LA’s celebrity hotspot in the capital – Berri’s Cafe

Let’s take a look at this fascinating place that is Berri’s Cafe. Famed as one of the “Top 25 Best Restaurants in Los Angeles”, Berri’s Cafe is quite a celebrity hotspot, known to have been frequented by Hollywood’s biggest stars including the likes of Madonna, Mariah Carey, the Hadid sisters and many more!

This renowned LA diner has flown across the oceans to make an entry into the capital city. Offering Mediterranean-Italian flavors that feature their famous hand-tossed pizzas, home-style recipes and an eclectic menu, this relaxed and friendly restaurant exudes style and a quintessential LA vibe right here in Abu Dhabi.
Read on for details on their dishes.

So we hopped into our long drive mode and set off to experience our first Iftar in the capital. Having heard so much about Berri’s popularity back in LA, we were eager to find out whether all that celebrity hoohah was worth it when it came to their food and service. Even after a little adventure on finding the visitors retail parking spots, we happened to get there quite early in time for Iftar. This gave up plenty of time to get a feel of the restaurant and take in all that relaxed luxury vibe going on in there.

Featuring different seating areas from petite tables for two to plush sofas for a large group, the restaurant spans across a huge floor area and exudes that vintage appeal with its white, green and black interiors. If you haven’t got a chance to look at their interiors yet, just hop on to my YouTube channel and check the quick video tour. The interiors and ambience are just perfect for a romantic date night. We were even treated to a little tea light after sunset to add that couple-y touch.

But the food was yet to follow…

Bread Basket

Isn’t that one of the classiest ways to break a fast?

 

In the true Italian style we were presented with crispy flat breads along with a carafe of olive oil and vinegar. I simply loved how the carafe contained both the liquids encompassed within one glass frame.

But wait, the breads were not all. Sticking to the basics, there were some juicy dates too, adding a little Mediterranean appeal.

Smoothies

One of the many things that Berri’s Cafe is famous for are these organic juices. Not only are they made from organic ingredients but they come with no sugar added, which means they offer all the healthiness in one cute glass. I opted for coconut berries smoothie, because obviously coconuts, while my guest went with the mango tango smoothie.

The former was a healthy mix of coconut water blended with raspberries, strawberries, blueberries, banana and honey. In my opinion, it was more of a breakfast drink than a dinner accompaniment, and would have been better if the coconut water was replaced with coconut milk.
The latter brought together tropical flavors of mango, orange and pineapple juices with strawberries and basil. The drink was slightly sour though, maybe due to its citrus content. Also the mangoes used were probably of the slightly raw Asian variety, as compared to the subcontinental ones that my taste buds are quite used to. This too would be perfect for breakfast, but the lunch or dinner version can be made less thick in texture and slightly more sweeter, maybe with the addition of honey or sugar syrup on the side. The presentation for both the drinks was on point, but just ask for a separate sweetener if you prefer your drinks less tangy.

Berri’s Burrata Salad

We can’t do without Burrata. I definitely can’t do without this cheese in my life. So when I got to know that this is one of their house favorites, there was no backing out. Presented in the most classy manner, the Berri’s Burrata Salad features a generous dollop of Burrata taking its rightful place in the center show of the plate. Pepped up with mixed red and yellow cherry tomatoes, and garnished with balsamic vinegar and basil, it makes the perfect choice as a starter and opens up your palette.

While all the Burrata dishes I have at all the restaurants taste almost the same, that doesn’t mean they don’t taste any better. This Burrata, like every other Burrata I’ve had, was scrumptiously creamy and delectably fresh.
I would have stopped at just one starter, but the next one was too tempting to refuse.
Wait a little to find out more about that…

Buffalo Shrimps

Buffalo chicken I’ve had a lot, but seeing buffalo shrimps on the menu took my excitement to a whole new level. One of my favorite sauces and my only favorite seafood item combined was a surprise. I can’t believe I had never tried this out, and never even considered this combination before.

Berri’s Cafe changed that for me. And I can’t thank them enough for introducing me to these deliciously juicy, perfectly tender cooked, and fiercely spicy tiger shrimps.
The portion was really good too. And for a minute there I secretly wished I wouldn’t have to share this with my guest.
Paired with the buffalo hot sauce classics, the shrimps were served with carrot and celery sticks for a lovely crunch. Plus, there was a creamy ranch dressing just in case the spice levels got out of hand!

Lobster Pizza

I had never tried this before. And if it wasn’t for the Chef’s personal recommendation, I wouldn’t have tried it out this time either.
But when good things have to happen, they find their own magical ways and reach out to you. And before you know it, you realise you have experienced something so good, so different, that you never knew you had been missing all your life.

Such is the case with this Lobster pizza at Berri’s.
It might look very humble and require just three simple ingredients. But this pie packs incredible flavor with the shrimp, lobster cream and mozzarella toppings.
What takes it a step further is the burst of herbs and spices in every bite.
Try this out. It’s highly recommended for a reason and definitely a must have.

Chicken Linguini

Don’t let this portion size fool you into believing it won’t fill you. We shared this Chicken Linguini between two and were still stuffed enough to reconsider desserts. (Of course, we didn’t, but let’s get to that later).

This creamy pasta is cooked in Grana Padano cheese wheel. It is enhanced with tender chicken breast and sun-dried tomatoes in a white cheese sauce.
I loved how the red tomatoes added a lovely pop of color to this white linguini based dish.

Panna Cotta & French Toast Pudding

These were the desserts at Berri’s Cafe, which we were almost going to skip. But thankfully the chef made sure we don’t leave without them.
The first one was a creamy vanilla bean Panna Cotta garnished with fresh berries.

Next was the most decadent French toast pudding. This dense textured cinnamon brioche was drizzled with Nutella sauce and topped with a luscious scoop of vanilla ice cream.

Both these desserts were served alongside an English toffee and sea salt bar. Offering a burst of sweet and salty flavors in every bite, the salted toffee bar balanced the decadence of the desserts while still offering a delicious bite.

Berri’s Cafe

Location: GI 4, Beach Front, Al Muneera, Al Raha Beach, Al Raha, Abu Dhabi
Contact: 02 3048181