White brunch

A laid-back afternoon on Saadiyat Island

To date, we’ve had positive experiences dining at the various venues at Jumeirah at Saadiyat Island Resort. Both the healthy breakfast at Bodyism and the authentic Italian at Mare Mare have been thoroughly enjoyable.

So we approached brunch at the hotel’s all-day dining venue White with an open heart – and belly.

White, which is designed in the neutral shades the name suggests, has a bit of a grand and cavernous feel. That’s because the ceiling stretches all the way up from the ground to the second floor, with the lobby above overlooking diners down below. Like the rest of the hotel, it’s bright and airy, and one of the few venues in the country with a clear view out onto an unspoiled coastline.

White’s family-friendly once-a-month brunch has a separate area for all the standard children’s activities and their own little buffet section, too, complete with a popcorn stand, mini margherita pizzas and sausages and fruit skewers.

When it comes to food, adults are spoiled for choice, but in the responsible manner of an eco-minded hotel management. After all, Jumeirah at Saadiyat Island made its mark for being the first in the country to skip single-use plastic bottles and offer guests filtered water. With that in mind, a good proportion of the dishes are either cooked to order or served in individual portions.

A barbecue area outside served up juicy lamb chops as well as kofta and tikka, local varieties of fish, including sea bream, as well as a selection of beef including generous portions of rib eye and tenderloin.

Meanwhile, at the seafood counter, there are oysters and crab legs for days, while chefs make steady streams of fresh sushi.

Rounding out the options are a full range of Asian dishes, the fun addition of seafood burgers – lobster, salmon or shrimp flavours – roast beef and Yorkshire pudding and wok-fried lobster.

Our only quibble with dessert at this brunch was a lack of labelling, although there was always a staffer nearby to point out which little cake was which. Our favourites were the house-made chocolates (think coffee caramel and mango yuzu truffles) and 14 kinds of gelato. The madeto-order s’mores, an increasingly popular dessert option mixing graham squares, melted chocolate and marshmallow, were a hit at our table too.

The next brunch takes place on Friday, February 21. Jumeirah at Saadiyat Island Resort,

Abu Dhabi, Fri February 21, 1pm to 4pm. Dhs375 with soft drinks, Dhs475 with house drinks, Dhs575 with premium bubbly; Dhs95 per child age 4 to 11. Tel: (02) 8114342. jumeirah.com