Ushna, which means 'Heat' or 'Hot' in Sanskrit/Hindi, is the name of an Indian restaurant located at Souk Qaryat Al Beri in the Al Maqta area of Abu Dhabi. Interestingly, it seems like Ushna also means 'Fragrance of flowers' in Urdu. I am only aware of the hindi word:).
The first impression:
This was our first time visiting the Souk and I was pleasantly surprised that the name actually reflects the decor and feel of the place. It had the old world feeling of being in the indoor Souq of a hot, desert city. The lighting inside the building doesn't blind you like in the other malls. The walkways are narrow and partially lit by the natural light coming from the windows lining the way giving it a more natural ambiance. You can peek out and see that the building is surrounded by a water canal(quite narrow and shallow, but so refreshing to see water on a hot day from inside an air-conditioned souk).
The Restaurant:
We went on a Saturday lunch. They are open from 12 pm-11 pm all days. We were the first ones to arrive so we chose a spot with a view of the outdoors - the sea. We could not really see the Grand Sheikh Zayed Mosque but saw a few yachts on the waters. They have outdoors seatings and I am sure when we go there next, I would love to sit outside to enjoy the lovely view throughly, weather permitting. The decor is warm and romantic - lots of red blended with neutrals. The decor style was a mix of Indian and Arabic with a modern flair. I loved that we got a seating on a Jhula(Indian Swing) style table.
The menu:
Lots of north/south indian meat and vegetarian options. We, being vegetarians, tried only the non-meat items. We started with the complimentary popadoms with different chutneys. We ordered Aaloo Chana chaat for starters, Tandoori apple salad for sides, Rice, Daal makhni, Kadai paneer, Roti for the main course. Desserts were Ras Malai and Gulab Jamun, followed by Masala tea. We were offered Rose lemon drink which was complimentary and refreshing.
The food was delicious. Aloo chana chaat wasn't overwhelmingly spicy/sour as is the case with many indian chaats. Their Daal makhni was one of the best I've ever had. It was flavorful yet light. Tandoori apple salad had a unique flavor combining the sweetness of apple with the earthiness of indian spices. The portion sizes were good - each order was plenty enough for two.
The service:
In Abu Dhabi, we have gotten used to great hospitality at most good restaurants. Ushna takes it a step forward - from being ushered in by polite staff who knew the menu well, and who could offer inputs on what to order, we felt they were also attentive to our specific culinary needs.
The bill:
Ushna is on the pricey side. However the quality of food and service justifies the bill.
The surprise:
Our server asked us if he could take a picture of us. Though hesitant, we agreed and were given that picture as a keepsake when we left. Such a sweet gesture:).
Recommendation:
Yes. With 4.9/5.0.
Note: Kids under 3 years are not allowed during dinners.
The first impression:
This was our first time visiting the Souk and I was pleasantly surprised that the name actually reflects the decor and feel of the place. It had the old world feeling of being in the indoor Souq of a hot, desert city. The lighting inside the building doesn't blind you like in the other malls. The walkways are narrow and partially lit by the natural light coming from the windows lining the way giving it a more natural ambiance. You can peek out and see that the building is surrounded by a water canal(quite narrow and shallow, but so refreshing to see water on a hot day from inside an air-conditioned souk).
The Restaurant:
We went on a Saturday lunch. They are open from 12 pm-11 pm all days. We were the first ones to arrive so we chose a spot with a view of the outdoors - the sea. We could not really see the Grand Sheikh Zayed Mosque but saw a few yachts on the waters. They have outdoors seatings and I am sure when we go there next, I would love to sit outside to enjoy the lovely view throughly, weather permitting. The decor is warm and romantic - lots of red blended with neutrals. The decor style was a mix of Indian and Arabic with a modern flair. I loved that we got a seating on a Jhula(Indian Swing) style table.
The menu:
Lots of north/south indian meat and vegetarian options. We, being vegetarians, tried only the non-meat items. We started with the complimentary popadoms with different chutneys. We ordered Aaloo Chana chaat for starters, Tandoori apple salad for sides, Rice, Daal makhni, Kadai paneer, Roti for the main course. Desserts were Ras Malai and Gulab Jamun, followed by Masala tea. We were offered Rose lemon drink which was complimentary and refreshing.
The food was delicious. Aloo chana chaat wasn't overwhelmingly spicy/sour as is the case with many indian chaats. Their Daal makhni was one of the best I've ever had. It was flavorful yet light. Tandoori apple salad had a unique flavor combining the sweetness of apple with the earthiness of indian spices. The portion sizes were good - each order was plenty enough for two.
The service:
In Abu Dhabi, we have gotten used to great hospitality at most good restaurants. Ushna takes it a step forward - from being ushered in by polite staff who knew the menu well, and who could offer inputs on what to order, we felt they were also attentive to our specific culinary needs.
The bill:
Ushna is on the pricey side. However the quality of food and service justifies the bill.
The surprise:
Our server asked us if he could take a picture of us. Though hesitant, we agreed and were given that picture as a keepsake when we left. Such a sweet gesture:).
Recommendation:
Yes. With 4.9/5.0.
Note: Kids under 3 years are not allowed during dinners.
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