RAMADAN 2018 | IFTAR AT EMIRATES PALACE

Ramadan at the Palace

If you have driven near Marina Mall recently, it is just impossible to miss EmiratesPalace’s custom-built white Ramadan pavilion along the beach. This structure is already impressive from a distance but it is even more spectacular when visiting Emirates Palace to enjoy an Iftar or Suhoor.

You will be welcomed inside by walking through a long ‘tunnel’ linking the Palace to the pavilion located on the terrace. The decor inside this corridor immediately transports you to a traditional Middle Eastern Ramadan atmosphere with their decor of oversized Arabic coffee pots, traditional woven baskets, lanterns and aplenty spices. Our personal favorite Ramadan setting in the city.

Attending our very first Iftar at The Palace, we felt quite overwhelmed given the pavilion’s huge size. The pavilion decor hues – white, light blue with golden touches – instantly gives a sleek and elegant feel, with oversized white curtains and windows and facing the sea, while two giant LED screens(over 7 meters large) are displayed on both sides of the pavilion.

The pavilion offers 500 comfortable seats with an open dining area for Iftar buffets, a separate lounge area where small groups will prefer gathering around for Iftar before enjoying a shisha or private majlis.

Get ready to experience a culinary night as there is a sprawling buffet on offer every night during the Holy Month. The buffet setting is simply gorgeous, with a myriad of appetizing and colorful dishes to experience.

We started off with a delightful creamed lobster bisque before moving to the cold and warm appetizers. We not only loved the variety of dishes but also the sophisticated presentation. The starters buffet is impressive and includes traditional hot and cold mezze, such as crispy falafels, lamb kibbehs, muhammara salad, potato harra, kishki salad with walnuts and more. The salad counter had us coming back for more, as there were also continental options to try, including the house smoked Scottish salmon, Thai beef salad, grilled artichokes, and even fried cauliflower that came with soft cooked sliced eggplant and tomato-our personal favorite.

Leave room for the main courses as there also are live cooking and carving stations to whet every palate. Tender grilled meats, traditional accompaniments and other traditional Emirati favorites – Lamb Ouzi, Chicken Morgbhiha, Roasted Hammour with citron jus, baby lamb thareed with reggae bread all await guests along with a selection of continental delicacies such as homemade and oven-baked vegetable lasagna, roasted veal tenderloin served with a wholesome mashed potato and herb jus and many more.

Hats off to the Pastry Chefs team…

There is a separate buffet dedicated to desserts which is a haven if you have a sweet tooth. From Turkish coffee creme brulee to individual fruit tartlets, Oriental sweets, guests are spoilt for choice and every single creation is a pure delight for the eyes and the palate. Don’t leave without trying a slice of The Emirates Palace cake-prepared with chocolate mousse, it is an absolute must-try!

Service is simply impeccable and we observed a ballet of chefs dressed in white along with their head chefs who kept filling and arranging the buffet throughout the evening.

Last tip, don’t miss the tamarind juice served by this gentleman below. Lovely!

Ramadan Pavilion rates are AED 320 for the Iftar buffet and a minimum spend of AED 100 for the Suhoor à la carte menu.

Emirates Palace’s Ramadan Pavilion is open from sunset to 21:30 hours for Iftar and from 22:00 to 02:00 hours for Suhoor.

For more information or to make your Ramadan reservation, call +971 (0) 2690 7999 or email [email protected].

*Prices are inclusive of 10% service charge, 6% tourism fee, 4% municipality fee and 5% VAT.

EMIRATES PALACE | Abu Dhabi

 

 

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