Vesna's Tsar Imperial Brunch - The Conrad Hotel

Make your way past the well-presented yet brusque door hostesses and Vesna, which translates to "spring" in Russian, will encapsulate you with its imperial Russian flair, opulent décor & seductive entertainment. This new contemporary Slavic restaurant serves Saturday brunch with award winning Celebrity Chef (so we are told) Maksim at the helm, instantly banishing our preconception that Russian food would be bland, heavy and unpalatable. On the contrary, everything we tasted was seasoned to perfection, fresh and light. The setup is ambitious without being overbearing, giving patrons a unique glimpse into the per-revolutionary era with a selection of intriguing dishes richly steeped in Slavic history.   Choose your starters from the buffet including fresh, sumptuous and bountiful Oysters & King Crabs legs on ice, a Tar Tar Bar, a small selection of Salads, Breads, and a dessert room. When it comes to the main course, sharing dishes prepared in the bustling open kitchen are brought to your table. Perfectly seasoned Beef medallions with mushroom sauce, the fillets of golden meaty Seabass were moist in the centre whilst retaining that crisp outer edge we all strive for, ably accompanied by grilled asparagus, buckwheat mash potato, and Slavic hash browns.   Food on the day includes: an Oyster station - Fish and seafood Station - tar tar Bar -salads- Bakery station - Cheese station - a dessert room and 3 main courses served to the table sharing style.   The DJ plays a sultry mixture of laidback beats accompanied by a live saxophonist to form the perfect backdrop for this exquisitely upscale affair, but unfortunately the live singer does not fit the bill, visually maybe, but not vocally. The only other negative we had of the day were the 3 surly hostesses we mentioned earlier, who did nothing but fold their arms and scowl. Overall, a very good brunch and certainly one to get dressed up for on a Saturday. A caviar add on package is also available for those who wish to combine the ultimate in unique and decadent dining experiences in Dubai. We certainly recommend the Vesna experience if you have not yet had a taste of the east.     Prices:   295 AED which includes the food with unlimited soft drinks, spirits. 395 AED which includes the food with unlimited soft drinks, sparkling rose wine. 695 AED which includes the food with unlimited soft drinks, spirits, sparkling rose wine, The Tsar plate (selection of Black caviar (beluga), Red caviar, Aubergine caviar overseas with truffle flavour)   Timing: 1pm-5pm Vesna Restaurant and Lounge: Tsar Imperial Brunch Location: Mezzanine - 2nd floor of the Conrad Hotel Sheikh Zayed Road   For Reservations: Reservations@vesna.ae Tel: 04 352 81 69 Mob: 056 616 27 00