Family Eats: Weekend barbecue buffet at Amwaj Rotana

No weekend is complete without a nice meal out with the family, in my opinion, and it also gives me a break from cooking! Last weekend, we tried the Weekend BBQ Buffet at Amwaj Rotana, Jumeirah Beach Residences, Dubai. It's meant to be a family-friendly affair so we were at ease, since restaurant dinners and kids don't usually gel (but you can see my tips for making it work).

It's great when restaurants make an effort to make the dining out experience easier for families, because then, everyone is happy! The Weekend BBQ Buffet is held at Horizon restaurant, and has a small terrace. Since it was a warm day, we chose to sit inside. Despite it being a family buffet, I loved how the tables were set up beautifully.

We placed ourselves right next to the Kids' Corner where Frozen was playing on the television. The food for kids included fries, burger patties, and chicken nuggets. There's also an ice cream cart, and some sweet treats. You can also have something prepared for the kids at the Pasta Station at the main buffet, which is what Little Dude had.

The live barbecue is stationed on the terrace, and the items on offer were beef steak, grilled chicken, tiger prawns, and salmon. They also have beef kebabs which you can ask to be grilled for you.

Sushi was one of the items on the buffet, and Chef Numeriano Ligaya of their popular Benihana restaurant was nice enough to make us his signature dish - The Ambe sushi maki roll. This tempura fried spicy tuna sushi was unlike any I've ever tasted. Crispy on the outside, and beautifully spiced on the inside.

One of the highlights of the buffet was the Roast Turkey with gravy, corn on the cob, onion rings, and mashed herb potatoes.

We also liked the salads, especially the Greek Salad station, and the fresh seafood.

I would have liked to see more variety in the meat dishes, since this is an Arabian theme buffet.

We had a good meal, and I must mention the friendliness of the staff, especially towards Little Dude. Mary and Sarina, our servers, were fantastic, and even the chef met him to present him with a chef hat! The kids were also given crayons and an activity sheet to keep them busy.

We liked the laidback style and family-oriented atmosphere at the Weekend BBQ Buffet, and if a relaxed dinner out with your family is what you're looking for, this is a wonderful option.

The Weekend BBQ Buffet is hosted every Thursday and Friday from 6.30 pm to 10.30 pm at Amwaj Rotana. Prices are AED 199 per person with soft beverages, and AED 269 with house beverages. For kids between six to twelve years, it's AED 100 per child. Visit their website for more details.

For reservations, call 971-4-428 2000 or email [email protected].

You may recall that we've also reviewed the al fresco #LetsDoBrunch at Amwaj Rotana that we loved! The brunch has now moved indoors, but the same great food continues to be served.



We were invited to try the above buffet, but all views and opinions remain my own.