Offering prime views of the Al Qana waterfront, Krave made its Abu Dhabi debut in May. The clean eating cafe launched in Dubai in 2016, and now has outposts in Dubai Mall, Barsha Heights, the Dubai International Financial Centre and Silicon Oasis.
The National made its way to sample the brand’s signature menu, with its promise of bringing healthy but tasty dishes to the capital.
Where to sit and what to expect
Fittingly, Krave Abu Dhabi is located on the lower level of The Bridge Lifestyle Hub, an 8,000-square-metre gym and wellness centre. The open-plan layout is dominated by shades of brown, including potted wooden slats interspersed between actual plants. Industrial-chic lighting with exposed bulbs and wires give the space a cosy feel despite its expanse.
The 100-seater restaurant has a central bar serving innovative smoothies on one end and a long kitchen counter on the other, with the chefs partially visible behind glass partitions. Tables in the indoor dining hall almost have too much space between them, and Krave also has two outdoor sections, one along the waterfront and the other for private events.
The menu
Breakfast is a big draw at the Krave locations in Dubai, and the Abu Dhabi menu is no different – listed calorie count and all. Served until noon each day, options include everything from spinach egg white omelette (Dh62; 155 calories) and Greek yoghurt with mixed berries and granola (Dh48; 224 calories) to skinny pancakes (Dh63; 342 calories) and an indulgent sourdough with avocado, smoked salmon and omega-3 poached eggs (Dh74; 421 calories).
My party of three visited at the fag end of the work week, so we were not really in the mood to count calories. Even so, none of us exceeded more than 550 calories. Even the “light” range of desserts hover at an average of 100 calories less than their regular counterparts.
Of the dishes we tried, the paprika-roasted potatoes (Dh42) proved to be a standout starter. Crisp on the outside and mushy within, the tangy tatters were generously coated in spices balanced by a side dip of low-fat sour cream.
The spicy cashew chicken (Dh76) – natural-fed and hormone-free – was another highlight, the tender and well-salted meat blending well with chargrilled bell peppers and slivers of carrot. Despite not being overly saucy, it teamed well with both the buckwheat soba noodles (Dh62) and sticky coconut rice (Dh24).
The fillet of the pistachio-crusted salmon (Dh98) was a tad too plump for my taste, but the meat itself was suitably moist and flaky. The same cannot be said for the tenderloin, unfortunately. Not only were we not asked how we want the meat cooked, but the slabs served also committed culinary blasphemy by being well done to the point of blending in with the restaurant’s wooden decor.
Fortunately, dessert more than made up for this faux pas. In keeping with Krave’s promise of “treats that taste indulgent without the sugar crash”, both the milk cake and tiramisu were light as air, and utterly delectable.
To order or not to order
Of the dishes we got, I’d go back for the milk cake, again and again and again. After all, it is available in not only the original flavour, but also pistachio, saffron and chocolate variations.
The same excitement cannot be extended to the tenderloin.
Save or splurge
A three-course meal at Krave can cost between Dh120 and Dh341. On the high end of the price spectrum lie the teriyaki salmon bowl (Dh86); beef tenderloin (Dh106); and light pistachio milk cake (Dh49).
The three most reasonable dishes across starter, main and dessert are: hummus with celery sticks, cucumber and baked wholewheat tortilla nachos (Dh36); spicy garlic chicken shawarma wrap (Dh51); and light carrot cake (Dh33).
Contact information
Krave is open from 8am to midnight. For more information or to make a reservation, call 02 616 4540.
This review was conducted at the invitation of the restaurant
