More than 10 culinary stations for you to enjoy.
A themed brunch can always be tricky. When it works well, it can be brilliant. If it doesn’t, the less said the better.
We were told that The Market Brunch in the Saadiyat Rotana Resort & Villas was one that we must experience so Team Yalla went to market last Friday and we can say with great confidence that the brunch lives up to the hype.
Arriving at the Saadiyat Rotana, we are greeted with one of the most impressive lobbies in Abu Dhabi.
Wonderfully bright, thanks to a wall of windows that provide great vistas of the vast Arabian Gulf, white marble floors reminiscent of the sands on Saadiyat Beach and grey, bean bag styled seats that complement each other to conjure an image of like we are at the beach (without the need to dust off our feet after a stroll).
And if that isn’t enough to impress you to pull out the phone to snap a few pics, then the Swiss art installation from Expo 2020 Dubai and glass displays of sand from all seven emirates surely will.
Strolling across the lobby, we follow the sound of live entertainment and head downstairs to where we’ll be brunching at Sim Sim restaurant.
Descending the steps the party feeling engulfs us as the music gets louder and we start to view happy brunchers picking out what they wish to devour.
True to its name, The Market Brunch showcases a long wall of freshly picked vegetables and fruit in wooden boxes as if ready to be sold to discerning shoppers doing their groceries.
Heading inside the restaurant, it’s absolutely packed. We quickly find our seats so we can establish our next move, which is no easy task since there are more than 10 culinary stations from which to choose.
The buffet style and brunchers going to and fro from different food hubs really pays credence to the perception of a Farmer’s Market.
It’s really up to the individual how they start their dining experience, but Team Yalla couldn’t resist the allure of the huge range of cheese from around the globe and bread that was just begging to be sampled.
Next up is the seafood. Pescatarians will be delighted to hear The Market Brunch has one of the most extensive offerings from the sea in Abu Dhabi, where you can pick out your own lobster and fish that is grilled to perfection.
For meat eaters, there really is a magnificent choice to get your teeth stuck into with camel, beef wellington, steak and the obligatory veg served in huge portions with the gravy being top-notch too. And should the notion take a hold of you, those fancying some licenced meats can head to neighbouring Sì restaurant to satisfying their cravings.
Indian and Chinese fare is plated up in the form of curries and dim sum and should you be looking for food with a kick, head outside to the Mexican installation which rustles up tacos and quesadillas to your preferences.
Having nibbled on something from every station, we turn our attention to the dessert area where there is literally shelves of sweet goodies and a wheel of cakes. There’s even a candy floss machine invoking images of funfair.
Surrendering to our inner child we get ourselves a stick of pink candy floss which we happily lap up.
We went to market and came away well and truly satisfied.
To book a table at The Market Brunch call 02 697 0000
