There’s a new French dining spot in town full of flavour and spot-on interior design.
We have been waiting in the Insider office for the new French brasserie Eugène Eugène to open with baited breath – and fortunately the little garden spot did so in the third week of September in the heart of Barsha, at the Kempinski Hotel.
A counterpart of the original brand in France, they’ve stayed true to form with garden oasis style entrance with twinkling lights and dense foliage, while indoors maintains a distinctly upmarket greenhouse vibe. The overhanging plants are inside too, and spilling out of numerous plant pots scattered throughout the venue, while the earthy tones of the furniture give it a thoroughly ‘Garden of Eve’ vibe.
The first thing we noticed inside was the giant green marble bar, adorned with drink bottles that sparkle in the lighting, ensuring the welcoming atmosphere is chic and charming. Not surprisingly, the restaurant was nearly full by 9pm on a Saturday – clearly word had got around that there is a new foodie player in town.
We started with the Buratta, which was served with a pink hue, and tasted creamy and delicious, plus the Bone Marrow served on mini pieces of toast, and an incredible melt-in-the-mouth Beef Carpaccio. The menu is high end brasserie style with French classics but it’s not too fancy, and manages to be tasty without being overly rich – basically you can get a good feed here.
Our waiter was also impressive with his knowledge of the drinks (and service) and convinced us to start our meal with a shot of Sambuca – served with its own coffee bean. We also tried their signature cocktails, including the Spritz Eugene with elderflower liqueur, rose lemonade and prosecco, plus a pink vodka-based drink that was the barman’s own creation and resembled a Sex on the Beach. They also have some creative and delicious non-alcoholic varieties including the Bahama Mama and the Primavera.
By now well-oiled we ventured onto the mains, and tried the Dover Sole which came highly recommended, and was fresh and tasty, plus the grilled Lamb Chops with spiced red pepper and green olives, which were so tender and juicy. We were also tempted by the Lobster Spaghetti which a nearby table was sampling, but decided not to go carb-heavy before desserts, as we intended to fully indulge (does anyone else check the dessert menu before they order their main?)
If you are a Chocolate Fondant lover then you need to try the one here. Absolutely rich, decadent, sweet but not overpoweringly so, topped with homemade hazelnut ice cream and dusted with icing sugar, it’s a portion size good for two and we challenge you to finish a full one by yourself. We also had the Red Fruit Pavlova which was a dome of cream, berries, and chunks of meringue, and was much lighter and sweeter but equally delicious.
We finished up with a round of Espresso Martinis in the back terrace which is more secluded and intimate than the front, and will be glorious when the winter weather starts. Overall we loved the menu, the staff, and the whole experience at this upmarket greenhouse style restaurant that provides a perfect break from the rigours of desert life, and recommend Eugène Eugène for a dinner, girly lunch, passing through in the afternoon for a coffee, or even sampling their new Business Lunch which starts at AED 85.
For more information or reservations please visit their website or their Instagram page.
