As someone who often declares that Indian cuisine is the best in the world, there are few more exciting phrases to me than ‘Indian brunch’.
Plus, when the venue is included in the 2024 MICHELIN Guide Abu Dhabi and the Gault&Millau rankings, you just know you’re in for an experience to remember.
The Venue
On a mission to introduce the world to the magic of North Indian cooking, Punjab Grill was founded in Delhi back in 2008. It now has branches in Bangkok, Singapore, Dubai, and at The Ritz-Carlton Abu Dhabi, Grand Canal.
Widely regarded as one of the best Indian restaurants in the capital, Punjab Grill Abu Dhabi is blessed with a stunning outdoor terrace overlooking the canal, and an opulent dining room that’s just as impressive as its immaculate dishes.
The Food Highlights
The brunch is available on Friday evening, and Saturday and Sunday afternoons. An amazing option for those on a meat free diet, there’s a whole set menu that’s purely vegetarian, and one with meat and fish, too.
For drinks you can choose between hops, grapes, and creative Indian-themed margaritas (for me, the mango passion fruit masala offered the perfect mix of sweet and spicy).
An explosion of colours, aromas, and premium quality ingredients, each of the four starters are served in hefty portions. We could eat the crispy corn pakoras and spicy chicken tikka chaat all day, but we remind ourselves
that we have three more courses to come, and somehow manage to restrain ourselves from finishing the lot.
Next is a whole course dedicated to juicy and expertly cooked Indian grills. Served with salad and chutneys, the malai and lemongrass chicken tikkas are some of the tenderest pieces of white meat we’ve ever tasted, while the lamb, shrimp, and fish are also delightful.
The kasundi broccoli is equally excellent, and arguably tastier than some of the meats. This is a brunch where vegetarians definitely don’t feel like an afterthought.
But the main course is the star of the show. Featuring sensational butter chicken curry and rich and creamy dahl, served with a variety of freshly baked naans and fragrant rice, it’s all absolutely superb.
We are full to bursting by the end, but somehow find room to try the mango cheesecake. Refreshing and fruity, it’s an idyllic sweet conclusion to a flawless meal.
The Verdict
We like that the menu sticks to the venue’s best-selling classics, and doesn’t try to complicate things. Rarely have we seen a set menu that includes so many of our favourite recipes.
A pleasurble way of experiencing the best of Punjab Grill’s award-winning menu, we can’t wait to come back in the winter and enjoy it outside on a Friday evening, too.
