Brunch in Abu Dhabi | REVIEW: Brunching on Broadway at Emirates Palace

There's no business like brunch business, especially in Abu Dhabi. Enter Broadway at the mirates Palace Mandarin Oriental Abu Dhabi, where the stage is set for a fine-dining brunch experience that goes beyond smashed avocado on toast. 

Decked out like a New York-style warehouse with exposed brick, there are nods to classic Broadway shows (spot an iconic mask painted onto one of the walls) dotted around the place, and industrial architecture touches. The space is fun-themed without being cartoonish, but still draws in that luxury element from the opulent surroundings Broadway is housed in. 

Our first tip, come hungry and wear something stretchy. You will be treated to a three-course brunch with so much delicious and varied food, you might not even need to eat until the next day. Kicking off with picking our free-flowing drinks package for the duration from Soft Drinks, Broadway Selection (alcoholic), and Broadway Premium (also alcoholic). As it was a sweltering day, constant icy glasses of the watermelon-based Happy Holi from the Soft Drinks menu immediately appealed, and the vanilla candy floss topper sat on top was a sweet surprise. 

Then came round one. All of it. 

We were expecting to choose an item or two from each course offering, but this brunch deal is everything you see on the menu (thank goodness for those stretchy trousers). With a basket of toasted breads to mop up our standout dishes of Beef Tartare, Truffle Egg Cocotte, and the delicately smoky Octopus Salad, we knew then there'd be no point planning anything for dinner later. 

When initially sitting down at the table, the excellent staff member looking after us only asked one question about the mains - how do you like your meat cooked? For medium rare lovers, it can be a hit or miss answer in a lot of restaurants, but you are truly in safe hands at Broadway. So much so, when the perfectly pink Wagyu Bavette arrived, we dived straight in and forgot to film how appetising it looked being served. The main-course dishes ensemble brilliantly complemented the Wagyu star of the show, especially the tender Broccolini and Grilled Corn-Fed Chicken. 

By this time, clothing seams were starting to strain. However, there was soldiering on to do as an Eton Mess with fresh berries and a warm chocolately pear dessert weren't going to eat themselves. Personally, struggling through dessert has never been an issue as a certified sugar-monster with eyes bigger than their belly. In this case though, the groaning belly won much to the eyes and taste buds' disappointment. 

As part of the Broadway Brunch deal, diners also have access to the hotel’s white-sand private beach. Walk (or roll if you also ate everything in sight) yourself past the live DJ towards the back doors of the restaurant, where you can hail a resort buggy to take you to the shoreline. From there, our final tip is to lather on the sun cream, settle on a lounger under the umbrella, enjoy your complimentary water, and snooze off one of the most epic feasts you’ll think about again and again. 

For more info or to book contact: +971 2 690 8888

moauh-reservations@mohg.com

Emirates Palace Mandarin Oriental. West Corniche Road, Abu Dhabi

For more ideas of Brunch in Abu Dhabi click here