Caterer Awards '17 shortlist: Restaurant - Hotel
Find out which six teams made the restaurant team of the year – hotel shortlist for the Caterer Awards 2017.
Bab El Nil Restaurant, Fairmont Nile City
The success of the restaurant goes back to the team’s understanding of the target market. Bab El Nil’s team continuously work on understanding and anticipating guest needs to have an edge in the market and maintain their positioning in the region. Other than the introduction of entertainment to the restaurant, the team is always keen on catering to every guest’s taste and preferences.
Naya, Jumeirah Beach Hotel
Under the guidance of head chef Pravish Shetty, who hails from Mumbai, Naya (which means ‘new’ in Hindi) brings a blend of classic and contemporary dishes from India. The restaurant was launched in March 2015 as a dark horse amongst 10,000 odd restaurants in the saturated Dubai scene and since then it has marched ahead, and today counts itself among the top Indian restaurants in the city.
La Tablita, Hyatt Regency Dubai Creek Heights
Officially opening in January 2016, La Tablita has had many successes in its first year. Contrary to its competitor restaurants, 85% of La Tablita’s team originates from Latin America, with the majority coming from Mexico. Half of the front-of-house F&B team members had already worked together resulting in a strong team culture and a focus on authenticity.
Noire — Dining in the Dark Restaurant, Fairmont Dubai
This pitch black dining in the dark experience was and is still is the first in the Middle East. Introducing this experiential way of dining was a bold and courageous venture in a city filled with visually stunning restaurants. In 2014, Noire opened as a free-standing outlet and has consistently evolved, pushing the envelope of the restaurant scene in Dubai.
Ossiano, Atlantis The Palm
In 2015, Ossiano’s kitchen was taken over by young chef de cuisine, Grégoire Berger and coupled with the hire of Badr Benryane as restaurant manager in early 2016, Ossiano has gone from strength to strength. Berger is the leading force back of house, driving his team daily to deliverone of the best culinary experiences in Dubai. He has arguably won more awards than any other chef under 30 in Dubai in recent years.
The Croft, Dubai Marriott Harbour Hotel & Suites
The Croft was born out of Marriott International’s Project Canvas in September 2015, introduced with the purpose of nurturing local entrepreneurship as well as supporting the creation of home-grown concepts. The outlet is inspired by gead chef Darren Velvick’s childhood upbringing in the rural British village of Hampstead Norreys. The menu reflects the wholesome food culture that he grew up with.