Emirates Palace Abu Dhabi

Promoted on their website as a Feast of Kings, surely has a great set-up and amazing view but that's where it all stops. The food offered and the size and quality of the buffet is clearly not on par with the offer of other hotels in the city. It's actually far below them. You have a buffet selection that seems big until you notice that it's same buffet on 2 sides of the isle and all the food is below average. it's disappointing. For example, hummus was poor with no tahine taste at all, the grilled items (shish tawook, lamb, etc.) were very dry and chewy, the sushi felt like the ones you buy frozen (clearly not made in-house), Gnocchi had no taste whatsoever. I could go on and on about everything... The Kunafa was by far the worst one I have tried in UAE. It felt like they mixed the akawi cheese with something else. First of all the cheese was melting a lot in the serving tray, then as they served it became rubbery and didn't even taste like a Kunafa Habiba for example. The rest of the desserts was just below average and not even worth mentioning. The juice offered was laban and another juice (come on... you could do better). Service was average, you could get the same at any other hotel in the city. Arabic bread is served on the table and you're lucky if they come more than once to you (despite asking several times and always getting the answer "it's baking..coming right away") It's not about the price you are charging, I get that: that is due to the location and the fact it's an iconic hotel so you feel like you can be the most expensive Iftar in the city at 320 AED. Maybe I'm just spoiled by other Iftars but you can get better food quality and bigger selection in other 5 star hotels in the city so this is the most disappointing Iftar. I don't think that taking average food in a premium location is worth the visit. As I said, it's not the price, it's the food quality not being on par with your hotel. If this is what you showcase as a "Feast of Kings" then I can have a "Feast for the Gods" in other hotels. Thank you very much but I won't be returning to your facilities again.

After reading several amazing reviews about their Iftar I decided to book a table for Iftar at the Emirates Palace. I had high expectations not only due to the hotel being very prestigious but also due to pricing: charging AED 320 per person for their Iftar Buffet. What a dissapointment, super small buffet, very small offering and the food below average; meats were very dry and overall buffet food/ flavors were just OK. Definitely not worth the price.