Tucked away in the streets of Satwa just off Al Wasl Road, lies the four-star Jumeira Rotana Hotel, home to the charming German restaurant Brauhaus (Beer House).  

 

As our friendly waiter greeted us at the dark wooden doors of the eatery, we were met by the inviting smell of cheese soup, which was simmering away in a large pot and kept company by a selection of deliciously fresh home-made breads.  

 

After giving us a tour of the buffet, which makes up their Thursday Cheese Night, our waiter showed us to our table and talked us through the drink options. I opted for the house wine, a refreshing Sauvignon Blanc, and my partner went for a Becks (before later sampling some of the bottled German varieties!).  

 

Intrigued by the soup, we went back for a closer look and started off our meal by sharing a bowl, which was creamy, tasty and very comforting. We then moved on to the starter section of the buffet, helping ourselves to the generous selection of cold cut meats, smoked salmon, delicately presented potato, egg and pasta salads and crisp lettuce leaves. The fresh and well prepared salads and cold cuts were a great way to start what later turned into very hearty, wholesome fare.

 

Slightly nested away in our private booth, with the jolly music discretely playing in the background, time effortlessly passed by and before we knew it the restaurant was near full and the buffet area was buzzing – as we browsed the hot main course options, we even heard what we were sure was German being spoken by some of our fellow diners – always a good sign!

 

The main courses were a mix of traditional German dishes – sausages (yes they were REAL sausages!) and sauerkraut, cheese spaetzle with caramelised onions, bread dumplings, roasted stuffed pork belly (which had delicious crunchy crackling on the outside and was mouth-wateringly moist inside) and braised red cabbage – along with less authentic options such as crumbed fish and grilled chicken. The talking point of the buffet had to be the cheese raclette which was interesting to watch as the cheese was heated, melted and scraped onto the baby potatoes. Had we not gorged ourselves on the buffet, we would have sampled the cheese fondue, which our neighbouring table seemed to be enjoying.  

 

The dessert table displayed the usual puds you’d expect to see at a buffet – crème brulee, chocolate mousse, fruit salad etc, along with a couple of German-inspired delights such as apple strudel and Black Forest Gateaux.

 

All in all, we thoroughly enjoyed our German experience at Brauhaus – the service was warm and friendly, the food was tasty and hearty, the selection of beers were good, the atmosphere was very relaxed and the price of AED 159 inclusive of the all-you-can-eat buffet, fondue (if you have room for it!) and unlimited house beverages offered great value for money. Check out http://www.rotana.com/hoteldiningdesc-12-5-4-105.htm for more information about the restaurant’s themed nights.  

Brauhaus
Jumeirah Rotana Hotel
For reservations, call +971 4 345 5888