It’s been almost a year since Kingston 21 opened – and immediately livened up the dining scene in Abu Dhabi. On the table is a chance to soak up island vibes as you tuck into some of Jamaica’s most tempting tastes.
Where to expect and where to sit
The restaurant occupies a serene spot overlooking Al Raha Creek and Yas Bay beyond. While you still can, set up camp on the terrace overlooking the tranquil waters.
Come summer, the sprawling space within is suitably bright and airy. Seats made of reclaimed wooden pallets are topped with sky-blue cushions, while flecks of green foliage line the walls and the Bob Marley images that decorate them. It all creates a laid-back, beachy feel.
The menu
Our meal begins with the warming and hearty red peas soup, packed with juicy chunks of beef and the flavour of kidney beans. Jamaican patties – one filled with beef, the other chicken – come next. These puff pastry parcels are buttery and perfectly flaky, the meat within tender. They’re delightfully savoury and subtly spiced, but also a little heavy, so a portion to share is the way to go.
For mains, the Rock Steady Jerk Chicken should not be missed; after all, what is a Jamaican meal without a dish cooked in the island’s most famous spice? The chicken is “marinated for at least 24 hours”, the menu tells us, “and slow-smoked on the grill to capture that smoky jerk flavour”. The result is a peppery dish that packs an intense flavour punch. The festivals – elongated, sweet, fried dumplings – perfectly soak up and offset some of the dish’s salty, tangy and fiery flavours.
Wash it all down with the classic and festive Christmas breeze, a Jamaican sorrel (hibiscus) drink, or the fruity frozen Bob Marley, a summery smoothie as pleasing to the eye as it is the taste buds.
Stand-out dish
The showstopper, though, is the Trench Town Rock curry goat dish. It shares its name with the Bob Marley song, in which the artist paid tribute to the neighbourhood in Kingston where he grew up and where reggae music is said to have been born.
The meat is stewed until tender and juicy, and comes cooked with the classic carrot and potato accompaniments. “I enjoy balancing the flavours between that of the Indian way, from where we get the dish, and the Africans, who modified it to that of a West African goat stew,” head chef Leroy Myers says. “This is a staple dish not only in restaurants in Jamaica … it is almost always on the Christmas table spread and at [Caribbean] parties and gatherings.”
The spices are wonderfully balanced and the flavour profile complex. The dish is executed expertly and is elevated to the echelons of fine dining at Kingston 21. It’s served with a side of white rice (rice and peas is optional), green beans and plantain, so the flavours of the curry are allowed to shine, and “when it hits, you feel no pain”, as Marley says in the song.
For dessert, don’t miss Myers’ favourite, sweet potato pudding. “Traditionally done in a Dutch oven, the characteristic of the pudding is a soft caramel-like top and a crusty outer side. To achieve the caramel, you combine butter, fresh coconut cream and sugar, and spread it on the top just before the pudding is finished baking.” And it’s sublime.
A chat with the chef
Myers has worked with international brands in the hospitality and culinary industries for more than 20 years. He was introduced to Kingston 21 by his best friend and owner of a popular street-food concept in Jamaica. The relationship was cemented from the chef’s first conversation with the brand, because he shared its vision, love for the country, culture and food. So he decided to take on the challenge and moved to Abu Dhabi.
Jamaican food is great for meat and seafood fans. For the latter, Myers suggests the red snapper and parrot fish. “Any could be fried, steamed, brown-stewed or roasted,” he says. For meat lovers, he recommends the jerk T-bone steak. “What makes this dish so special is that the steak is wet-aged for a minimum of 14 days, then marinated with our signature jerk marinade. It’s chargrilled to a guest's liking and served with a la minute-made mashed potatoes.”
Myers also has something up his sleeve for vegetarians. “I usually start with the sweet and sour cauliflower,” he says. “The technique used makes it look like chicken, which is incredible. The flavours are well balanced with a crunchy texture, but with a smooth mouth feel.”
He also takes great pleasure in recommending the Johnny cake, the codfish and okra, the oxtail and the Rasta Pasta. “These all have some historical story behind them, so they are very interesting to talk about and whet guests’ appetites.”
Price point and contact information
Starters range from Dh35-Dh85, while mains go for Dh45-Dh198 and desserts will set you back Dh35 or Dh65. The restaurant is at Al Raha Beach Tower, Abu Dhabi, and reservations can be made at kingston21.ae or by calling 02 546 8500.
