Turtle Bay, Abu Dhabi

Tonight we are dining at Saadiyat Rotana Resort and Villas signature restaurant, Turtle Bay Bar and Grill. This pool front restaurant offers guests the opportunity to sit indoors amongst the cool, cosy interiors and enjoy views of the open kitchen or outdoors on the deck next to the spanning pool.

With the weather starting to get cooler we take the opportunity to sit outside on the deck. Turtle Bay Bar and Grill serves a selection of surf, turf and grilled delicacies however the menu also boasts a range of splendid ceviches and chilled seafood options. During the day guests are invited to relax and enjoy the views whilst in casual attire, come the evening the restaurant is transformed, the menu becomes more upscale, with mouth-watering grills and locally-caught fish amongst the star dishes. and Leeks alongside the Crispy Baby Calamari, from the starters menu, which comes with a helping of Turtle Bay Bar and Grill’s House Dips and Lime. Both dishes taste sensational, the Crispy Baby Calamari offers just enough crispiness to the bite whilst the Poached Lobster Salad and Herb Crème Fraiche, our clear favourite, is well presented, each of the ingredients perfectly compliments the other, a light but tasteful dish.

For our mains my dining companion select the Surf and Turf, which comes with Black Angus Tenderloin, Lobster and Sunchoke Chips, the steak is served as ordered, medium-well. I opt for the Scottish Salmon which is available from the Catch Of The Day menu. The Tenderloin is thick and juicy, this cut offers very little fat, exactly how we like our steak. The Scottish Salmon tastes fantastic but what really impresses me is the bespoke way I can order my Salmon, I opt for baked throughout and flash pan seared for a few minutes, to ensure a crispy skin.

For the Salmon I select the Lemon and Parsley Butter sauce, whilst for the Steak my dining companion selects the Béarnaise. Worth mentioning is the range of sauces available, specifically five for dishes from the land and four for dishes from the sea.

It’s this level of attention to detail that separates a great dining experience from a good dining experience. For sides we order the Cream Mashed Potatoes, Herb and Roasted Garlic Mushrooms and Grilled Asparagus, clearly having underestimated the size of the sides, we realize, once they arrive the side portions are very generous and could have clearly been shared by two.

We decide to take a small break between our mains and dessert so we can relax and enjoy the tranquil setting. Turtle Bay Bar and Grill does make for a perfect relaxing evening and is perhaps one of the most romantic venues in the Capital. If you haven’t visited Saadiyat Rotana Resort and Villas they have a range of dining venues which we would also recommend, such as Si Ristorante Italiano and Bar, a great Italian, Hamilton’s Gastropub, perfect for a quick bite and a few beverages, and not to forget Saadiyat Rotana Resort and Villas popular brunch held at Sim Sim every Friday. To conclude our dining experience, we are at odds if we should order the Caramelized Banana with Mango and Ginger (a favourite dessert that we always order) or try something new. Eventually we decide to try something new and select the Raspberries and Lemon Creamy Brûlée. We opt to share the dessert between us. Light, sweet with a hint of zest, the Raspberries and Lemon Creamy Brûlée offers the sweetest end to our dining experience. It’s not very often that we find a restaurant that is able to deliver high quality seafoods and steaks under one roof, usually we find one is better than the other, but not at Turtle Bay Bar and Grill.

Here the culinary team ensures that whatever you order from the menu you will leave satisfied. We would highly recommend a visit to Turtle Bay Bar and Grill, great food, and highly warm and professional service, dine under the stars whilst enjoying a range of well executed cuisine.

Poached Lobster Salad, AED 90 Crispy Baby Calamari, AED 69 Surf and Turf, AED 335 Catch Of The Day, AED 190 Cream Mashed Potatoes, AED 30 Herb and Roasted Garlic Mushrooms, AED 30 Grilled Asparagus, AED 30 Sauces, AED 20 Raspberries and Lemon Creamy Brûlée, AED 40

Saadiyat Rotana Resort and Villas, Abu Dhabi, +971 2 697 0000

*Please note that some items mentioned in the review are sourced seasonally and availability may

vary.