Review // Yalumba’s New Sunday Brunch

It’s no exaggeration to say we’re blessed in Dubai when it comes to brunch options yet picking the right one that has something for everyone in your weekend afternoon dining party is far from easy, especially when you have little brunchers in tow.

So, with that task placed on our plate, Raemona decided to check out the new Sunday ‘Blunch’ at Yalumba, at the Meridien Hotel and Conference Centre in Garhoud, often billed as Dubai’s ‘OG’ brunch venue.

With three brunch ‘veterans’ between the ages of 6 and 13 and two old timers, family-friendly options are always a bone of the contention, with the Gen Z-ers asking ‘is there really anything for us to do?’

And that nagging thought was on our minds and on the lips of the little diners as we headed on down to the new blunch with intrigue.

Now, the measure of a family-friendly brunch, at least in this household, is how long the kids spend on their iPads during the three and a half hours of dining. Well, it’s safe to say Yalumba’s Blunch passed the test, with the electronics only appearing intermittently and our juniors off scouting the kid-friendly food options and various activities on offer.

Our visit was elevated due to the fact it corresponded with Halloween weekend and the restaurant staff, venue and certain cuisines were given a spooky twist, but there is more than enough to keep the little ones entertained on a regular weekend.

Patient, attentive chefs and staff are extremely accommodating, allowing kids to get creative in the kitchen with pizza making or cupcake crafting while the trusty old slime-making is a sure-fire hit with 21st century kids – both big and small.

An interactive magic show will have the little ones in awe, if only raising the eyebrows of your on-fleek tweens!

Transitioning from the kitchen to the garden, Yalumba’s Sunday Blunch caters to little Einsteins or budding Picassos with a number of activities outdoors and there’s even room for the Dubai staple – a bouncy castle, and a chance to get up close to some real-life bunnies and chicks.

Back inside the food quality and choice are as you’d expect from a restaurant with longevity of Yalumba – it’s been around for a long time for a reason. From Indian to international, roasts to sushi and all your favourite sweets, there is more than enough to satiate curious appetites, and there is a good range to keep the kids interested in eating between activities.

The beverages were kept topped up by attentive staff, offering bubbles, grapes, or hops – who were always on hand to help with adult and child requests.

So how does Raemona rate Yalumba’s Sunday Blunch? Put it this way – ‘What’s next?’ was uttered way more during our visit than ‘What can I eat?’ or ‘What’s the Wi-Fi?’

Every Sunday from 1pm to 4.30pm, the blunch starts at AED225 for the soft drinks package, AED295 for selected sparkling’s and AED365 for the premium package. Kids under 12 go for AED79 and kids under 6 eat for free.