What better place to start exploring the affogatos of Abu Dhabi than at Last Exit headed toward Abu Dhabi on the E11. Whether you consider Last Exit in Abu Dhabi or Dubai, it is a fixture in the region and in affodhabi’s spirit of exploration, we readily consider Last Exit as a cherished location of both Emirates.
If you haven’t been, Last Exit hosts a number of different food choices for travelers on the E11 corridor, presented food truck style. For our first review, we opted for Big Ben Cafe, a converted trailer at the edge of the parking lot. While there are a number of excellent options on the menu, we were, of course, in search of an affogato. Alas, they did not have one listed! Despite the menu oversight, the Big Ben servers didn’t waste a second and rapidly accommodated our request. Presented in a plastic takeaway cup, the impromptu affogato was good. Perhaps it was the much needed break on the drive back to Abu Dhabi after a long day on the road, or the jolt of caffeine and sugar from the affogato itself, but the humble presentation did not take away from the experience. The affogato itself was non-traditional – ice cream instead of gelato, with the scoop floated on top of the espresso. Once again, the spirit was there, and that made it special. Unfortunately the combination of the travel cup and the temperature that day caused the ice cream to melt rapidly, but the resulting mixture was very pleasant, rich and refreshing. Lastly, the espresso was well done, and we will definitely visit Big Ben again as we pass through Last Exit seeking a refreshing sip.
Looking back, we are even more convinced this was the perfect place to start this journey. We started affodhabi to explore Abu Dhabi through affogatos, but we are far from strict in interpreting those boundaries. This started from a love of affogatos and Abu Dhabi, but we definitely don’t feel constricted to strict interpretations of affogatos or geographic boundaries. If we find something to share, we’ll do it.
Cost: 4/5 22 AED (Off menu so this is subject to change)
Presentation: 2/5 Could be better, but appropriate for the venue. Non-traditional scoop floating in espresso.
Texture: 3/5 Ice crystals in the initial scoop of ice cream. Smooth after a couple minutes.
Taste: Good. 3/5 Refreshing.
Overall: 3/5 Worth a visit
Reviewer: Pablo