This review was conducted at the invitation of the restaurant
Tips to keep your car cool
- Place a sun reflector in your windshield when not driving
- Park in shaded or covered areas
- Add tint to windows
- Wrap your car to change the exterior colour
- Pick light interiors - choose colours such as beige and cream for seats and dashboard furniture
- Avoid leather interiors as these absorb more heat
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
Tearful appearance
Chancellor Rachel Reeves set markets on edge as she appeared visibly distraught in parliament on Wednesday.
Legislative setbacks for the government have blown a new hole in the budgetary calculations at a time when the deficit is stubbornly large and the economy is struggling to grow.
She appeared with Keir Starmer on Thursday and the pair embraced, but he had failed to give her his backing as she cried a day earlier.
A spokesman said her upset demeanour was due to a personal matter.
MATCH INFO
Rugby World Cup (all times UAE)
Final: England v South Africa, Saturday, 1pm
The%20specs
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Day 3, Dubai Test: At a glance
Moment of the day Lahiru Gamage, the Sri Lanka pace bowler, has had to play a lot of cricket to earn a shot at the top level. The 29-year-old debutant first played a first-class game 11 years ago. His first Test wicket was one to savour, bowling Pakistan opener Shan Masood through the gate. It set the rot in motion for Pakistan’s batting.
Stat of the day – 73 Haris Sohail took 73 balls to hit a boundary. Which is a peculiar quirk, given the aggressive intent he showed from the off. Pakistan’s batsmen were implored to attack Rangana Herath after their implosion against his left-arm spin in Abu Dhabi. Haris did his best to oblige, smacking the second ball he faced for a huge straight six.
The verdict One year ago, when Pakistan played their first day-night Test at this ground, they held a 222-run lead over West Indies on first innings. The away side still pushed their hosts relatively close on the final night. With the opposite almost exactly the case this time around, Pakistan still have to hope they can salvage a win from somewhere.
EA Sports FC 25
Developer: EA Vancouver, EA Romania
Publisher: EA Sports
Consoles: Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4&5, Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S
Rating: 3.5/5
THE DETAILS
Solo: A Star Wars Story
Director: Ron Howard
2/5
Brief scoreline:
Burnley 3
Barnes 63', 70', Berg Gudmundsson 75'
Southampton 3
Man of the match
Ashley Barnes (Burnley)
Roll of honour 2019-2020
Dubai Rugby Sevens
Winners: Dubai Hurricanes
Runners up: Bahrain
West Asia Premiership
Winners: Bahrain
Runners up: UAE Premiership
UAE Premiership
Winners: Dubai Exiles
Runners up: Dubai Hurricanes
UAE Division One
Winners: Abu Dhabi Saracens
Runners up: Dubai Hurricanes II
UAE Division Two
Winners: Barrelhouse
Runners up: RAK Rugby
COMPANY PROFILE
Founders: Sebastian Stefan, Sebastian Morar and Claudia Pacurar
Based: Dubai, UAE
Founded: 2014
Number of employees: 36
Sector: Logistics
Raised: $2.5 million
Investors: DP World, Prime Venture Partners and family offices in Saudi Arabia and the UAE
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The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cyl turbo
Power: 201hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 320Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
Transmission: 6-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 8.7L/100km
Price: Dh133,900
On sale: now
UK-EU trade at a glance
EU fishing vessels guaranteed access to UK waters for 12 years
Co-operation on security initiatives and procurement of defence products
Youth experience scheme to work, study or volunteer in UK and EU countries
Smoother border management with use of e-gates
Cutting red tape on import and export of food
McLaren GT specs
Engine: 4-litre twin-turbo V8
Transmission: seven-speed
Power: 620bhp
Torque: 630Nm
Price: Dh875,000
On sale: now
Profile
Co-founders of the company: Vilhelm Hedberg and Ravi Bhusari
Launch year: In 2016 ekar launched and signed an agreement with Etihad Airways in Abu Dhabi. In January 2017 ekar launched in Dubai in a partnership with the RTA.
Number of employees: Over 50
Financing stage: Series B currently being finalised
Investors: Series A - Audacia Capital
Sector of operation: Transport
If you go...
Fly from Dubai or Abu Dhabi to Chiang Mai in Thailand, via Bangkok, before taking a five-hour bus ride across the Laos border to Huay Xai. The land border crossing at Huay Xai is a well-trodden route, meaning entry is swift, though travellers should be aware of visa requirements for both countries.
