UAE: Al Sayyad Marine

Yummy grilled squid with Sayadia rice!

After walking all the way to the northeastern end of Abu Dhabi Corniche in the capital city of the UAE, my BFF and I marvelled at the fresh seafood being displayed at Mina Fish Market. Feeling famished as it was already late afternoon, we had lunch at one of the seafood restaurants near the market called Al Sayyad Marine.

Most of the seafood items are priced per 0.5 kg or 1 kg.

Condiments

Before everything else was delivered to the table, one of the waiters brought some chili sauce with a medium level of spiciness, tahini (Middle Eastern sauce made of sesame paste, garlic, lemon juice and water) and lemon wedges.

Flatbread

Very thin flatbread pieces were provided free of charge. I only tried a piece, which turned out to be soft and chewy enough.

Seafood Soup AED 29.00 (~S$10.70)

Taste: 8/10

For a start, we shared a bowl of creamy seafood soup that successfully whetted our appetite. While it could be served at a slightly higher temperature, the broth was full of the tang of the sea. Swimming inside were fish fillet, crab meat, squid rings and clams. Most were enjoyable, save for the squid rings that were somewhat rubbery.

Oil and Lemon Sea Bream (0.5 kg) AED 45.00 (~S$16.60)

Taste: 8/10

When the waiter realised that we were indecisive on the cooking style of the sea bream, he recommended the so-called oil and lemon. What appeared on the table was grilled fish with such marinade. While not that meaty, the fish was adequately fresh with its sweetness nicely accentuated by the lemony marinade.

Grilled Squid (1 kg) AED 75.00 (~S$27.65)

Taste: 8.5/10

Thankfully, the grilled squid was fresher than that used for the soup. Most of the squid chunks were tender, exuding a smoky aroma that was truly inviting. There were only very few of them that could've been grilled longer. The marinade was tasty and it didn't overshadow the natural sweetness of the squid.

Sayadia Rice AED 15.00 (~S$5.55)

Taste: 8/10

Not knowing what to expect, we decided to order a rice dish that we'd never tried before. We didn't expect the grains to be rather small in contrast to their long grain counterparts that many associate with Middle Eastern cuisine. Infused with spices, they were pretty fluffy and delightful.

Melon's Rating

Taste: 8/10

Ambience: 6.5/10

Service: 7/10

Overall: 7/10

What's your most favourite seafood? Pika's advice: If you're a fan of Lobster with Cheese, do go for it. It's priced at AED 135.00 (~S$49.75) per portion. I saw quite a number of patrons ordering that.

Al Sayyad Marine

31st Street

Near Mina Fish Market

Abu Dhabi

United Arab Emirates

(Daily: 1.00om - 10.00pm)

*Prices quoted are subject to 5% VAT.

Have a nice meal,

Cliff(y)