Family before a tight-knit team of chefs: This restaurant effortlessly embraces Dubai's cutting-edge multiculturalism with casual charm. Discover how the Orfali Bros have revolutionized the city's gourmet scene.
The story
"At Orfali Bros Bistrot, every day is a celebration of our journey and experiences, sprinkled with contemporary ideas served in a personal and distinctive manner. We're not just chefs, we're a family."
Three brothers arrived in Dubai and here they created their own dimension and style in the vibrant gastronomic scene of the city. Originally from Syria, Mohammad, Wassim, and Omar Orfali now live here, where they have opened Orfali Bros Bistro, a modern restaurant influenced by their travels, love for art, and gastronomic experiences around the world.
Orfali Bros Bistro has managed to secure the title of the best restaurant in the Mena's 50 Best Restaurants (Middle East and North Africa), in both editions presented so far, and less than two years after opening. Not only that, in 2022 it ranked 87th on the 51-100 list of the world's 50 best restaurants and in 2023 with an impressive jump it reached 46th place.
The format
The backbone of the restaurant spread over two floors is a super "open mind" kitchen, where Mohammad and his team create something that evidently delights many. Upstairs, the two younger brothers, Wassim and Omar, take care of the colorful dessert offering, another part of their distinctive idea of "bistronomy" for which they have also received the Bib Gourmand on the new Michelin guide for Dubai.
And this alone is worth separate attention, even from those who aren't fond of sweets like the writer, because the two have managed to encapsulate their life and travel experiences in sugary recipes, all with a classic French influence but strong touches of their origins; starting from the Japanese square, the black sesame cake with yuzu puree, to the Aleppo pistachio cake, a crunchy praline with raspberry compote capable of transporting you back to their hometown from the first bite.
"For us, rules are meant to be broken compared to our tradition; we constantly push the boundaries of cuisine to discover new flavors and sensations in our dishes, always remaining connected to the food we love to eat. What we serve in the restaurant binds us and connects us to our past, reminding us of who we are; we want the dishes and the kitchen to evoke a sense of creativity, pride, and joy for the many possibilities that can arise from the proposal at Orfali Bros Bistrot," says Mohammad.
Family before a cohesive team of chefs. Taste, experimental establishments, and very different ingredients are the elements on which the work of the three is based on. This restaurant effortlessly and informally embraces Dubai's cutting-edge multiculturalism, a gastronomic journey that has quickly evolved into an edible work of art.
"We support local farmers and suppliers to serve the best quality of local ingredients and more - in the corn bomb dish, you will also find 36-month-aged Parmigiano Reggiano that Mohammad loves so much - here you will see the importance given to tradition and our commitment to renew ourselves in order to offer our customers the best (in our opinion) sensory and enjoyable experience possible."
The kitchen
The restaurant's interior space is small, but during the cooler season in Dubai (from December to March), there is a way to enjoy the menu at outdoor tables in the Wasl 51 square shopping center; however, it is certainly fascinating to sit at one of the wooden tables and watch the guys working, organizing themselves in the small space between ovens, siphons, grills, and plating.
The atmosphere is relaxed, with a continuous flow of people because the food is eaten quite quickly and many want to try Orfali's cuisine. Alcohol is not served, but natural juices and highly appreciated non-alcoholic wines are offered; choices are made from a menu divided between cold, hot, single bites, and various Turkish pides.
Orfali Bayaldi is choreographic and colorful even on the palate, containing among others eggplant, walnut, verjuice, and nasturtium; the Umami Eclair is a concentration of flavor and comfort food with porcini emulsion, fermented quince glaze, cocoa, and beef prosciutto.
The Ooh La La embodies balance and coreness in a bite of foie gras, hazelnut, quince vinegar, and hazelnut miso; the Caviar Bun is absolute enjoyment and worth repeating with sour cream and caviar.
And then among all the desserts, especially for those not particularly accustomed to sweet endings, there is the aforementioned Japanese square.
Contacts
Orfali Bros Bistro
Address: D92 - Jumeirah - Jumeirah 1 - Dubai - UAE
Phone: +971 4 2592 477
