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Restaurant Review: The Croft, Marriott Harbour Suites, Dubai Marina
As a British Expat living in Dubai, I was very excited at the news of this new Brit Gastro-Pub opening at the Marriott in Dubai Marina. I had coincidently heard an interview with Chef Darren on one of the radio stations while driving one day. He came across as affable and deeply passionate about his craft. So when an invitation from a friend, who lives at the hotel, to dine there came up I jumped at it. From the moment you enter the restaurant the ambience and mood transports you into a pub. Chalkboard art not just on the walls but also on the pillars is funky yet elegant. The kitchen area is completely open right in the middle, which is an intense statement by the Chef of his confidence in his and his team’s work. You don’t hear any of them shouting over one another nor is there any clanging of pots and pans – just the calmness of busy bees!The menu is pricey but as you read through it the variety of food on offer is distracting and you want to try everything. We were two ladies and two pre-teen boys, with my son being a foodie like me. He never orders anything he has eaten before so he asked for the Roast Duck Breast, which he has never had in a family pub. His friend wanted a traditional Fish and Chips. I wasn’t too hungry so I ordered a starter portion of Chicken Skewers with Stilton Sauce and a side of Rocket Salad with Parmesan. My friend asked for a Tomato Burrata salad with a side of Chilly Broccoli. We weren’t drinking but the drinks menu was a varied collection of British Ciders, Ales and Craft Beers. While we waited for the food to be served we were offered fresh, warm bread baskets with two varieties of soft butter – one regular and another which is a butter melted and cooked to burning point which makes it nutty. The bread was crusty outside and soft inside with lovely crumb, a great palette teaser.When the food came it was a sight for hungry eyes! Beautifully plated, and correctly placed in front of the person who ordered it. We all brandished our cutlery and dived straight in. The chicken skewers were delicious little bites on elegant bamboo cocktail sticks, though I found the stilton sauce a bit over-seasoned. The rocket salad was fresh and crunchy, and the parmesan had sweet notes which created a lovely balance. My son’s order of duck was cooked to perfection, served on a bed of puy lentils mixed with some finely shredded cabbage. Beautifully sautéed vegetables and a squash mash added lovely flavours to each bite alternatingly. I tasted the fish and chips and they were a complete delight. The fish was flaky, the batter crispy and the chips were so very British! The burrata was so fresh it melted in the mouth and the broccoli was just the right crunch, with delightful chilly and burnt garlic undertones.It was the first time my son didn’t order a dessert as he was so satisfied with his meal! Looks like we will be going back with the Dad to try some of the drinks and more man-food :) Very highly recommend indeed!!

Restaurant Review: Koi, Saadiyat Island, Abu Dhabi
I selected this restaurant based entirely on TripAdvisor ratings (my review is now on it too) and didn't regret it for a second. The drive up to the restaurant is superb and it is ensconced in a little square off the elegant St. Regis hotel on Saadiyat Island. We weren't very hungry so we ordered the seafood miso soup which had amazing depth of flavours. We asked for recommendations for maki rolls and were advised to go for their Signature Dragon Rolls which have baked crab, shrimp tempura and eel with eel and sriracha sauce. These are an explosion of taste and texture in your mouth - a complete party: soft, delicate, intense, crisp all at the same time! We then had the baked crab rolls which were delicate and lovely, paired with Shrimp Tempura rolls (can you tell we love tempura!) which were also the best we have had ever. To complete our seafood o**y we ordered the lobster tacos which were unsurpassable - crisp tacos with perfectly cooked, chilled lobster with a citrus guacamole underlined with wasabi. WOW!! Mocha ice cream bites in yuzu, dark chocolate, mango and lemon sorbet flavours were an all singing-all dancing end to the meal !
The restaurant is listed as $$$$ (the menu has it's share of expensive items in Sushi/Sashimi) but our meal came in under $150 for 3 people, so it is possible to pick out a great selection without putting a hole in your pocket. We don't live in Abu Dhabi but whenever we do return, we are certainly going here again to sample more of the menu :o) Highly, highly recommend!