani with lobster, seabass and prawns, are prime examples of the playful fusion employed by the culinary team. At the centre of the space lies the open kitchen where diners can take in the theatrics of piping hot breads being stripped from the smoking tandoor. Popular for years, Tamba has remained so due to its consistency while also ensuring that there is always a new dish to surprise regulars.
Tamba is in the World Trade Centre Mall, Al Markaziya, Abu Dhabi
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