The Vintage Brunch

A 70th birthday is worth a little fuss and at The Vintage Brunch, we were able to celebrate in the style that this milestone deserves.

Located at the stunning Jumeriah Al Qasr, The Vintage Brunch takes place in the Arboretum. Final preparations are taking place as we arrive so we take a walk around the venue to enjoy the views including the waterways of the Madinat Jumeriah complex and the iconic Burj Al Arab.

We are seated promptly at 1pm and immediately we can see that the spread is superb. First things first though, champagne is poured and drinks are ordered. Then we take a browse of the menu laid out before us.

Seafood

Seafood is always my first choice at a brunch. Restaurants will generally only serve one type of seafood per dish and I do rather like a little bit of everything. Plus, today I manage to start with a half dozen fresh oysters which always sets the mood for a fantastic meal.

A lobster tail is another treat that I wouldn’t normally order a la carte, on a second round, I add a couple of prawns and some salmon for good measure. The sushi spread looks equally excellent but I have enough for now and I leave the boys to it, Harley has a plate piled high enough for two.

The attention to detail is exquisite. The seafood all rests on ice shelves with a sculpture in the middle that is recognisable for the best part of lunch. The salmon is dotted with micro greens and edible flowers and all manner of sauces and accompaniments sit along side the seafood, roasts, grills and carvings.

Salad

The salads look like a consumable rainbow. There is a tiered smorgasbord of cold medleys from the traditional hummus and Greek salads to exquisite individual poke bowls and delicately assembled assortments of green, red, yellow, pink, purple, white and orange.

Grills & Smokers

Actually, I barely glance in their direction. With my seafood starter(s) behind me, I would ordinarily continue the theme. However, today there is a choice of European, Charcoal Tandoor, Grill, Asian and Smoker categories of mains to get through. I venture outside and find more, finally selecting a generous slice of beef wellington and a portion of brisket that I quickly ensure is halved before it hits my plate. A side of grilled asparagus and a perfectly baked potato and I return to our table to savour the delights.

Cheese

I am restrained. I exercise an immense amount of self control and self discipline in reserving course #4 for cheese. In brunch terms I am slow but I am learning. Having previously missed

The kids do manage to distract me on the way with the chocolate fountain and ice cream cart. It looks incredibly good and I make a silent vow to the brownie to return. I encourage the kids to chocolate dip some fruit (that’s a win in my books) but I personally skip the healthy stuff today, fruit is my breakfast staple and belongs at brunch only if dipped in chocolate!

Onward and upwards, the cheese calls! Tomme de Savoie, Brie de Meaux, Ovalie Cendree
Chaource, Roquefort and Grand Gru De La Bathie are some of the selection. By the time I return to our party with a plate to share, I’m not sure which is which but they’re all pretty great.

By now the daquiris are starting to catch up with me. I have opted for the traditional lime and have stuck with this (I did say I was learning!), however, a sip of the passionfruit proves equally attractive.

The service is impeccable. There are chefs and kitchen staff at every station carving and serving as requested. The bar staff take orders and will mix you a bespoke drink of almost anything that you desire. The wait staff are almost too quick to clear our plates and are surprised to be shooed away once or twice from our table while we linger over the last morsels.

Dessert

Just as we’re thinking about dessert, the DJ cues the music and the staff arrive singing with a birthday cake and a round of applause.

Finally, to top it all off, there is still dessert. Red velvet, peanut chocolate, fresh Madelaines, blueberry tart, pistachio blackberry moelleux, chocolate tart, lemon meringue, tiramisu, baklava, passionfruit and cherry decadents. Add these to the chocolate fountain, fruit assortment, ice cream cart and the giant multitiered Jumeriah chocolate box and we are all in dessert heaven. It’s no wonder we can’t decide.

By now my resolve has faltered. I can’t help but make an indulgent selection of more than is strictly polite or required. Needless to say, there are no more photos allowed after this! It’s now time to sit back and enjoy the atmosphere and the music. A bit of dancing in the aisles allows me to digest a little. At least enough that I can still walk, rather than waddle out. In such a beautiful setting it’s a good thing too. There are steps to climb and a lot of marble to cross to get to the exit.

Good To Know

The Arboretum restaurant at Jumeriah Al Qasr hosts the Vintage Brunch from 1pm – 4pm every Saturday. We celebrated on the cusp of the season and outdoors was still too hot. However, in the winter months, request a table on the terrace in order to fully appreciate the grounds and location.

Would I Return?

Yes.