Fatema Al Mheiri thought she was simply doing her job at the Khalifa Fund when she began working with Mohammed Al Tamimi two years ago to secure the backing he needed for MProve Fitness, a 3,934-square-metre warehouse gym in Abu Dhabi.
The Emirati, who had always wanted to go into business doing “something with food”, suggested to Al Tamimi that he might want to also offer healthy meals to his clients.
After working with him for six months and seeing how passionate he was, and noting his plans for a cafe, she seized her chance.
“I said: ‘Mohammed, either we become partners or we become competitors,” says Al Mheiri.
Steroid Cafe was born. Al Tamimi, an Etihad pilot and CrossFit trainer, chose the name, which he calls "the best ever". There isn't another in the world – he has checked.
It is an unlikely location for a healthy-food cafe – the dusty space behind the Princess Cars showroom in Al Maqta area. But Steroid has 13 tables and a bar space, offering a quirky, soothing oasis.
It serves dynamite food and crazy-good coffee, with all varieties hand-picked by Al Tamimi. As Khalid Al Ameri, an Emirati columnist and youth coach, recently announced on Snapchat after a stellar latte: “I think I have found the best coffee in Abu Dhabi”.
When I visited to try it for myself, the cafe’s head barista, Robert, manually brewed a V60 that was incredibly smooth, with just the right kick.
Among the main-menu items is a top-notch tuna tataki, featuring seared, cold tuna with sesame seeds over noodles and nuts, with just the right amount of Thai sauce.
Al Mheiri is very proud of the cheesecake – it is her own recipe – and she has every right to be. While the filling is a super-creamy standout, with just a touch of caramel and fresh raspberries on top, the ginger-biscuit crust is just as good. One slice ended my eight-year run of trying a variety of cheesecakes in the UAE only to be disappointed with each result.
In keeping with the cafe’s healthy eating, CrossFit-style ethos, cheesecake slices are only offered on weekends, when there is a “cheat” menu that also includes a Wagyu cheese burger; a tricked-out oatmeal topped with Nutella, toffee and gelato; and sticky date pudding.
In other rarities for a local cafe, Steroid offers an all-day, 15-item breakfast menu, seven protein-packed, made-from-scratch smoothies – the recipes culled from Al Tamimi’s travels – and sweet potato as a main course.
The stylish interior is in keeping with MProve’s industrial feel, yet manages to feel homey. The decor features airplane accents – Al Tamimi’s touch – as well as a glossy cement floor, wood accents and exposed piping.
The time spent on launching Steroid Cafe has been good for Al Mheiri, who has left the Khalifa Fund, in more ways than one.
After so many months focusing on making healthy food for others, and working out at MProve, she has lost 18 kilograms.
• Steroid Cafe, Al Maqta area, behind Princess Cars. Open 7am to midnight. For more information, call 02 555 7146
amcqueen@thenational.ae
