The Terrace on the Corniche — Restaurant in Abu Dhabi

The birthday girl selected this restaurant to celebrate her birthday as has been our family tradition. We sat down on fri night with great expectations and were not very pleased with the restaurant given that it’s part of a chain like St. Regis no less.

Firstly the name is deceptive- “the terrace” happens to be on the ground floor and doesn’t have any feel of its name - at least during these summer months. The website has pictures of the exterior sitting but due to the heat it must have been off limits.

Call it cozy you may, but the first impression upon entering the restaurant was a cramped dining area with table too close to each other leaving no room to walk between them - rendering everyone to use the buffet aisle resulting in a jam.

Then we were told it’s an international buffet On Fridays which actually turned out to be a continental buffet far from being an international cuisine. As there were no stations for Indian food or Chinese for that matter. Ironically their website only has pictures of sushi platters and Indian dishes.

It’s hard to believe an international buffet to not have biryani or tandoori dishes let alone dedicated Indian stations or sushi and sashimi for that matter. Ironically. Which by the way are aplenty in the other five star restaurants like at the fairmont (CuiScene) or the Marriott Alfirsan (Khayal) or the JW Marriott Marquis Hotel Dubai (kitchen 6). We assume St. Regis would be in the same league but boy we were wrong.

To be fair to them the salad was nice and the service was available at an arms length. Loved the salmon with lemon dish and seafood. The Arabic salad was very tasty but the smoked salmons didn’t the other raw fish were both hardened with exposure to air. There were no prawns in the salads nor any prawns dish by itself save some prawns in one of the main dishes. We asked for rotis or naans and were served ready to cook Lulu parathas of sorts which was a dampener.

The pasta station was good for the kids so that kept them busy and the best part of the buffet was the dessert which was awesome.

Overall we probably chose the wrong day to dine there but the buffet was certainly not worth the price. So unless you are on a diet and want to eat just the salad and the dessert and wiling to dish out AED 195 per pax...

A morning at The Terrace on the Corniche is nothing short of a masterclass in refined breakfast dining, where culinary artistry meets impeccable hospitality in the heart of The St. Regis Abu Dhabi.

The breakfast selection is exceptionally curated, offering a vast and diverse array of gourmet options designed to cater to an international clientele with discerning tastes. From freshly baked artisanal breads and expertly prepared egg dishes to locally inspired delicacies and health-conscious alternatives, every palate is thoughtfully considered. The attention to variety ensures that whether one prefers a light continental start or a hearty traditional breakfast, the offerings are both abundant and exquisite.

Particularly captivating is the display of decadent sweet treats—from delicate viennoiseries to elegantly crafted pastries, each piece is a testament to the pastry team’s skill and commitment to excellence. Presentation is meticulously refined, with an eye for detail that enhances both the visual and gastronomic experience.

What truly elevated our visit, however, was the service excellence exemplified by our waitress, Rossie Thandiwe. Her professionalism, warmth, and intuitive attentiveness added a personal dimension to the experience that is rare even among luxury establishments. She anticipated our preferences with effortless grace and ensured that every moment of our breakfast was seamless and enjoyable. Ms. Thandiwe embodies the very spirit of St. Regis hospitality, and we extend our highest commendation for her exceptional service.

In essence, breakfast at The Terrace on the Corniche transcends the ordinary—it is a harmonious blend of culinary diversity, elegant presentation, and heartfelt service, making it a definitive highlight of any stay at The St....

Excellent quality and variety of breakfast and dinner buffets. One of the best we've been to. The attention to detail is impressive, even better than the Ritz Carlton in every aspect. The service staff know all the components of the buffet items, which impressed us very much. We had a very nice and professional waiter from Jordan with whom we had a very good conversation. We will definitely come back for this experience at the terrace restaurant.

UPDATE 2024: we have been here for years, booking the hotel especially for the Dinner. End of 2023 they changed the Head Chef and the dinner Buffet is not what it was before. Three evenings in a row almost the same food. Mostly arabian food(which was quite good balanced before). And they serve mostly the same dishes than the night before, confirmed by a chef on station. Food quality with former Chef Murphy was superb, now just mediocre. Unfortunately we are not coming back, For example, Grand Hyatt offers similar food quality for half the price. Very sad, we especially stayed at the St.Regis for...