Ray’s Grill, Eithad Towers, AD – we’ve hopped over to the Middle East!
When visiting the Etihad Towers, be prepared for luxury. A set of three towers that dominates the Abu Dhabi skyline, this five-star hotel is the epitome of indulgence from the moment you step into the enormous lobby right up to the 63rd floor, on which the steakhouse and grill restaurant, Ray’s, is located.
After an ear-popping ride in the most opulent yet mildly psychedelic elevator I have ever experienced (it turns out floor to ceiling mother of pearl tiles are probably the cheapest legal high around), we arrived at the restaurant, which has incredible views over the Sheikh of Abu Dhabi’s magnificent palace.
The menus lived up to the carnivorous expectations of a good grill restaurant so I started with a charcuterie platter featuring spectacularly presented cured meats that tasted just as good as they looked. Ole Sib went for some smoked salmon that was brought to the table and thinly sliced before our very eyes while Papa L opted for a Caesar salad that was also created in front of us, allowing for it to be personalised to his taste. While we thought this was cool at the time, we were les certain a few hours later when the personalised amounts of garlic made themselves known!
For the main course the obvious choice for me was the steak. Why go to a grill restaurant without sampling some good quality meats? It was clear that Ray’s was serious about its steak when I was offered a choice of sharp knives presented in a beautiful wooden box to act as my steak-slayer. It cut smoothly through the New Zealand sirloin, which was truly excellent; perfectly rare with a delicious smoky taste. Barbecue sauce was my condiment of choice. However, for as long as I can remember, my test for a good steak has been whether it can stand on its own, sans sauce. This steak passed the test with flying colours and the barbecue sauce remained untouched.
Dessert brought with it the entertaining experience of watching Papa L try popping candy for the first time. We both had apple crumble with a salted caramel sorbet (how the tables have turned on my salted caramel views…) while Ole Sib sucked on some ice cream after a traumatic wisdom teeth debacle. The apple crumble had the perfect ratio of apple to crumble and the accompanying incognito popping candy was a treat for the taste buds and the ears. The final course was an explosive success.
While finishing off our third pitcher of the Etihad Sparkler (a delightful sparkling peach mocktail – dental surgery and alcohol sadly don’t mix well and solidarity is important in sisterhood), we took in the stunning view. While the restaurant was quiet since it was a weeknight, there were still parties arriving for their feast past 11:30pm. The capital of the UAE is still vibrant and bustling at night and it is clear that people enjoy their nightlife, but not in the drunken riotous way that is common in good old England.
With alcohol-clear eyes and full bellies, we descended back to earth and waited for the valet to pull up our sturdy Toyota while admiring and lusting after the swathes of Rolls Royces and Ferraris. But hey, who needs those gas-guzzling noise machines when you can live the life of a suburban soccer mom?
holdthelettuce 