Sofra Bld — Restaurant in Abu Dhabi

Went in for my wife’s birthday date. I believe we came early as no one at the front desk, but we were greeted by a guest officer after a few minutes.

The place is elegantly and luxuriously decorated. Numerous sittings with ample space in between the tables. So no need to worry to hit someone just incase the sitting got full.

You may opt to be sat at their al fresco dining with the view of the marina and colorful (night time) Maqta bridge.

The buffet was split into different sections. The bread and pizza section is sitting at the left side of the entrance. This area offers a variety of baked goods and hand tossed pizza with live cooking. You can basically see the chef tossing the dough, send it inside the oven and serve a steaming medium sized pizza. Pepperoni, vegetable and margherita was served that night.

Next to it is the grilling section. They had a variety of tikka and kebab served, and you may choose cuts of tuna, salmon and sea bass to be grilled. Doze it salt and pepper as you like.

Right after the grilling section is the main dish area, where international cuisines were served. The selection was great, but the roasted beef ribeye is a lil bit chewy for a ribeye. The steamed veggies were nicely cooked. Not too crunchy and not too poachy. The salmon and chicken eere superb.

At the end is the noodles, soup and seafood section. They served three types of soup, seafood tom yum was my wife’s must have. We’re not able to taste any of the noodles, since we had one a day ago. They have a few selections for seafood dishes, the sea-bass is not overdone. They also offer a live cooking for the seafood section, though they only had a few types of fishes offered that night.

At the opposite side was the salad and sushi bar. You can watch the sushi chef prepared and hand rolled sushis.

Right at the middle is the dessert bar. The area offers fresh cut and whole fruits, dates, a handful selections of arabic sweets, wide selection of ice cream, sorbet and frozen yogurt. You may also request a freshly made crepe with their home made choco syrup topped with your choice of ice cream. The bar has chocolate fountains with plain chocolate and milk chocolate syrup. You can dip mallows, bite size breads and fruits. Aside from the ones I mentioned, this area also served cakes and cupped desserts.

Right next to it is the indian and middle eastern section, where they have a selection of biryani, dhal and couscous.

Overall, the food was fantastic. The food selection was not the typical ones that we had in other hotels. Ambience of the dining area is very opulent and spotless.

The staff were so-so. Most of them looked at the opposite side when you look at them. Except for the Indian lady in the dessert section, who always greets you with and smile, and ask if you need anything. And also, the Indian guest officer who handled our needs after the Filipino went away, maybe his shift was over. The Filipino told us to ask for the local water because its cheaper. 😂coz the other brand is more expensive. (10 dhs difference) We heard some friends who had distinct experience from staff. We just shrugged it off ‘til last night.

*give a tip if you find the service satisfactory **we use entertainer to avail the dinner. (Do not use it, or you may be offered a cheaper water) *a thumbs up if you find...

I wanted to take a moment to highlight the exceptional service provided by one of your staff members, Dickson, during my recent visit to your restaurant. From the moment I stepped in, Dickson exuded warmth and professionalism, setting the tone for what turned out to be a delightful dining experience.

Dickson's attention to detail was truly remarkable. He anticipated our needs effortlessly, ensuring that we were comfortable and attended to throughout our meal. His knowledge of the menu was extensive, and he expertly guided us through the various options, offering valuable recommendations that perfectly suited our preferences.

What impressed me the most was Dickson's genuine passion for hospitality. He didn't just serve us; he engaged with us, sharing insights about the dishes and making us feel like valued guests. His friendly demeanor and genuine smile were contagious, creating a welcoming atmosphere that enhanced our overall enjoyment.

Furthermore, Dickson demonstrated remarkable efficiency and grace under pressure. Despite the restaurant being busy, he remained composed and attentive, never once compromising on the quality of service he provided.

In today's fast-paced world, exemplary service like Dickson's is rare to come by, and it undoubtedly sets Shangri-la Sofra apart as a destination for unparalleled dining experiences. Dickson's dedication to his craft and his commitment to ensuring customer satisfaction reflect positively on your establishment, and I believe he is a true asset to your team.

Please convey my heartfelt gratitude to Dickson for making our visit to Shangri-la Sofra truly memorable. I look forward to returning soon and experiencing the same level of excellence once again.

Warm...

This review is of the mid-Autumn moon festival brunch held at Sofra. It was 279 AED per person, non-alcohol package (if you have the Entertainer you could get 2-4-1 on the brunch) and included beach & pool access.

It was very busy the day we went.

The food overall was great quality. I couldn’t tell you what I ate exactly because apart from the ice cream & sorbet, there were no labels for any of the dishes. At a stab, I’ll say what I thought was lamb was great. Due to the occasion, food from the hotel’s other restaurants, Shang Palace and Hoi An, were featured.

The service: Pleasant but almost non-existent. We got served once for two soft drinks and once more when my husband was able to flag someone over for tea. I think this was due to it being so busy. Entertainment: live band, face painting and paper lantern making. The latter for the occasion I think. —- If you are selecting a brunch based on beach & pool access, you may want to note: 🏖 The beach was not the nicest ones I’ve been to. The bottom was slimey from algae and the water was not very clear. (Could be the time of year 🤷🏻‍♀️) 🏊‍♀️ The pool was lovely with an infinitely edge. 😾 The biggest downfall for me was the “changing room” I was directed to use. It had one toilet, one shower, one changing cubical, and many lockers. There were no towels or toiletries. I’m not sure how a brunch can be advertised with beach and pool access with such limited facilities available for everyone to use.

Overall: Fantastic quality food. If the service was due to the abnormally large crowd, then that...