AWARDS TIME

The What’s On Abu Dhabi Awards have been announced. Here’s your list of the winners

RESTAURANT OF THE YEAR Tamba

High-end Indian Tamba takes our main award, thanks to its brilliantly-varied and ever-changing menu, which constantly tries to improve its offering. It added new dishes throughout the year, created special menus for Ramadan and Diwali and has a lively ladies’ night. The staff are exceptional as well and know the intricacies of the meals on offer. It’s high-end but with a relaxed vibe – it’s inclusive, not exclusive. Everyone in Abu Dhabi loves Tamba.

CHEF OF THE YEAR Marshall Roth, Butcher And Still

Roth has made this 1920s Chicago, prohibition-themed steakhouse in the Four Seasons one of our go-to places in the capital. His steaks are some of the best we’ve tried, but the ambitious menu has so much more to offer. Roth just launched a new lunch selection that even has a hot dog on it (and a very good one at that). His desserts are also sublime – his key lime pie is our editor Andy’s favourite dessert in the city. Most importantly, though, his food fits the restaurant’s concept perfectly.

NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR Coya

The pan-Latino opened in March in the capital and it’s as good as the one in Dubai, in terms of service, food and decor. Menu highlights for us include the selection of Peruvian tiraditos, small dishes such as wagyu beef tataki with cashew nut purée, and mains including lamb chops. They also host great themed parties, including one on Halloween, and also held a Marco Polo solo art exhibition in September. Coya thinks outside the box and it has been a massive hit in Abu Dhabi.

INDIE RESTAURANT OF THE YEAR Art House Café

A cool café attached to the Etihad Modern Art Gallery, this Emirati-owned eatery uses meat from Abu Dhabi farms, while pieces of art by local talents hang from the walls. All the furniture is recycled (think tables made out of trays, trolleys, oil drums) and Khaled Seddiq Al Mutawa, the owner, wants to teach Emiratis and expats about recycling. It also hosts events, such as a night market, and is very community driven – it has offered discounts to cyclists in the past. A real community place.