Sponsored: Gather the family and friends, head over to DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Dubai Jumeirah and turn your Friday into Fri-yay with Gastro Kitchen’s fantastic Gastrolicious Brunch offer.
We’re talking limitless sips and delectable starters, mains, chef’s specials, juicy grills and more. Sited in the buzzing JBR, the Gastrolicious Brunch has something for everyone. The kids can run around, work up an appetite; while the adults can catch some rays in the perfect Autumn weather, whilst treating themselves to delicious beverages and grazing boards when the hunger pangs strike.
In terms of attire, beach-chic is the way to go because the brunch includes beach access with gorgeous, uninterrupted views of Ain Dubai.
We learned that Gastro Kitchen prides itself in using organic, locally sourced ingredients; and we couldn’t wait to see what the afternoon had in store for us.
The highlights:
The afternoon begins with nibbles such as Garlic bread and chips, but we choose to skip this as the Toss & Mingles section beckoned with vibrant dishes. The pleasantly surprising selection of nutritious and generously portioned light bites included Curly kale Caesar salad with a poached egg; a Super green bowl; Beets and cheese offering a lovely blend of sweet and salty; Homemade falafel with quinoa; and a bright Natural lifestyle bowl boasting bits of mango, mushroom, tomato, radish and flattened rice. Each dish was fresh and packed with flavour. We were off to a good start.
There’s plenty for the kids as well, with favourites such as Mini Margherita pizzas, Pasta in white/red or Bolognese sauce and Chicken nuggets with fries.
Seafood lovers don’t miss out on the Dynamite shrimp. With a spicy sauce drizzled over, the one-bite starter was a delight. After the delicious starters, a breather was needed so we grabbed some towels and made our way over to the beach for a cooling dip.
Don’t be surprised if you catch yourself swaying to the catchy beats from a DJ. Familiar favourites will have you singing along and having an incredibly fun time.
We started to feel peckish after a while and came back to our table to take our seats. Punchy potions were up next, featuring ingredients such as coconut, pineapple, popcorn (yes, popcorn), cranberry, strawberry and citrus, among others such as grape, house beverages and mocktails including Piña passion and Bubbly Barbados.
A tip is to space out the brunch, as the menu offers an array of generously portioned and delectable dishes. From the Chef’s specials, a hearty serving of home-style Cottage pie with herb butter offered a cosy taste of British cuisine, while other options include Spinach & cheese lasagne pockets and Avo salmon on toasted muesli bread.
Mains followed with a Spinach and ricotta tortellini pasta in a creamy sauce; a juicy pan-seared Salmon with Hollandaise sauce; Corn-fed chicken breast with a garlic cream sauce; and a classic, Beef Wellington with homemade jus. Each was just right for two to share and in no time, we polished off even the last bit left on our plates.
You would think that was it for the afternoon culinary spread, but wait, there’s more. Take your pick (or all) from the Serial Griller part of the menu, including scrumptious Grilled prawns, succulent Lamb kofta and a Shish taouk that was cooked to perfection.
Finally, you get to the sweet stuff. Satisfy your sweet tooth with the Signature of the day, which happened to be a chewy chocolate chip cookie with vanilla ice cream; a Double Tree Chocolate cookie; a timeless Apple crumble with vanilla ice cream; and a Tropical fruit platter for something fresh and juicy.
The verdict:
This friendly neighbourhood all-day dining destination is the perfect venue for families with little ones and groups of adults too. The Gastrolicious Brunch promises an afternoon well-spent, and it absolutely delivers.
Book now:
Fridays from 12:30-4pm. AED150 per child, AED299 (inclusive of soft beverages), AED399 per person (inclusive of house beverages) and AED499 per person (inclusive of bubbly). Pool temporarily closed until September. Visit the website or Instagram. Call +97155 166 8092 or email dine.jbr@hilton.com.