Charming waiters and a delightful menu are the hallmarks of this debonair bar and restaurant.
Team Yalla had great pleasure in reviewing Signature 3 at St. Regis Saadiyat Island Resort, Abu Dhabi, a fine dining destination offering international cuisine – the “3” in the restaurant name referencing the fact it presents three of the world’s finest steak cuts.
Signature 3 has certainly made its mark on Abu Dhabi’s gastronomic scene for a very good reason. Diners have a choice of eating in the stylish and elegant Drawing Room or, as we did, on the beautiful and immaculate marble-floored terrace offering far reaching views over the hotel grounds and Arabian Gulf.
This high-ceilinged terrace is a magnificent architectural statement, capacious yet the tables are cleverly arranged to provide intimacy. We were seated in sumptuous club leather chairs, a nod to the adjoining super-chic and debonair Manhattan Lounge bar which provides the wonderful beverages on offer.
The pre-meal drinks were stunning in taste and visually as they were garnished with an artistic flourish – a fun touch given it was Abu Dhabi Art Fair week and proof of the restaurant’s attention to culinary detail.
THE MENU
Team Yalla strongly recommend the al fresco terrace dining option at this time of the year; the ambience has a fun, vibrant Mediterranean buzz with the hum of distant chatter and the clinking of glasses from the hotel’s garden restaurants below, as well as background jazz music that added calm and sophistication.
For starters, we had the burrata and lobster tail dishes. The fresh burrata was served with heirloom tomato concassé with olives, aromatic herbs and aged balsamic vinegar. It was simple but superb, letting the ingredients do the talking. The burrata was as it should be; of high quality, delicate, milky, buttery and beautifully complemented by the tartness of the fresh olives and balsamic vinegar. The lobster in truffle maple with smoked cauliflower purée, black truffle and mushroom foam was a delight – pretty as a picture when served and served warm. Simply exquisite.
For the main course, we were treated to the Wagyu beef rib-eye and Australian Angus beef tenderloin. These were rich, tender, juicy and with perfect striation and marbling. There were a variety of sides and sauces and we opted for the French fries espelette, grilled asparagus, the mustard selection (it was lovely to have both English and French!), Béarnaise sauce and the Signature Steak Sauce. While there are other dishes on offer, we do recommend the steaks as in Yalla’s view these are the menu’s pièce de résistance.
Signatures 3’s waiters were charming, attentive and, notably, very knowledgeable about the menu offering much guidance if asked. This interest and engagement is a sign of a great restaurant. Signature 3 was packed, as too was the hotel, which was so good to see given the problems the hospitality industry has endured throughout the global pandemic. Diners are back out in force, voting with their feet, and many seem to be heading St. Regis Saadiyat Island way, testament to the superb offerings this restaurant and hotel provide.
To book your table, visit St. Regis Saadiyat Island Resort
