Lemon Tree

Slick dining spot in the Holiday Inn Hotel... 1 Reviews

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Situated on the ground floor of the new Holiday Inn Hotel, Lemon Tree Restaurant offers a sleek, comfortably arranged dining space. The airy, airport VIP lounge-like interior can equally accommodate a couple on a cosy date or a hungry group of 50 rowdy office mates. There are also tables outside for basking in that wonderful al-fresco feeling at this time of year.

Lemon Tree’s staff offered extraordinarily prompt, friendly service, recommending menu items and specials with confidence. They explained the restaurant had only been open for a couple of months, and since a large publicity push was soon to be underway, the menu was constantly being tweaked. Upon hearing this, two things came to mind: either this was a commendable act of downright honesty, or an omen for unpolished dishes to come.

As it panned out (pun intended), it was both.

The menu is themed around Iberian, Italian, and French fare. The spans of ochre yellows and reds in the decor added to the modern Mediterranean feel. An arrangement of toasty foccaccia breads arrived, accompanied by pesto and tomato tapenades. I could almost hear a mandolin being strummed somewhere.

We began with unsweetened, unimpaired watermelon juice. Soft and light, it made the shock of the cucumber gazpacho starter all the more harsh. Though delightfully presented, this cold soup was a bit too sour; great if you actually like drawing in your lips after every sip, or you have a pregnancy-induced craving for things acidic. The second starter, the tomato caprese, was a towering stack of dewy tomato and mozzarella medallions. A tuft of balsamic greens relaxed in the tower’s shade. We ate every morsel of this starter. It was a refreshing reprieve from the astringent assault of the gazpacho.

Then, like clockwork, came the mains. My partner’s mound of seafood black linguine came topped with shrimp and shellfish. The inky pasta was flavored well throughout with a tomato-based sauce. Subtle hints of herbs and roasted garlic followed every mouthful, and there were mouthfuls aplenty; half the amount of pasta would have been perfect. The second main was the Pollo Shirley daily special: chicken breast smothered, nay, buried, in rich cream, paprika, and mushrooms. The chicken itself was tender and juicy, but the mass of thick saucy topping made for a heavy dish to navigate. Needless to say, Lemon Tree is not skimpy on their portions.

A chocolate-dribbled churro à la mode made a sweet end to the evening – as sweet as the gazpacho was sour. There is, evidently, some tweaking left to do. Pampering staff, generous portions, a comfortable dining space… once the food part is worked out, Lemon Tree could be a strong contender on the Abu Dhabi dining scene.

The bill (for two)
Tomato caprese Dhs40
Cucumber gazpacho Dhs32
Black linguine Dhs55
Pollo Shirley Dhs58
Churro Dhs33
Two glasses of house wine Dhs100
Total Dhs318

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