Broadway Bar: The Best Sunday Roast

When is a roast not a roast? When it’s something so absolutely outstanding that it feels almost wrong to lump it into the category of what you might get at a run-of-the-mill pub! But what makes Broadway’s roast stand out?  

The leather interiors and exposed brickwork, the open bar, and tons of greenery and warm lighting give this space a cosy, cool vibe and after a couple of excellent drinks had been ordered from the very knowledgeable staff, we settled in.

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At Broadway, you don’t just get a plate of roast plonked down in front of you: the Sunday Roast includes sharing starters, a choice of main, a dessert and free-flowing drinks from 12:30-5:30 - and it’s excellent value-for-money. Everything is made in-house under the expertise of Head Chef George Lyon who, having spent 8 years at the Savoy in London under Gordon Ramsey, clearly knows his stuff.

Keeping it light

Starters have been kept intentionally light and oozing with deliciousness. The shaved cauliflower takes this unassuming vegetable and turns it into something unexpected, with exceptional depth of piquant flavours and contrasting textures. Don’t dismiss the Broadway chopped salad: it sounds so simple, yet the combination of the zesty pomegranate, nutty seeds, creamy avocado and honey from the Emirates Place beehives means that each mouthful is packed with flavour. Oyster enthusiasts will love the salty, nutty flavours of the plump Fin de Claire variety, served on ice.

The main event

Chef Lyon’s classical training takes centre stage here and delivers an exceptional meal that exceeded our expectations on every level. Take your pick from roasted sea bream, spiced roasted cauliflower, sirloin of beef, lamb shoulder, or corn-fed chicken as well as a large side of vegetables.

The overnight cooked sirloin of beef was butter-soft and perfectly salted - the thin slivers of this gracing the plate were more than enough to fill us up - while the slow-roasted lamb shoulder, salted in rosemary and garlic and cooked for 9 hours, was so tender, it fell apart and, paired with homemade mint sauce, evoked memories of childhood family meals and good times. The French corn-fed chicken was brined to retain moisture and finished with a sage butter, resulting in one of the tastiest chicken experiences ever. We couldn’t choose a favourite: each was beautiful.

But that’s not all. The giant, pillowy Yorkshire pudding (Chef’s mum’s recipe!) sat alongside the meat, waiting for the rich gravy served on the side.  We spooned the best cauliflower cheese we’ve ever tasted onto our plates and swooned at its goodness. The colourful vegetable platter was deposited onto the table with perfectly cooked honey-roasted carrots, broccoli with the perfect amount of crunch, sweet parsnips and, most importantly, and a real rarity, proper roast potatoes, perfectly seasoned, golden and crispy on the outside, and fluffy in the middle. 

Dessert

Save room for the tart tatin: the sweet apples and sticky caramel over layers of pastry, foiled by the tartness of the sour cream ice cream was the perfect ending to this incredible meal. 

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The Sunday Roast at Broadway is, in our opinion, the best roast offering in Abu Dhabi.  There’s a lot of food and the drinks are fabulous and include draught beer, French wine, cocktails and mocktails. Cancel all other afternoon plans: this is one to be savoured. 

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Timing: 12:30-5:30 every Sunday

Pricing: AED295 soft (including delicious mocktails) | AED395 house | AED 595 champagne

Kids menu available: AED90

Booking: Book online, call +971 2 690 8888 or email moauh-reservations@mohg.com

Location: Emirates Palace Mandarin Oriental