Derwandi restaurant and lounge is a sophisticated, stylish place to bring together loved ones and connect over Lebanese food in The Corniche, Abu Dhabi. Derwandi’s décor has been devised in soothing, natural tones with walls and furnishings chosen in velvety brown and calming creams. It mixes contemporary clean lines with earthy details, such as wicker light fittings and hanging plants.
There’s more to Derwandi than initially meets the eye: the restaurant’s name is actually a nod to 1970's Lebanese TV show El Denye Hek, in which the main character, El Derwandi, spends his days at a local eatery, enjoying life and chatting with regulars, always with a shisha in hand. Here, the team try to recreate the same care-free atmosphere, and even have shisha available at the weekends in choco-banana, meghli or umm ali flavours. Derwandi encourages large groups and encourages guests to come along with friends, family and colleagues to enjoy the menu which fuses traditional Lebanese cuisine with a modern flair added by the restaurant’s chefs and culinary experts who have been keen to add their own twist.
The food menu is incredibly expansive with well over 100 dishes on offer, amongst these are house specials such as freekeh with grilled chicken and onions, slow-cooked lamb shanks and special Oriental rice and freshly ‘catch of the day’ fish. For dessert, try traditional Arabian custard topped with almonds and pistachio, fried osmalieh dough with ashta and sugar syrup or ice cream with cotton candy.
If you think Derwandi would make a great place for your next meeting, birthday or get together, the restaurant welcomes occasion bookings and is happy to discuss banquets, catering and hosting for your celebration. Speaking of celebrations – if you’re in the mood for a drink, the bar menu offers a wide selection of cocktails and a curated list of wines, too. Signature cocktails include the Lady in Red, which mixes vodka, Triple Sec, homemade lemoncello and strawberry, while the Hibiscus Gimlet brings together gin, homemade hibiscus syrup, St. Germain and lemon.