Estabena Cafe & Restaurant has recently opened at Meadows Village and Jason & I have a few date nights to catch up on. So we walk on over on Saturday night to sample Estabena’s eclectic Mediterranean cuisine.
Seated with a spectacular view of the Marina & JBR skyline over the Meadows Village lake, we settle in. It’s not only the outdoor view that’s spectacular, the interior of Estabena is also beautifully designed “to recreate the rustic charm and laid-back elegance of the classic Mediterranean eateries that harmonizes our inspiration, modernized for today”.
Drinks are up first. There’s no license here but we pretend, Jason selecting a (zero) gin & tonic while I opt for a beer (also zero). Jason’s G&T tastes as expected, a herbal fizz with that nice tonicy aftertaste. My beer is quite pleasant, slightly less hopsy that usual. The presentation could do with a little refinement however. The G&T was brought to the table in a can and only poured into the long glass provided when we waited expectantly. A slice of lemon wouldn’t have gone astray. My beer was also poured into a tall glass with ice, no tilt (and no head). Again, a little refinement on the presentation would be welcome.
We move on to the menu. Call me old fashioned but these menus on my phone just don’t cut it. I really enjoy seeing all selections in front of me and being able to flip the pages back and forth for comparisons – essentially when you are as indecisive about these things as I am! We request an actual menu and the waiter brings us an iPad instead.
It’s date night tonight so, menu issues aside, I have been tasked with selecting some dishes to share. To this end the hot and cold mezze really catches my attention. Firstly, the lentil soup tempts me on this cold night. We add some hot to the mix with dynamite shrimp, sweet potato fries and a falafel platter. From cold options I can’t go past the mutable, vegetable kibbeh and tabbouleh.
Our soup arrives first and it’s every bit as good as I had hoped. Smooth and creamy lentils with just the right amount of spices and a big wedge of lemon that adds the perfect tang.
Next, the rest of our smorgasbord arrives one by one. I systematically work my way through each dish. The dynamite shrimp is wonderful. Hot, spicy, crunchy, sweet. Meticulously crafted the moutable is perhaps the best I have ever had. The vegetable kibbeh is also a noteworthy dish, served with pomegranate, mint and feta.
The rest of the dishes are good also, just as expected. The sweet potato fries are sticky, salty and soft. The tabbouleh and falafel are good but it’s an unfair comparison with such high standards.
It’s a lovely selection to linger over for some time together. We cover the usual topics of conversation – jobs, kids, family, travel and plans. The time to reconnect is precious and we enjoy the moment.
I have ordered too much, of course, and we can’t possibly finish it all (although I give it a good shot!). The wait staff happily pack up our leftovers to take away. As we carry the bag home, I’m already thinking about lunch tomorrow..
Good To Know
Estabena is located at Meadows Village and has a large indoor area as well as two sections of outdoor dining. The outdoor dining is divided into smoking and non-smoking areas. Both have wonderful views, the smoking area is larger though and serves shisha.
Would I Return?
Yes. It’s walking distance local, the food is great and the price point is reasonable. A few small refinements to the service will go a long way.