The menu is large but specialised without there being too much on offer, and the staff, who are overly accommodating, are there to help you along the way. We took a trip down on a Friday night, and sadly I feel we didn't see Caramel in all its glory. Being the middle of Ramadan, Caramel appeared to be dead, however the soft music playing in the background made it feel a little less empty. As always, cocktails were up first, and I was delighted when a pineapple mojito appeared in front of me. The perfect balance between sweet and sour, this beverage went down an absolute treat. The cocktail menu was vast offering up a range of classics as well as some Caramel inspired wild cards, all supported with mouth watering names and 9 times out of 10 some sort of fruity element.
The food menu was also top notch! Full of Caramel favourites such as TNT Shrimp, tacos and buffalo wings, it was hard to decide which dish to go for. In the end, after many helpful suggestions from the waitress, we managed to order. We started with a bang, ordering the TNT Shrimp and the stuffed clams. The TNT Shrimps, as promised were amazing - presented in a martini glass, there was a perfect ratio between fish and batter, and whilst the batter was brilliantly crunchy, the shrimp was perfectly soft. However for the me the highlight was the Stuffed Clams which were full of flavour, with the veal bacon adding the 'icing on the cake'. I could happily have one of those bad boys every day for the rest of my life.
Next up, I chose the ultimate comfort food dish, opting for the seared Chilean sea bass which came accompanied with rock shrimp risotto, lobster broth and tomato basil tapenade. The sea bass melted into the risotto with the tapenade adding a hint of sharpness to the dish, complimenting it perfectly. My dinner companion opted for the lamb loin, which even though he enjoyed, I think the obvious winner was the sea bass by a long shot.
Fit to bust after so much food, our lovely waitress came over to talk us through the puddings. After describing each pudding for about a minute each, there was suddenly a little more room in my stomach for a chocolate pudding. Dusted in icing sugar with a chocolate stick and a side of cappuccino ice cream arrived the choccy pud, with its melting gooey centre and hard outer shell. Well worth trying but left me full for days.
With its sleek interiors, vibrant tunes, fantastic staff and brilliant setting, Caramel will definitely be a place I visit again and I look forward to seeing the place in full swing. The Caramel group have really got a good thing going with their speciality dishes and amazing staff - next stop Caramel Dubai for more cocktails and comfort food.
Twitter: @caramelabudhabi
Instagram: @caramelgroup
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