Flights from Dubai start at Dh4,000 return with Emirates, while Etihad flights from Abu Dhabi start at Dh2,000. Local buses can be booked in Chiang Mai from around Dh50
How will Gen Alpha invest?
Mark Chahwan, co-founder and chief executive of robo-advisory firm Sarwa, forecasts that Generation Alpha (born between 2010 and 2024) will start investing in their teenage years and therefore benefit from compound interest.
“Technology and education should be the main drivers to make this happen, whether it’s investing in a few clicks or their schools/parents stepping up their personal finance education skills,” he adds.
Mr Chahwan says younger generations have a higher capacity to take on risk, but for some their appetite can be more cautious because they are investing for the first time. “Schools still do not teach personal finance and stock market investing, so a lot of the learning journey can feel daunting and intimidating,” he says.
He advises millennials to not always start with an aggressive portfolio even if they can afford to take risks. “We always advise to work your way up to your risk capacity, that way you experience volatility and get used to it. Given the higher risk capacity for the younger generations, stocks are a favourite,” says Mr Chahwan.
Highlighting the role technology has played in encouraging millennials and Gen Z to invest, he says: “They were often excluded, but with lower account minimums ... a customer with $1,000 [Dh3,672] in their account has their money working for them just as hard as the portfolio of a high get-worth individual.”
BUNDESLIGA FIXTURES
(All games 4-3pm kick UAE time) Bayern Munich v Augsburg, Borussia Dortmund v Bayer Leverkusen, Hoffenheim v Hertha Berlin, Wolfsburg v Mainz , Eintracht Frankfurt v Freiburg, Union Berlin v RB Leipzig, Cologne v Schalke , Werder Bremen v Borussia Monchengladbach, Stuttgart v Arminia Bielefeld
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ABU%20DHABI%20CARD
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A new relationship with the old country
Treaty of Friendship between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United Arab Emirates
The United kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United Arab Emirates; Considering that the United Arab Emirates has assumed full responsibility as a sovereign and independent State; Determined that the long-standing and traditional relations of close friendship and cooperation between their peoples shall continue; Desiring to give expression to this intention in the form of a Treaty Friendship; Have agreed as follows:
ARTICLE 1 The relations between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United Arab Emirates shall be governed by a spirit of close friendship. In recognition of this, the Contracting Parties, conscious of their common interest in the peace and stability of the region, shall: (a) consult together on matters of mutual concern in time of need; (b) settle all their disputes by peaceful means in conformity with the provisions of the Charter of the United Nations.
ARTICLE 2 The Contracting Parties shall encourage education, scientific and cultural cooperation between the two States in accordance with arrangements to be agreed. Such arrangements shall cover among other things: (a) the promotion of mutual understanding of their respective cultures, civilisations and languages, the promotion of contacts among professional bodies, universities and cultural institutions; (c) the encouragement of technical, scientific and cultural exchanges.
ARTICLE 3 The Contracting Parties shall maintain the close relationship already existing between them in the field of trade and commerce. Representatives of the Contracting Parties shall meet from time to time to consider means by which such relations can be further developed and strengthened, including the possibility of concluding treaties or agreements on matters of mutual concern.
ARTICLE 4 This Treaty shall enter into force on today’s date and shall remain in force for a period of ten years. Unless twelve months before the expiry of the said period of ten years either Contracting Party shall have given notice to the other of its intention to terminate the Treaty, this Treaty shall remain in force thereafter until the expiry of twelve months from the date on which notice of such intention is given.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF the undersigned have signed this Treaty.
DONE in duplicate at Dubai the second day of December 1971AD, corresponding to the fifteenth day of Shawwal 1391H, in the English and Arabic languages, both texts being equally authoritative.
Signed
Geoffrey Arthur Sheikh Zayed
Company%20Profile
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Specs
Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric
Range: Up to 610km
Power: 905hp
Torque: 985Nm
Price: From Dh439,000
Available: Now
Specs
Engine: 51.5kW electric motor
Range: 400km
Power: 134bhp
Torque: 175Nm
Price: From Dh98,800
Available: Now
Infiniti QX80 specs
Engine: twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6
Power: 450hp
Torque: 700Nm
Price: From Dh450,000, Autograph model from Dh510,000
Available: Now
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
