Two chefs with a passion for trying something new have enlivened the culinary scene in Dubai with their unique concepts.
It’s no secret that the restaurant scene in Dubai is crowded. Of course, we believe in the ‘more the merrier’ concept but given the intense competition and new hangouts opening every week, it’s difficult to keep track of them all. The city already boasts a large number of swanky and uber-posh outlets with world-class menus, award-winning chefs, and an international vibe.
So, what can a restaurant do to stand out? It’s quite a challenging task, one would assume.
Yet BB Social Dining and Philotimos rise to the challenge.
Perhaps it’s because of Co-founder and Executive Chef Alexander Stumpf’s deep knowledge of the region’s F&B scene — gained over his stints with award-winning brands in the UK, UAE, Turkey, and Miami. Or maybe it’s due to the acumen and insights of his partner, Spero Panagakis — the hospitality powerhouse associated with names such as Zuma, Ruths Chris Steakhouse, Sass Café and La Serre, to name just a few.
Whatever the reason, the German-Greek duo has brought their A-game to their current ventures – BB Social Dining in DIFC and Philotimos in Jumeirah.
An Ode to the Middle East
Stumpf calls BB Social his tribute to the culinary journey from the Middle East to the far East with a slight detour to the West (think edamame hummus or spicy tuna tartare on crispy rice!) A unique home-grown concept, BB Social Dining has grown to be one of DIFC’s beloved outlets, thanks to its accessible, innovative menu, warm service and a rather quirky look. And that’s no mean task given the glamorous locale.
The interiors and design especially deserve a special mention because I haven’t seen a restaurant spread over three floors, each of which seems like a maze connected by a wrought-iron staircase where a cosy corner can lead to a leafy alcove.
The food (we tried their business lunch menu) was a happy marriage of diverse cuisines. Stumpf obviously believes in pleasing all palates, which reflects in the menu that has plenty of options for green thumbs, vegans and seafood and meat lovers. Neatly divided into Bites, Baos, Bowls and BBQ (this explains the Bs in the name!), this menu has something for everyone.
We started our meal with some excellent maki roll and prawn tempura, followed by tofu kimchi bao and chicken bang bang (both were baos). The grilled salmon seemed like a safe choice for the mains, but I was pleasantly surprised with the addition of the Balinese Sambal sauce that added immensely to the eastern flavour.
The best was kept for the last — baked cheesecake with a blob of coconut ice cream and cookie crumble. Utterly delightful and the ‘baked’ word helped in assuaging my guilt for my sweet tooth. For a business lunch, it was quite elaborate but when the food was this good, who’s complaining? What works for BB Social Dining is that it has a homey feel while offering an eclectic menu at affordable prices that make it an ideal stop for a hurried business lunch or a relaxed after-work drink and dinner evening. Casual and welcoming yet chic and upscale — what’s not to like?
BB SOCIAL DINING: Food: 3.5/5 | Drinks: 4/5 | Service: 4.5/5 | Interiors: 4.5/5 | Vibe: 4/5 | One dish we loved: Baked Cheesecake
Philotimos: The Greek Touch
Vastly different but equally unique is Spero and Alexander’s second, more recent venture – Philotimos. While Dubai is host to a vast number of cuisines, Greek, despite its popularity, has not found pride of place, like Japanese or Peruvian.
There are a few amazing Greek restaurants dotting the city but this is a cuisine that has space for more. And that’s precisely why the chefs launched Philotimos at the Dar Al Wasl Mall in Jumeirah. What helped was the success of their pop-up at the Expo 2020, ‘The Little Greek Shop’ as well as Spero’s Greek roots which made it a lot more personal as a project.
Enter the restaurant and you feel a whiff of the Mediterranean coast with its whitewashed walls, stone-washed floors, bright blue windows, and tables sans tablecloth. Alexander believes the similarity between the Greek and Arab cultures, especially when it comes to sharing style menus and the profusion of simple, family-friendly dishes, makes it appealing to locals and expats.
And true to its concept, it’s the simplicity of the dishes and the freshness of ingredients that work best. I loved the selection of dips with warm pita bread as well as the Horiatiki salad — the popular Greek salad with tomatoes, cucumbers, olives and feta cheese. Classic and delicious.
But the star of the meze platter was the Saganaki cheese – fried Greek cheese with honey and sesame. A complete dish in itself, the slightly sweet-sour taste complemented the texture of the cheese perfectly. The Chicken Souvlaki – chargrilled lemon and oregano chicken skewers served with potato scallops and the inimitable tzatziki – was great as well. Beautifully grilled and wonderfully flavoured, you can easily picture yourself relishing it over a glass of bubbly chilling by the seaside. It’s easy to see why Greek food is so universally loved. Healthy, versatile and fresh, the mix and match of raw and cooked ingredients, herbs and light sauces make each dish distinct in taste. I can’t plan a holiday to the islands anytime soon but can certainly relive the magic of the country through its food and a visit to this Jumeirah gem.
Overall rating: ⭐⭐⭐ (Max: 5 stars)
Philotimos: Food: 4/5 | Drinks: 3.5/5 | Service: 4/5 | Interiors: 4/5 | Vibe: 4/5 | One dish we loved: Saganaki Cheese