Although there are already a number of steak houses in Abu Dhabi, those that actually serve good steaks are ... well, rare. You could maybe count three or four where you can be assured of a sound meal. So when we heard there was a new steak joint opening on Yas Island, Abu Dhabi Week had to rush over to Blue Grill to feed our carnivorous urges

Located in the freshly-opened Rotana Yas Island, the restaurant is easy enough to find though a 40-minute taxi ride from the city centre. But it looks great: the main dining room is large and immaculately decorated in sumptuous steakhouse fashion – all dark hues, subtle ambient lighting and unobtrusive background music. The one standout feature has to be the amazing open kitchen, which dominates an entire wall.

We decide to take advantage of the cooler weather and take a table on the outside terrace, which, in contrast to the interior, is already quite busy. With a surprisingly pleasant view of the other hotels on Yas, the terrace is a nice place to be and will only get better as the freshly planted greenery matures. Although relatively small, the terrace does not feel cramped and the tables are well positioned, providing an intimate, private atmosphere for all the diners.

Everything on the menu sounds promising – and also quite reasonably priced. From the decent list of starters we try the foie gras with asparagus and a balsamic vinegar apple tartlet plus a less radical iceberg salad. The foie gras is unbelievably rich and works really well with the delicious apple pastry; the salad is huge, perhaps an entire head of lettuce, but beautifully dressed with walnuts, pear and blue cheese.

But it’s the steaks that people are going to come here for and they won’t be disappointed. There is wide selection of meat and cuts, from bone-in American classics to char-grilled Australian prime Angus. The Australian tenderloin wagyu is undoubtedly the star of the night, though – an excellent piece of meat cooked simply but to perfection. Succulent, juicy and ever so slightly [whoops!]: just the way it should be.

There is an interesting mix of accompaniments and sauces available, again generously portioned and cooked well. We especially liked the wasabi butter sauce, roasted zucchini, fried field mushrooms and good old fashioned fat fries.
As we loosen our belts to let the food go down, the sun is now well below the horizon and as we peruse the dessert menus the waiter brings small torches to help us make our decisions – a nice
little touch.

The wine list is also particularly worthy of a mention, offering a wide variety of new and old world wines at uncharacteristically low prices. The organic Spanish wine that we selected to accompany our food is one that we’ll definitely be drinking again.

So what do we think? If you are in the vicinity or have friends staying on the island, the Blue Grill is definitely worth a visit. The menu has a lot to offer, the food is beautifully cooked and well presented, they have one of the more reasonably priced wine cellars that we’ve seen in Abu Dhabi, and the staff are extremely friendly and helpful. It is only the slight lack of atmosphere that would prevent us from making the trip out to Yas more often.

What? Blue Grill Steakhouse
Where? Rotana Yas Island
Cost: Around AED 250 for three courses excl drinks
Why? Hearty selection of steaks, nicely cooked to order
Why not? Yas Island is a bit of a trek, slightly subdued atmosphere
Rated: 7 out of 10
Contact: 02 656 4000

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