Dubai, which is home to multiple Michelin-star restaurants and has recently been declared the ninth best city in the world for dining, has been taking centre stage as a culinary destination.
The emirate has about 13,000 restaurants that serve a diverse selection of cuisines. This being a city of numerous nationalities and varying cultures, you can expect Dubai’s restaurant scene to include a wide variety of options, from award-winning Pan-Asian restaurant Asia Asia and Jamaican restaurant and lounge Ting Irie to refined French Mediterranean and Italian cuisine from LPM Dubai and the Japanese-Peruvian fusion of Nobu.
But what makes a restaurant stand out? Is it the diversity in its menu or that it has received distinguished culinary accolades? Is it the level of hospitality it provides or the ambience of the space?
We list a few of the key concepts that make Dubai restaurants special.
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Extraordinary Food
However sophisticated a restaurant is or whichever awards it has gained, it’s still ultimately judged by the food it creates. What separates the good from the special is in the consistency and creativity of its dishes.
Diners, foodies and industry insiders praise the chef and their brigade because even the simplest of dishes leaves one breathless — and yes, wanting for more. The dish could be as everyday as lentils or as typical as knafeh, and the exceptional restaurant will have the creativity and resources to revolutionise the simple, everyday ingredients into culinary masterpieces. Often, such dishes will be expertly presented, creating not only picture-perfect plates but perfect bites.
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Remarkable Hospitality
Seasoned restaurateurs know that diners will come for the exceptional food, but they will return for the hospitality.
When you’re eating out, you want to feel welcomed and valued as a customer. This is especially true in fine dining restaurants because you’re paying a premium price, after all, for the experience. As such, you have certain expectations about the service.
From the moment you enter to the time you walk out the door, the front of the house should have made every moment of your time pleasant. So much so that you make a mental note to make reservations again.
Hospitality is the heart and soul of any restaurant (or the industry for that matter). The diner or guest experience is sometimes what makes one restaurant stand out from its competitors.
The staff not only anticipates the needs of the guests, but they also make genuine connections.
Faces and names are remembered. Certain dietary restrictions are noted for the next visit. And for those who go above and beyond, they likely know about life events and try to create special moments for the guests.
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A Unique Pitch
A unique selling proposition is crucial in the highly competitive restaurant industry. Dubai, in particular, is becoming quite the culinary destination. More global exposure means more competition as international brands enter the market and established dining spots expand.
Many restaurants will naturally want to rise from the competition, which means offering diners something different. Some examples of unique selling propositions from restaurants are “authentic Italian the way nonna makes it,” “classic Emirati cuisine with a modern twist,” or “your neighbourhood Parisian bistro.”
A restaurant’s unique pitch is what might appeal to you initially, depending on what sort of dining experience you’re after. If you’re looking for variety, you might check out a restaurant that offers a seasonal menu. If you’re curious about inventive dishes, you might look for a dining destination that does molecular gastronomy.
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An Even More Unique Experience
The best dining experiences stir all of your senses: what you see on the plate and the interior, what you smell from the kitchen, what you hear all around, what you taste from every dish. Everything in the restaurant, eventually, contributes or influences how every food tastes.
Multisensory dining experience elevates any meal, even when you’re just out for lunch. What makes a restaurant special in this aspect is its commitment to magic and even, to some degree, showmanship. Engaging all of your senses requires the use of off-the-plate elements.
Some restaurants in Dubai will transport you to the seaside communities in the Mediterranean through its interiors, music (or soundscapes) and naturally, the menu. Every single detail creates the overall experience that enables you to dine as though you were in another country.
Other unique dining experiences in Dubai include enjoying inventive dishes amid a gastro show, having a lovely meal in underwater ambience and savouring seven courses with fine art.
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Consistency
Finally, it takes absolute commitment to maintain the inventiveness in the menu, the level of hospitality, the unique pitch and the overall ambience for years, even decades. Those that do are able to do it at the highest standards, allowing them to continually entice diners through the door.
A restaurant that has served generations of families without faltering on its standards is special.
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The Dress Code They Encourage
The dress code of a restaurant may enhance or diminish the complete dining experience and is thus, an important factor in the differentiation process. As is customary, restaurants of a particular class in Dubai normally suggest a certain etiquette that corresponds to the level of class and decor of the restaurant.
The attire indicates the overall feel of the establishment, whether it is minimalist women’s clothing for the more serious clientele at LPM Dubai or a simple light-weight safron knee-length silk dress, smart casual for the cool Malaysia-themed place, Asia Asia. There is no doubt that following the advised way of dressing not only promotes high levels of comfort but fully enjoying the atmosphere of the restaurant as well. And after all, dining out is an experience in itself.
Conclusion
Dubai’s dining scene is a fusion of extraordinary food, exceptional hospitality, unique concepts, and unforgettable experiences. These elements, when paired with consistency, make the city’s restaurants truly special and worth exploring time and again.
