Kowloon Seafood {Dai Pai Dong}

Most Sunday nights in Abu Dhabi are the best time to get a restaurant reservation.  Restaurants are fairly quiet, giving you full attention from your server and sometimes even the chef.  Since I think it is the best time to try a new menu, this past week we slipped out to Dai Pai Dong at the Rosewood Hotel on Al Maryah Island to try their new Kowloon Seafood nights.  Any night of the week, except Friday and Tuesday, you can grab a table under the stars and choose your own seafood (sold by weight). Then you choose your preparation, and the chef whips it up with the ease of a seasoned expert.  I love the market feel of picking out my own seafood and then seeing the amazing results of my choice turned into a perfect meal.  Kinda like Iron chef :)

We choose the scallops steamed in a garlic sauce, lobster in chili garlic, and red snapper in the chili bean sauce.  All were so different, and all really perfectly prepared.  Super fresh, hot and served quickly to the table.  We also had a large plate of sauteed greens including bok choy and broccoli, and a platter of egg fried rice.  My favorite was the red snapper that is served to the table still cooking over a flame.  The textures and flavors are complex and exciting...from crunchy fried onions to fresh crisp coriander, to the umami of soft roasted garlic.

Even though the servings are adequate, seafood seems to just disappear, so be sure to order a little extra.  Of all the high-end brunches that tout their amazingly fresh seafood prepared to order, this was better.  And I bet that no matter which seafood you try, you can't go wrong.  The chefs are calm, cool and seriously good at what they do.  Not sure I can say that about many places.  Dai Pai Dong really does specialize in their Hong-Kong style eats (which explains why you often can't even get a table at their Dim Sum brunch).    

Kowloon seafood specials are only on through the end of the November, and not yet planned to be extended (although fingers crossed).

Dai Pai Dong

Rosewood Hotel

Galleria Mall

Al Maryah Island- Abu Dhabi

Open Daily

Lunch: From 12:00 noon to 3:00 p.m.

Late Lunch: From 3:00 to 6:00 p.m.

Friday Brunch: From 6:00 to 11:30 p.m.

Saturday:From 12:00 noon to 4:00 p.m.

Dinner: Saturday to Wednesday:

From 6:00 to 11:00 p.m, midnight Thursday and Friday