My birthday could not have come at a less convenient time this year, we had secured a project to manage the PR for Cityscape, a real estate and construction exhibition based in Abu Dhabi. It was a three-day show in the capital which would require long hours, and the big opening day was my birthday. I knew I would be exhausted after an early start, a long day on my feet in heels, then a long tense drive home (let’s be honest you can’t rest for a second on the road to/from Abu Dhabi with those drivers!) As a result I decided I would arrange a small dinner somewhere nice but walking distance from my apartment. I was curious to see the brainchild of Frankie Dettori and Marco Pierre White and the location of Frankie’s is perfect for me, just a nice stroll down JBR.

With its convenient location, I was surprised that it wasn’t busier. Admittedly we were there on a Monday night, but I had understood it was busy most nights… Not so on this occasion, so unfortunately the atmosphere in the dining area was a little lacking. The bar area was more lively however so we started the evening with a couple of celebratory cocktails before (unfortunately) being moved to a quiet table at the back, away from the pianist and bar. Any occasion is what you make it however, and I have to say that the food was fantastic. I am being good and trying to avoid carbs where I can so rather than opting for a typically Italian pasta dish, I ordered for a plate of seafood with four enormous king prawns and lashings of juicy squid. The rest of the table seemed equally impressed with their food, ranging from pastas through to steaks, all accompanied by a nice bottle of wine.

And of course, the night would not have been complete without the compulsory chocolate birthday cake (one of the best I’ve had actually), although I believe a friend of mine had called ahead to arrange this as I was certainly not asked at the time of booking if we were celebrating an occasion, despite the booking being made a long time in advance for a table of ten.

It was an evening of great food with great company which is always a winning combination, and made for a lovely birthday and some much-needed respite from the busy week, so I would go back again, but I think I would definitely chose a weekend to visit in future to guarantee a more lively atmosphere.