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Two.0 serves up beachy vibes and bold flavours

- Melanie Smith

Two.0 opened in November at Cove Beach Abu Dhabi, in a quiet corner of Reem Island. It is serving an a la carte suhoor and an iftar buffet featuring a selection of Middle Eastern and internatio­nal dishes, a barbecue station and traditiona­l Ramadan juices.

What to expect and where to sit

Head to this venue if you’re in the mood for a laid-back ambience. The interior is bright, airy and inviting. However, weather permitting, outdoors is the best place to sit. The terrace overlooks the spectacula­r infinity pool, the beach beyond and the twinkling Reem Island skyline. It’s the perfect sunset spot where you can kick back, reflect and revel in the calmness afforded by the resort-like vibes.

The menu

Diners are treated to a buffet of dishes, complete with all the staples you’d expect during Ramadan. We start with a comforting and zingy lemon and lentil soup, followed by silky-smooth hummus, creamy moutabal, and other cold and hot mezze bites.

We also try the mixed grill, which comes with tender cubes of chicken taouk with just the right balance of spice, and the juicy lamb kofta, all of which are beautifull­y charred. A traditiona­l lamb ouzi and the samak harra make up our heavier mains and are a delight to eat.

The desserts, meanwhile, are a feast for the eyes, as well as the palate. The colourful macarons, offering a burst of fruity flavour, a creamy and sweet caramel mousse cake that goes down a treat, and a wonderfull­y textured, layered chocolate cake round out a few of the sweets to look out for.

Standout dish

There’s a lot to love about the variety of flavours on offer for iftar at Two.0, but the showstoppe­r is the lamb ouzi. Lovingly slow-cooked, it’s deeply flavourful and the meat falls apart, with flavours that marry seamlessly with the beautifull­y fragrant rice.

But a word of note need also go to the deliciousl­y charred mixed grill. The spices are on point without being overwhelmi­ng, and the meat is tender, juicy and moreish. These two plates are well worth a space on your table, so resist filling up on appetisers.

A chat with the chef

Vibi Vilas, chef brand ambassador at Cove Beach, is from India and has been working in the UAE since 2003. He began his career in the country in Dubai, working with several hotel brands in the emirate, including Inter-Continenta­l, the Jumeirah Group and Shangri-La. He has been working with the Cove Beach brand since 2016.

Vilas’s choice of dishes for Ramadan came down to what he knew would appeal. “We selected the authentic Arabic cuisine popular in UAE,” he says, a decision that means the country’s citizens and residents can “enjoy iftar with their families in a good atmosphere with good service”.

His favourite ingredient­s to cook with are poultry and red meat. “I have incorporat­ed them into this menu as a barbecue grill, such as the shish taouk, shish kebab and koftas,” he says.

Diners can enjoy these smoky flavours with freshly prepared bread. You can tell that real care and attention has gone into the selection based on the flavours, presentati­on and variety on offer.

“I would describe my cooking style as cooking with love,” Vilas says. “While you have a passion to feed someone with an unforgetta­ble taste, you must add love as an ingredient ... and the taste will remain for ever.”

Price point and contact informatio­n

The iftar menu at Two.0 at Cove Beach Abu Dhabi costs Dh179 per person and is served from sunset until 8.30pm. Reservatio­ns can be made by calling 056 398 7895.

This review was conducted at the invitation of the restaurant

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 ?? ?? The iftar spread at Two.0 in Cove Beach Abu Dhabi
The iftar spread at Two.0 in Cove Beach Abu Dhabi

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