Garage Restaurant — Restaurant in Abu Dhabi

#NadzOnTheGo: The Garage Abu Dhabi.

@garageabudhabi is a revolutionary concept. A culinary movement. Driven by diversity. You get to try different themed boards of food! There’s something in their boards for everyone whether you are an Arabic food lover or meat lover or love your sushi and seafood and also something for the dessert lovers.

Loved the concept and the experience. W Abu Dhabi is a stunning hotel inside out and Garage is so spacious – we hopped 3 times around the place and couldn’t decide where to sit coz every corner is beautiful and different. There’s the floral corner, the food truck area, the seats beside the window with view of F1 track and also this sophisticated den-like area where we finally chose to sit. There are open kitchen areas where you can see your food being made freshly as well. The food were all made with care and served in top quality. I don’t eat seatfood so for me some of the boards didn’t satisfy my appetite. My fave was definitely the Mezze board – basic Arabic menu but oh so delish. We tried the below boards and you should too! Check it out!

MEZZA BAR:

Jalapeno & Tomato Hummus

Classic hummus

Baba Ganouj

Fatous

Bag of Hot Mezza

MEAT VAULT:

Crispy Chicken Sando

Truffle Mac n Cheese

Roasted Wedge Salad

Slow cooked Meatballs

NIKKEI HOUSE:

Rainbow Maki

Flamed Salmon Roll

Ica Ceviche

Seafood Saltado

STEAM TABLE:

Miso & Shiso Corn

Chicken Siu Mai

Prawns Fried Rice

Szechuan Wings

TART VAN:

Seriously Messed Up – Cheesecake Sundae

Choco and Coco icecream

TAP WALL A curated selection of...

Tucked inside the long corridors of the W Hotel, this restaurant is one of many but the only one you need to go to as a vegan.

The restaurant space benefits from high ceilings and tall windows which are adjacent to the Yas Marina circuit - you can step outside on the balcony to see one end of the 5km+ track. Inside, the decor is quirky with kitchens being visible for different cuisines. At night time, the electric ambience is complemented by neon lighting to give a colourful atmosphere.

Onto the food: there's a dedicated vegetarian menu that you can request from the wait staff. It's not immediately clear which items are vegan. Thankfully, the staff can help identify vegan items, and at a stretch, a little sleuthing with the allergens can also reveal what's suitable. Garage Restaurant: please clearly mark the vegan items in future prints of your menu.

On the first occasion, I was recommended vegan short ribs and a citrus rocket salad - both of which were very decent. We had savoury edamame as well which was a tasty choice. When I mentioned I was still hungry after a long day I was recommended a rice dish, the exact item I can't remember, but that was excellent with fried spring onions.

The second time I had the edamame again and tried the ramen dish. Unfortunately, it was a bit flavourless so I would give this a miss.

Service was decent when wait staff were present in the dining area (about 50% of our time there).

Overall, if you're looking for vegan food in Abu Dhabi this is a safe bet to try dishes of...

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ We had the absolute pleasure of dining at The Garage at the W Hotel Yas Island, and it was nothing short of exceptional! From the moment we arrived, we were warmly welcomed by Fred, a truly knowledgeable and remarkable waiter who elevated our dining experience to incredible heights.

Fred’s attention to detail and genuine care made our entire family feel so special, especially our children, who were treated like royalty. Fred expertly guided us in selecting every course of our meals, ensuring each dish suited everyone perfectly — from the children’s classics to the teenagers’ favorites, and finally to my vegan and gluten-free preferences.

Despite my dietary needs, the team accommodated seamlessly, crafting inventive and delicious dishes that far exceeded my expectations. They even encouraged me to trust the chef’s expertise, and I’m so glad I did! Every meal was wonderfully presented, bursting with flavor, and generously portioned.

The children’s spaghetti Bolognese was hands-down the best they’ve had since arriving in the UAE, and the same can be said for all of our meals. The creativity and quality in every dish were simply outstanding.

We highly recommend The Garage to anyone seeking a dining experience that is beyond exceptional. Be sure to ask for Fred – his kindness, professionalism, and passion for hospitality truly made our evening unforgettable. A big thank you to Fred, the talented chefs, and the entire waitstaff for delivering the best dining experience...