Etoiles

We try out the grub at Emirate's Palace's latest dining spot for size. Here's the verdict 2 Reviews

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From Time Out Abu Dhabi Eating Out 2010

Bar? Club? Brasserie restaurant? Rebranded and given a fresh lick of paint, Etoiles is a little of everything really. It’s the all-too-common phenomenon of the nightclub-gourmet. Anywhere else in the world this would amount to a kebab and a bag of chips; in Abu Dhabi it means Aberdeen Angus beef and foie gras. Naturally, it all comes at a cost, in terms of your waistline and pocket, and there is always that question in the back of your mind: can you really afford it? But where it matters – the food – Etoiles is immaculate. The staff can be a bit clingy; they should realise that with few other customers around (we are in a credit crunch after all), it pays to lay off those that are there. But head out to the terrace for a bit of a reprieve and you begin to realise where all of that $3 billion went in creating Emirates Palace.

A sharp drop-off reveals a towering view and the atmosphere is far better than in the louder, stuffier club – late night house music doesn’t exactly aid digestion. The menu is hugely impressive. Starters such as the tuna tartare and seared tuna rolls with Thai dipping sauce sear the tastebuds with their acute flavours. Etoiles turns the ordinary into something special. The chicken takes a minimum of 30-40 minutes to prepare, you’re told, and what looks like just an ordinary chicken breast in a simple sauce reveals itself to be a tender, juicy masterpiece, covered in sharp slivers of chorizo. Etoiles is good, but it all boils down to one thing: the price. There are restaurants (not nightclubs) that are as good and cost far less, but if you can afford it then this is a treat worth having.

• Previous reviews
  • 01 March,2009- reviewed by Gareth Clark
  • 30 December,2008- reviewed by Time Out Abu Dhabi staff

Time Out reviews restaurants anonymously and pays for meals. Of course, we cannot guarantee the accuracy or independence of user reviews.