C O N S U M E
EAT // REVIEW
MONTAUK BOUTIQUE CAFÉ AND RESTAURANT A taste of Long Island arrives in Al Bateen
uch like the cheery pilgrimages that well-heeled New Yorkers take to the tip of Long Island, Montauk Boutique Café and Restaurant in Abu Dhabi has the feel of a seaside retreat conveniently located in the city. Known for its breakfasts, the café’s menu and timings are adapted for Ramadan. Nevertheless, we arrived for a late lunch or early dinner – whatever you want to call it – and discovered a gem of a spot. The décor is breezy, beachy and bohemian, and the menu is just what you’d be looking for if you were sitting in the sun, by the sea and desperately seeking
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a refreshing and light meal. Even if you rarely take note of décor, you’ll notice the artistry here. Thoughtful details prevail in everything from the comfy furniture to the menu illustration and artwork to even the ever-present Covid-19 dividers that, here, somehow don’t feel that invasive. The salads are fantastic. We were swift to dig right into the sumptuous burrata salad’s (Dhs89) complementing orange slices and basil dressing. Though it’s everything you already love in a burrata, it’s even more thanks in part to its flavour foils, and a darling eyedropper’s generous drizzle of a balsamic reduction. You may even find yourself munching the last sprouty garnishes just to let the flavour profile linger. The spicy lemon butter tiger prawns (Dhs75) and Montauk black Angus sliders (Dhs80) also didn’t disappoint.
Though not spicy in any way to which we’re accustomed, the tender prawns were bathed in sauce that was subtle with the right amount of spice so as not to trample over the seafood’s salinity. What’s becoming the usual charcoal bun didn’t feel kitsch like it does elsewhere. The ‘zingy sauce’, as it’s called on the menu, was harmonising, if a bit too mayonnaise ladened, and the unusual addition of the soujuk (a dry, spicy sausage) added a smack of a certain something that was simply nice and good. VERDICT: Like a cherished memory of a beachside spot where you stop after a long drive, Montauk will either start or finish your day on just the right note. The food is artistic without trying. The only way this spot could be better would be if it were by the sea and we’re on holiday enjoying it – other than that, it’s flawless. a Montauk Boutique Café and Restaurant; Al Khaleej Al Arabi Street, Al Bateen, Abu Dhabi, Normal hours are 8am to 11pm. Ramadan hours are 3pm to 3am. Tel: (02) 546 6255 @montaukabudhabi RATING Food ���������������������������������������������������������������� A Atmosphere ���������������������������������������������������� Price �������������������������������������������������������
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