Ewaan at the Palace Downtown offers one of the better buffets in town; that’s breakfast, lunch and dinner – everyday. And then they go and top it all off with an amazing brunch on Fridays. I’ve enjoyed several breakfasts and dinner there but not lunch or brunch. This review is about their breakfast.
You can literally tell which nationalities make up the numbers on the Palace guest list from the breakfast buffet at Ewaan. There’s no pork for example. Yet the beef, lamb and veal alternatives which substitute for pork bacon and sausages are excellent. I actually had a second helping of the delicious beef bacon, masterfully carved by the Sri Lankan chef manning one of two live (egg) cooking stations. He also made me a hellishly hot Sri Lankan omelette; his take on the Indian, masala omelette.
Speaking of which, there’s an Indian section with hockey-puck lookalike Idlis (offered with chutney rather than sambar), and Channa Masala among other Indian breakfast goodies. And also an Asian section with everything from fried rice, noodles, wontons and my favourite…Congeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!! Add to these stations offering an assortment of dairy produce, fresh bread, pastries and croissants, fruit and juices…the list is long. The quality of everything excellent, without reproach.
And then there is the service, which is nothing less than exemplary. I have spent a lot of time at the Palace this past week and have been so impressed; each outlet I’ve visited (and I’ve visited most) has gifted me with a standard setting touch of brilliance. This morning for example, one of the waiters comes up to our table to ask if he can get us anything. So I ask him for some watermelon juice. At this, he looks at his watch and I’m like, what does my order for watermelon juice have to do with the time? So he says, ‘well Sir, according to my watch the watermelon juice on the counter has been there for just over an hour, too long for it to be as fresh as I’d like it to be for you. Allow me to go to the fresh fruit counter and have them make some fresh, fresh – just for you.’ Somebody spank me please.
So there you have it, Ewaan at the Palace Downtown – home of one of the better buffets in Dubai.
Waste NOT. Want NOT.