Two.0 iftar review: bold flavours and a beachy vibe

The buffet at the Cove Beach Abu Dhabi restaurant offers an extra-special ambience to break the fast

The iftar spread at Two.0, the restaurant at Cove Beach Abu Dhabi.

Two.0 opened in November at Cove Beach Abu Dhabi, in a quiet corner of Reem Island. It is serving an a la carte suhoor and an iftar buffet featuring a selection of Middle Eastern and international dishes, a barbecue station and traditional Ramadan juices.

What to expect and where to sit

Head to this venue if you're in the mood for a laid-back ambience. The interior is bright, airy and inviting. However, weather permitting, outdoors is the best place to sit. The terrace overlooks the spectacular infinity pool, the beach beyond and out to the twinkling Reem Island skyline. It’s the perfect sunset spot where you can kick back, reflect and revel in the calmness afforded by the resort-like vibes.

The menu

Diners are treated to a buffet of dishes complete with all the staples you'd expect during Ramadan. We start with a comforting and zingy lemon and lentil soup, followed by silky-smooth hummus, creamy moutabal, and other cold and hot mezze bites.

We also try the mixed grill, which comes with tender cubes of chicken taouk with just the right balance of spice, and the juicy lamb kofta, all of which are beautifully charred. A traditional lamb ouzi and the samak harra fish dish make up our heavier mains and are a delight to eat.

The desserts, meanwhile, are a feast for the eyes as well as the palate. The colourful macarons, offering a burst of fruity flavour, a creamy and sweet caramel mousse cake that goes down a treat, and a wonderfully textured, layered chocolate cake round out a few of the sweets to look out for.

Standout dish

There’s a lot to love about the variety of flavours on offer for iftar at Two.0, but the showstopper is the lamb ouzi. Lovingly slow-cooked, it’s deeply flavourful and the meat fall-apart, with flavours that marry seamlessly with the beautifully fragrant rice.

But a word of note need also go to the deliciously charred mixed grill. The spices are on point without being overwhelming, and the meat is tender, juicy and moreish. These two plates are well worth a space on your table, so resist filling up on appetisers.

A chat with the chef

Vibi Vilas, chef brand ambassador at Cove Beach, is from India and has been working in the UAE since 2003. He began his career in the country in Dubai, working with several hotel brands in the emirate, including InterContinental, the Jumeirah Group and Shangri-La. He has been working with the Cove Beach brand since 2016.

Vilas's choice of dishes for Ramadan came down to what he knew would appeal. “We selected the authentic Arabic cuisine popular in UAE,” he says, so that the country's citizens and residents can “enjoy iftar with their families in a good atmosphere with good service”.

His favourite ingredients to cook with are poultry and red meat. “I have incorporated them into this menu as a barbecue grill, such as the shish taouk, shish kebab and koftas,” he says.

Diners can enjoy these smoky flavours with freshly prepared bread. You can tell that real care and attention has gone into the selection based on the flavours, presentation and variety on offer.

“I would describe my cooking style as cooking with love,” Vilas says. “While you have a passion to feed someone with an unforgettable taste, you must add love as an ingredient ... and the taste will remain for ever.”

Price point and contact information

The iftar menu at Two.0 at Cove Beach Abu Dhabi costs Dh179 per person and is served from sunset until 8.30pm. Reservations can be made by calling 056 398 7895.

This review was conducted at the invitation of the restaurant