Hakkasan - A truly immersive experience

Every detail - from the scents to the sound and the last artful bite - is carefully considered at Hakkasan Abu Dhabi

It's so rare to give any joint full marks on this space, but Hakkasan Abu Dhabi is a food lover's delight. Offering a culinary balance where traditional meets contemporary to create one of the finest dining experiences, it is a celebration of Chinese cuisine. The air of exclusivity and the glamorous atmosphere stimulate every sense to create a divine feel. Yes, the brunch is not just about the food, which of course is outstanding, but about the feeling of sublimity, too. Complete with a bespoke menu, the meal is a harmonious blend of authentic Cantonese recipes influenced by the food and the ingredients of the Middle East. The team under chef Lee Kok Hua creates the food  with a passion and this comes across in the taste and fervour with which each dish is served. The signature dishes, painstakingly made, are a pleasure to the palate, and one wonders how each piece can be so perfectly recreated, maintaining the flavours, the colours and the texture. The fruit blends have a character of their own and even a surprising mix of passion fruit, lychee and coconut creates a burst of flavours.
The Peking Duck with pancakes, the golden fried soft shell crab, the wontons, the crispy prawn dumpling with foie gras sauce, the har gau... all truly out of this world - yet the wagyu beef truffle puff took the cake. We unashamedly asked for a second helping. And if you thought the Chinese are not good with their desserts, well, Hakkasan will prove you wrong. Overlooking the opulent grounds of the iconic Emirates Palace, the Hakkasan Terrace with cabanas and the stunning skyline is, in fact, the place to be on a winter afternoon.
 roopa@khaleejtimes.com
Taste
The brunch is rather extensive starting with the flavourful Peking Duck and a lovely crab soup and ending with a large spread of desserts. The small eats and the dim sums are just perfect, making you want more. No words can describe the melt-in-the-mouth wagyu beef truffle with the puff made from the softest of black and white dough.
Ambience
The restaurant interiors, conceived by renowned designer Christian Liaigre, are opulent yet intimate. The fusion of the modern and traditional with Chinese motifs, dark wooden screens, rich materials and the subtle use of lighting add to the  classiness and the feel.
Service
One cannot ask for more when it comes to service at Hakkasan. A dedicated server is at your beck and call, yet unobtrusively. Every dish is explained and served with so much of warmth and care that  their passion soon becomes infectious.
Presentation
All dishes are served with a flourish, with special care to the aesthetics. Be it the dim sum, the sugar snap cloud ear and ginger stir fry, or the plain steamed jasmine rice, the presentation enhances the taste. The circular dessert tray with goodies in all shapes, sizes and hues was again a delight.
Value for Money
Priced  at Dh318  with unlimited soft drinks and Dh438 with house beverages, the brunch with an extensive menu is value for money. The satiated feel with which you leave the restaurant is testament. Each dish is special, signature rather, and the ambience just great. An enchanting experience.
For Reservations: Hakkasan,  Emirates Palace Abu Dhabi, 02 690 7739

• Food and Dining