Cold, cloudy days in Dubai (like today) are a rare treat, and must be spent to the best of one’s ability. Some might want to spend a cloudy day curled up on the couch, binge-watching Netflix and guzzling down hot cocoa- and while I see absolutely nothing wrong with the aforementioned picture, I chose a Dubai institution instead: the Friday brunch.
I was invited to the launch of the Friday brunch in Giardino, at the palatial Palazzo Versace (yay!). We were seated on the patio overlooking the pool and cloudy sky, and as the icy cold breeze blew threw our hair while we enjoyed the most delectable variety of seafood, roasts, and desserts; and I couldn’t help but think- Hala Dubai!
The first thing you’ll notice as you walk into Giardino- and almost be taken aback by- is how casual (but still classy nonetheless because of COURSE) the restaurant looks. Here’s what stands out: the exact same leafy, green and white, very garden-like pattern on the wallpaper, upholstery and servers’ uniforms. At first glance, it makes you frown and go “okaaay”, and then decide: hey this works- I really like this. Verdict: only Versace can pull off gaudiness with class and make it work.
Giardino is what one can refer to as the casual restaurant in Palazzo Versace. I love how every restaurant in the hotel is so very different from the other. This particular one is ideal for an unpretentious, laid back meal and a barrel of good laughs. As far as the food is concerned, what stood out the most was the oodles of Italian Burrata, seafood, grills and roasts. The quality of the proteins as well as the cook on them were both absolute perfection; and the variety was breathtaking. What completely won me over though, were the desserts. Just to name/describe a few favorites: the cake that tasted like Pina Colada (YES!), the strawberry mint mousse, mango chili mousse, and granny smith apple mousse(?). The conclusion I drew after trying the entire dessert bar (stop judging), was that the gaudiest looking desserts were actually the most delicious and conceptually brilliant. I’d suggest reducing the amount of food color in them to make them more visually appealing.
The weakest link(s) in the buffet were the Indian station and the Italian station.
What makes this Friday brunch stand out? Hands down, the fact that at only AED 350 per head, one gets to enjoy not only a feast of exquisite food, but also gets full day access to the pool. How’s that to get your attention? 🙂
What’s your favorite Friday brunch, and why? Leave a comment below 🙂
