Maison Dali: a dining experience that complements or conflicts?
A palpable relief to review this new restaurant incognito from start to finish.
A decade after opening Marina Social for Jason Atherton, accomplished Scottish chef Tristin Farmer has returned to Dubai following his five-year tenure at three-Michelin Zén in Singapore.
He’s now helming a new Dubai-born concept as culinary director and chef partner for a Singaporean business, Culinary Arts Group.
Maison Dali at The Opus by Omniyat hotel in Business Bay is pitched in the press release and on the website as:
“A laid-back brasserie with character, where Japanese ingredients and techniques meet Mediterranean flavours. This innovative dining experience immerses guests in culinary artistry. Every element - food, drink, service and decor - is meticulously curated to transport diners into a world of imagination.”
Meanwhile, the name “draws inspiration from Salvador Dalí’s surrealism and mirrors the personality of Tristin Farmer,” - and the ambience “constantly surprises, transforming dining in Dubai into a captivating work of art.”
On the flip side, the dictionary definition of brasserie dictates “an informal, usually French restaurant, serving simple hearty food.”
In today’s review, I am addressing all these differing messages; how they translate into the dining experience; and determining whether they serve to complement or conflict.
I am utterly relieved to have reviewed incognito from start to finish.