Novikov Abu Dhabi: A stylish Al Maryah restaurant serving fresh starters, comforting pasta and a chocolate fondant that steals show
The Spot
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Novikov Abu Dhabi sits right in the heart of ADGM, all polished floors and low lighting, with a terrace that looks out over Al Maryah’s glossy skyline. It feels grown up but not stiff. The kind of place where you could celebrate a deal, a birthday, or just the fact that it’s Thursday. Inside, the energy shifts as the night goes on. Early evening is all clinking glasses and quiet conversations. Later, the bar warms up, the DJ takes over, and there is a hum in the room that says the night is young. It manages to feel both buzzy and intimate. There is also live piano music during dining hours, adding a soft, luxurious soundtrack to the meal.
The Food & Drinks
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We started with beef carpaccio and salmon tartar, both clean, fresh and confident. The wagyu tacos are small but punchy, rich without tipping into overkill. You could easily order a few and make a meal of them. The mushroom risotto is creamy in the way risotto should be, no shortcuts. The paccheri cacio e pepe is simple on paper, but it lands. Peppery, glossy, comforting. It is the sort of dish that reminds you that Italian food does not need theatrics when the ingredients are good. Everything we tried was solid. Thought through. Cooked properly. But then came the chocolate fondant. I have had many chocolate fondants in my life. Some good. Some forgettable. This one was something else. The outside had that delicate resistance before the spoon broke through to a centre that flowed like silk. It was rich but not heavy. Sweet but balanced. I am not being dramatic when I say I still think about it. Order it. Do not share it unless you really love the person you are with. The tiramisu holds its own too, light and properly soaked, but the fondant steals the show.
The Service
Service at Novikov is polished without being stiff. The staff are attentive, knowledgeable about the menu, and ready with recommendations without hovering. It’s the kind of service that lets you relax and focus on the meal, not on what you’re missing.
What’s on the bill
Budget around Dhs500 for two people if you are ordering starters, mains, and dessert. It climbs if you add seafood or premium cuts of meat. This is Al Maryah Island fine dining: you are paying for the setting, the service, and the atmosphere as much as the food itself.
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What’s On Verdict
The food at Novikov hits every note, from fresh starters to perfectly cooked pasta, but it’s the chocolate fondant that steals the show. Great dining, effortless glamour, and one dessert you’ll still be dreaming about tomorrow.
Location: The Galleria Al Maryah Island Level 2 Luxury Collection, South Plaza ADGM, Abu Dhabi United Arab Emirates
Time: Sunday to Thursday: 12pm to 1am; Friday to Saturday: 12pm to 2am
Contact: (02) 563 2937
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