This Chic, Sophisticated and Glamorous outery is located at the St. Regis’ prestigious Nation Towers Beachfront on the Corniche. Being a part of centrally located and happening Nation Riviera, Asia De Cuba is fun and stylish venue having all the features of a trendy Asian-Cuban fusion lounge.
It has made its UAE debut in January 2015. Designed by Ian Baylis, the multi-faceted space encompasses a lounge, restaurant and beach deck and stately cabanas with mesmerizing views of the Arabian Gulf. It combines a high-energy environment with its Chino-Latino menu; From the bright light surging from floor to ceiling glass walls to soft mood illumination to the vivid furnishings and contemporary set-up, it’s instantly apparent the whole talk in town phenomenon about this outery. After overhaul of the open air terrace area, you may see a few new touches and a more compassionate sitting facing sea in a great weather.
There’s will be more relaxing space and views of the breakwater and Marina Flag post. Incase you’re eager to just cool down, book before: as after 7pm the place is buzzing house so better reserve in advance.
The innovative menu, created by Cuban-born Executive Chef, Luis Pous, represents the perfect culinary marriage of Asian and Latin flavors and techniques – featuring an extensive selection of shareable ceviche, small plates, salads, signature wokked dishes and entrées as well as a remarkable selection of handcrafted cocktails and cleansers.
Asia de Cuba’s intensely flavored, imaginatively prepared and ultimately celebratory cuisine’s success is rooted in the Chino-Latino cafes that dotted the streets first of Havana, and then of Miami and New York. Asia de Cuba has created a style of food and service all its own.
In past decades, many Chinese immigrants from California settled in Cuba, bringing with them new techniques and recipes, like Fried Rice, further improved by the island’s abundant shellfish. Some of the Chinese culinary traditions, ingredients and techniques soon found their way into the canon of Cuban cooking, and vice versa, marking the beginning of a natural fusion of cuisines.
Today, at Asia de Cuba, Chef Pous serves his interpretation of what Asian influenced Cuban food would have become today if Cuban chefs had been able to innovate and evolve their cuisine with the palate of global ingredients now available to the rest of the world.
Foodies and partygoers alike are invited to indulge themselves in a memorable gustatory journey, experiencing the perfect union of Asian and Latin flavors and culinary techniques, taking the Abu Dhabi brunch scene to the next level. Just dress chic and ready to be in an out & about mode as Asia De Cuba host & house a lot of social elite parties and fashion brand launch and trendy walks.
Hospitality and service is categorically courteous. They are very attentive, rapt, kind, customer friendly and proactive staff. They will approach you as soon as you finish off with any dish and will keep clearing and scrubbing eating area with any specs. Plenty of staff (ladies dressed in red and with an ever smiling pretty faces will be all over) and are on hand to get by your orders and will be so courteous to call even the restaurant supervisor for assistance). We found them much knowledgeable of what is coming on our plate from the kitchen.
We order dishes from the normal a la carte as well as their newly launched Chino-Latino Executive lunch menu. We ordered:
SCALLOP CEVICHE with kombu crackling (it gives that extra oomph to the dish), grapefruit gives this tangy touch to each bite, aji panca (it is Peruvian red pepper and has smokey, fruity taste)., lime. It has remarkable balance of ingredients, flavors are truly great and it didnt even feel like the scallops weren’t cooked that much, they were fresh and with perfect texture.
In salad we tried CRISPY CALAMARI and there comes a big surprise when we noticed bananas on the plate along with cashews, chayote, fresh hearts of palm salad, orange sesame vinaigrette besides the calamari. However it tastes really great as the combination of sweet (banana) and sour (orange sesame dressing) altogether tasted prodigious with crispy sea food.
WAGYU ‘ROPA VIEJA’ SPRING ROLLS was another simple but yet mouthwatering and full of tender bites meat-treat. It is served with butter lettuce, pickled vegetables and rocoto sweet & sour sauce, it was a bit salty in taste though however cooking wise the inside was soft and the outside crispy.
SEVEN SPICE HALF CHICKEN with creamy congri, snow peas, shiitake mushroom, maduros, pan jus has rightly incredible flavor, its pan seared and then assembled on plate, we loved everything about this dish, shiitake mushroom is been sautéed beautifully its is indeed a delicious dish and its really satisfying I enjoyed taking the small bites along with melting in mouth congri essence.
CHICKEN CHICHARRONES which is basically the medium sized cubes of chicken made with rich and traditional flavors and along with the thin skin on. It is crispy fried and it’s shape helps retain the amazing aromas. It is served with ‘traditional’ onion mojo or honey soy glaze. We enjoyed honey soy glaze and chicharrones best of the appetizers.
SHRIMP CHURROS sesame with coconut curry was another great Cuban-asian hit, the sesame seed taste was imperative however did not spoil the taste of this finely crafted dish. In short they are the best savory churros we have tasted by far. The coconut curry dip was little spicy and tangy.
In main we relish the taste of CHINO LATINO’ STIR FRIED RICE. It is a great mix of jasmine rice with braised lamb, edamame, mung bean sprouts and beaten egg. It is one of the best item from their Chino-Latino menu and a must to try.
In dessert on Chef’s recommendation we were served chocolate icecream with the softest chocolate cake ever. The name of the dish is TRES LECHES DE CHOCOLATE. It is basically chocolate Szechuan peppercorn ice cream, this is my first ever encounter of such a peppery ice-cream which tasted like popping smacks of chocolaty heaven in my mouth. It did taste altered but so unique that you will speck-on till last bite. We also tasted THAI COCONUT & LEMONGRASS FLAN with honey dew and caramel, it’s holding great shape and taste combination of the 2 main ingridients.
Approaching to this restaurant indeed made our palate revitalize with diverse and electrifying zests. This is a restaurant you shouldn’t miss. It is worth the money you spend here. Had eaten here during the lunch time and knowing they have a fast paced executive lunch as well we went ahead again and 2nd experience was indeed more inventive than the previous one. A little birdie has informed us that the beach deck reopened last weekend so it must be great to give it a try then. It is a pleasure each time to visit this refined venue, as it’s most certainly the most happening place to be in Abu Dhabi and if you haven’t been already there then make sure you visit soon, look out for their Ceviche Masterclass master class too, they really are great fun and you get to meet Executive Chef, Luis Pous who is a great artist as well to create such master pieces.
For more info regarding Asia de Cuba; visit following pages:
Website: www.asiadecuba.com/abu_dhabi
Facebook: AsiaDeCubaAD
Instagram: @asiadecubaad
Special Thanks to Amy from Toh PR for coordination. Kenneth Ooi, Team and staff at Asia De Cuba – St. Regis Hotel – Nation Riviera, Corniche for their warm hospitality and great service. We were guests at th venue hpweer it did not influence our thoughts and all opinions are our own. Photos are owned by MahiBlog and few were provided by the Client.
