Abela & Co. opens Bean There Bistro in Dubai
New Dubai-based Bean There Bistro is the latest addition to Abela & Co’s retail portfolio.
The licensed restaurant, which opened on August 1, is in the grounds of Millennium Airport Hotel, and features a living wall - set with natural foliage - and a five metre long bar that was hand-carved from a single piece of wood, imported from Indonesia.
The outlet, which is open until 2am, also features an outdoor dining area that offers shisha.
Bean There Bistro serves breakfast, lunch and dinner, with an internationally-inspired menu comprising sandwiches, salads, pastas, small plates, hot and cold beverages, and desserts.
Caterer Middle East was the first publication to dine at Bean There Bistro, sampling various small plates including one of the restaurant's signature items, beef bacon covered dates.
Abela & Co. head of business development Brian Gambin told Caterer that although Dubai is its core market, it is important for the company to have a presence in the UAE capital, where it operates a central kitchen.
“In 2012, we made a strategic decision to start expanding beyond Dubai and in 2013, we opened our first central kitchen in Abu Dhabi and our third in the UAE," he revealed.
Mass catering company Abela & Co.'s retail arm has made significant progress in recent year, with homegrown Mediterranean food concept Zaatar W’ Aktar opening in Al Ain in July 2015, followed by Sandella’s Flatbread Café in Fujairah at the end of 2015.
Abela & Co. opened its 19th Sandella’s, which is a US concept, in July in Ras Al Khaimah.