BU! Latin American cuisine in a chic setting

f there ever was a time to throw your diet out the window, this is the month. Abu Dhabi has recently seen the opening of a couple of new (and quite frankly, rather exciting) restaurant concepts that will have people travelling across emirate borders to try.

Case in point: the new pan-Latin hotspot Bu! Located in the World Trade Center Mall’s new dining area called The Hub, the restaurant is stylish in an industrial/urban sort of way. Metal chairs, copper ceiling tiles and random sayings like ‘Wild Flour’ are illuminated on the dim walls of this massive venue. Filling a space originally designated for two retail units, the added area allows for distinct sections, too – you can hang out at the bar, order a Cuban from

Ithe cigar room, chill on the rooftop terrace, or take in a quiet, semi-private meal.

Expect plenty of attention to detail in both the food and the service (even the plates have been shipped from Peru). The menu is split into a series of tapas-style sharing items with flavour profiles that range from Peru and Argentina to Mexico and Brazil. Some of the highlights What’s On sampled during a pre-opening lunch included a surprisingly moreish Peruvian take on ceviche, the salmon tiradito, which came dressed in lime juice and mustard, and a trio of dory fish tacos topped with chipotle mayo.

Don’t miss the yellow tail consommé soup, which was served in a coffee siphon and saw the stock infused with vegetables before being poured out into our bowl, or the chupe pot, a delicate and creamy mixed seafood stew topped with a parmesan crust.

For dessert you can skip the chicha morada, a granita of cinnamon-infused purple corn that tasted more watery than anything else, but do try the delicious dulce de leche cheesecake alfajor (pictured below).

The capital is expanding its palate. And that’s a very good thing – especially if it means more outlets like Bu! will open up in the near future. One thing is for certain: we’ll be back pretty sharpish.

World Trade Center Mall, Aiport Road, Abu Dhabi, Sun to Thur noon until 3pm, 6pm to 2am, Fri and Sat noon until 3am. Tel: (02) 3048179. Taxi: World Trade Center Mall. butrinity.com