5
Stella H (Miss Artois) 25 months ago
The husband and I managed to win an Atlon Sunday Roast and popped down yesterday for a late lunch. We had to change the booking once due to sickness but this was not an issue and all got sorted easily.
We arrived a bit early for our 3pm booking, so had a wander through Souq Qaryat Al Beri which is where the restaurant is located. Plenty of parking. We also had a look at the grounds of The Shangri-La hotel which also looked lovely (see photos of canals).
We were welcomed to Atlon Bar & Bistro by the lovely staff and we had our pick of the tables. We sat overlooking the water, across to the Ritz Carlton and with the Grand Mosque in the background. This was a superb view that got better as we watched the sun go down.
We selected a drink and the staff were keen to take our food order but we wanted to wait and enjoy our surrounds. When we did place our order, there were a few more guests in and our food took quite a while to arrive HOWEVER this is a good thing because it was reflected in the freshness of our meal. A decent roast needs to be hot and fresh, and it absolutely was - juicy sliced beef, freshly roasted, caramelised carrots & parsnips, crispy roast potatoes, firm brussels sprouts with pancetta and balsamic glaze, cauiflower gratin with bubbling golden cheese atop and a fresh, light Yorkshire pudding. I am a Yorkshire girl and only came back to AD on Saturday from a culinary tour of the UK visiting my folks.....but roasts are something that I never tire of. It was all delicious - the sprouts were excellent - and the Yorkshire pudding put me to shame!
We were also treated to try the vegetarian option, the Heirloom Tomato tart - fresh and sun dried tomatoes with a creamy filling, a herby oil garnish encased in light, homemade pastry. This was super tasty and we both enjoyed it.
Now, we were fit to pop but I can't go past a sticky toffee pudding and this one didn't disappoint. Light sponge, toffee sauce, caramelised banana, cream. Despite our best efforts, we couldn't finish it because the portion was very generous.
The staff were attentive with our drinks and plates. The food was explained to us on service. We were looked after. There were families with young children, couples and a few other groups of varying ages.
In addition, we were entertained by a gorgeous young chap who sang for a couple of hours whilst we were there. He was a lot of fun and it really added to the atmosphere of the place and to our experience, as he interacted with the guests to make sure that his set was appealing to everyone.
Overall, we had a super afternoon and happily recommend. We thought 149AED for the roast plus 3 drinks (alcohol or soft) was excellent. There was plenty of food (we absolutely did not need the extras we ate!) and it was good quality.
We look forward to a Winter afternoon out on the deck, watching the sun go down.
Thank you Atlon Bar & Bistro.