Why limit brunch to lunch? Seagrill Bistro’s Friday Feast at Fairmont The Palm provides a full daycation all summer long with access to the beach and pool
Brunch by the seaside might be the last thing on your mind when mercury levels in the city are at their peak. But we get the feeling, Fairmont The Palm’s weekend offering at Seagrill Bistro will leave you feeling differently. This chic seafood restaurant at the five-star property on Palm Jumeirah almost feels like a slice of the Mediterranean on Dubai’s coast. Lush palm fronds dot the outdoor deck while panoramas of the Arabian Gulf surround the venue. But you don’t have to miss out on this cosy setting when seated indoors. Floor-to-ceiling windows outline the bright and airy space inside so that you can enjoy the best of both worlds when you’re looking to escape the heat. What makes Friday brunch at Seagrill Bistro extra special this summer is the added offering of complimentary beach and pool access at Fairmont The Palm.
Available with all packages, brunch-goers can cool off with a dip in the sea or the expansive pool from 10am to 7pm while enjoying a spectacular seafood spread from 12:30pm onwards with extended hours until 5pm. So if you’re looking to make a daycation out of your weekend brunch ritual, Fairmont The Palm is the place to be this summer. For foodies who enjoy treasures from the ocean – think crab, lobster, clams, shrimp and oysters – this is not a feast to miss. Served to the table, sharing style, Friday brunch at Seagrill Bistro is a chance for the restaurant’s team of chefs to showcase their exceptional epicurean skills. All you have to do is sit back and relax as your server brings an overwhelming selection of the venue’s signature dishes to your table. And with more than four hours at your disposal, you can take as many breaks as you’d like (with a cocktail in hand, of course) to let those tasty bites settle before you’re ready for the next course.
The extensive beverage menu, overflowing with fruity infusions, frozen mocktails, fresh juices, homemade ice teas, sparkling tipples and house spirits, will also offer plenty of refreshing options to beat the heat. But that’s not all! Every week, one lucky diner also gets the chance to win a complimentary poolside treatment at Willow Stream Spa. The added offering sure this brunch an unmissable treat but during our recent visit, we found the food to be star of the show and discovered just why the venue is a firm favourite among seafood fans in the city.
The first dish to grace our table was one of the main attractions on the menu – a fresh seafood platter on ice brimming with spiced clams, crab legs, mussels, oysters and salmon. You have the option to enjoy some of these raw or poached. Either way, it’s a delicious dish to get started with. Completing the first course was a fresh beetroot salad with walnuts and arugula as well as some creamy burrata with fresh summer greens, which our server suggested we pair with a round of mimosas. The generous portions will surely have you thinking that this is it for the starters but we were pleasantly surprised when round two of the appetisers made their way to our table. The serving this time included a marinated tuna salad, foie gras crumble, so creatively served that it almost looked like dessert, and some incredibly delicious crab cakes that definitely leave you wanting more.
Following all this indulgence, you’ll need some time before you’re ready to tuck into mains. Comprising five unique dishes, the selection takes you on a culinary tour around the Med with simple ingredients that pack in plenty of flavour. While you can choose to enjoy all five, we opted to try three of our favourite dishes from the menu (a move you might also want to consider if you’re saving room for dessert). First up was the mushroom fusilli pasta drizzled with truffle oil for that oh-so-summery flavour. With the roasted chicken and veggies, we felt the juiciness in every bite. And lastly, a simple dressing for the seabass fillet, served with roasted peppers and onions, allowed the freshness of the fish to really shine through. Although we missed trying these, there’s also a delicious Mediterranean bouillabaisse with fresh fish prepared in authentic Spanish style and a serving of grilled zucchini and broccolini to offset all the decadence.
You know it’s time for dessert at Seagrill Bistro when the chocolate cake tray starts making its way around the room. Worth breaking the diet for, you can feel the magic in every bite. It’s likely you might only want to stick to cake for dessert as it is every bit a visual treat as it is a feast to the senses, but there’s also a portion of baked Alaska and an apple tarte tatin to share. We couldn’t have asked for a sweeter end to a memorable brunch. But, once the clock strikes five, you can take the revelry outside and keep the weekend celebrations going by ordering a few cocktails by the beach or pool while taking in serene views of the sunset from the comfort of your cabana.
For more information or reservations 04 4573457 or palm.dining@fairmont.com